Core i5-12500H vs Xeon Gold 6138T
Core i5-12500H
Xeon Gold 6138T
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 i5-12500H
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6138T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12500H | Xeon Gold 6138T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-H (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12500H | Xeon Gold 6138T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) |
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 i5-12500H and Xeon Gold 6138T
Core i5-12500H
The Core i5-12500H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,462 points. Launch price was $299.
Xeon Gold 6138T
The Xeon Gold 6138T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 25 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 27.5 MB. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 20,356 points. Launch price was $2,742.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12500H packs 12 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6138T offers 20 cores / 40 threads — the Xeon Gold 6138T has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-12500H versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6138T — a 19.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-12500H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i5-12500H uses the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6138T uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12500H scores 20,462 against the Xeon Gold 6138T's 20,356 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-12500H. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,260 vs 1,030, a 74.8% lead for the Core i5-12500H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 9,900 vs 11,988 (19.1% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6138T). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12500H vs 27.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 6138T.
| Feature | Core i5-12500H | Xeon Gold 6138T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 16 | 20 / 40+67% |
| Boost Clock | 4.5 GHz+22% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+25% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | 27.5 MB+53% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 20 MB+1500% |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-H (2022) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 20,462 | 20,356 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,260+119% | 1,030 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 9,900 | 11,988+21% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12500H uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6138T uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-12500H versus DDR4-2666 on the Xeon Gold 6138T — the Core i5-12500H supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6138T supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12500H) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6138T). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12500H) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6138T) — the Xeon Gold 6138T offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Adler Lake-H PCH (Core i5-12500H) and C620 (Xeon Gold 6138T).
| Feature | Core i5-12500H | Xeon Gold 6138T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800+25% | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 768 GB+1100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 6+200% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 48+140% |
Advanced Features
Only the Xeon Gold 6138T supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12500H) vs Yes (Xeon Gold 6138T). The Core i5-12500H includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Xe Graphics 80EU), while the Xeon Gold 6138T requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12500H targets Performance Laptop.
| Feature | Core i5-12500H | Xeon Gold 6138T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | Yes |
| Target Use | Performance Laptop | — |
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