CPU
GPU
Core i5-12500H
Xeon Gold 6226
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 6226
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12500H | Xeon Gold 6226 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-H (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12500H | Xeon Gold 6226 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 6226
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 6226
The Xeon Gold 6226 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB. L2 cache: 12 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 20,619 points. Launch price was $1,776.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12500H packs 12 cores / 16 threads, matching the Xeon Gold 6226's 12 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-12500H versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6226 — a 19.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-12500H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i5-12500H uses the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6226 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12500H scores 20,462 against the Xeon Gold 6226's 20,619 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon Gold 6226. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12500H vs 19.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 6226.
| Feature | Core i5-12500H | Xeon Gold 6226 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 16 | 12 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 4.5 GHz+22% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.7 GHz+8% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | 19.25 MB+7% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 12 MB+860% |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-H (2022) | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 20,462 | 20,619 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,260 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 9,900 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12500H uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6226 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-12500H | Xeon Gold 6226 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12500H) / not specified (Xeon Gold 6226). The Core i5-12500H includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Xe Graphics 80EU), while the Xeon Gold 6226 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12500H targets Performance Laptop.
| Feature | Core i5-12500H | Xeon Gold 6226 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Performance Laptop | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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