Core i5-12500 vs Xeon E5-2686 v4
Core i5-12500
Xeon E5-2686 v4
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12500
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2686 v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12500 | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12500 | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12500 and Xeon E5-2686 v4
Core i5-12500
The Core i5-12500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 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: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,739 points. Launch price was $299.
Xeon E5-2686 v4
The Xeon E5-2686 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB. L2 cache: 4.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCLGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,860 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12500 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2686 v4 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 v4 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-12500 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 v4 — a 42.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-12500 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i5-12500 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon E5-2686 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12500 scores 19,739 against the Xeon E5-2686 v4's 19,860 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon E5-2686 v4. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,319 vs 895, a 88.6% lead for the Core i5-12500 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 9,003 vs 6,822 (27.6% advantage for the Core i5-12500). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12500 vs 45 MB on the Xeon E5-2686 v4.
| Feature | Core i5-12500 | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 18 / 36+200% |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+53% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+30% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | 45 MB+150% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 4.5 MB+260% |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 19,739 | 19,860 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 12,978 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,319+159% | 895 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 9,003+32% | 6,822 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12500 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-2686 v4 uses FCLGA2011-3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12500 versus DDR4-2400 on the Xeon E5-2686 v4 — the Core i5-12500 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2686 v4 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12500) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2686 v4). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12500) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2686 v4) — the Xeon E5-2686 v4 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12500) and C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2686 v4).
| Feature | Core i5-12500 | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | FCLGA2011-3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25% | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 1536 GB+1100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 40+100% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12500) vs Yes (Xeon E5-2686 v4). The Core i5-12500 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon E5-2686 v4 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12500 targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i5-12500 rivals Ryzen 5 5500.
| Feature | Core i5-12500 | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 770 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | Yes |
| Target Use | Productivity | — |
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