Core i5-12490F vs Xeon Gold 6334

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i5-12490F vs Xeon Gold 6334 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-12490F vs Xeon Gold 6334: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-12490F

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock Cooler), unlike Xeon Gold 6334.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6334 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (20,366 vs 20,512).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6334, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $250 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6334 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon Gold 6334

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 with DDR4, while Core i5-12490F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12490F.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6334 better than Core i5-12490F?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon Gold 6334 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-12490F is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon Gold 6334 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 6.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6334 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon Gold 6334 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12490F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon Gold 6334 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12490F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (81.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-12490F makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA4189. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-12490F vs Xeon Gold 6334 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-12490F

The Core i5-12490F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 20,366 points. Launch price was $299.

Xeon Gold 6334

The Xeon Gold 6334 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 20,512 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12490F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6334 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Gold 6334 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-12490F versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6334 — a 21.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-12490F (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-12490F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6334 uses Ice Lake-SP (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12490F scores 20,366 against the Xeon Gold 6334's 20,512 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon Gold 6334. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-12490F vs 18 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 6334.

Feature	Core i5-12490F	Xeon Gold 6334
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+24%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.6 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+11%	18 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	10 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Ice Lake-SP (2021)
PassMark	20,366	20,512
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,800	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,800	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12490F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6334 uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-12490F versus 3200 on the Xeon Gold 6334 — the Core i5-12490F supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6334 supports up to 6144 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 4700% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12490F) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 6334). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12490F) vs 64 (Xeon Gold 6334) — the Xeon Gold 6334 offers 44 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B660,H610,H670,Z690,B760 (Core i5-12490F) and C621A (Xeon Gold 6334).

Feature	Core i5-12490F	Xeon Gold 6334
Socket	LGA1700	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800+50%	3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	6144 GB+4700%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	64+220%

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Gold 6334 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12490F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6334). Primary use case: Core i5-12490F targets Gaming Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12490F rivals Ryzen 5 5600X; Xeon Gold 6334 rivals EPYC 72F3.