CPU
GPU
Core i5-2500K
Xeon Gold 6230N
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. The Core i5-2500K is positioned at rank 828 and the Xeon Gold 6230N is on rank 614, so the Xeon Gold 6230N offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2500K
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6230N
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2500K | Xeon Gold 6230N |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2500K | Xeon Gold 6230N |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) | ✅ 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 i5-2500K and Xeon Gold 6230N
Core i5-2500K
The Core i5-2500K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,141 points. Launch price was $216.
Xeon Gold 6230N
The Xeon Gold 6230N 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 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 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: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 4,175 points. Launch price was $2,046.
Processing Power
The Core i5-2500K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6230N offers 20 cores / 40 threads — the Xeon Gold 6230N has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-2500K versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6230N — a 5.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-2500K (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i5-2500K uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6230N uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2500K scores 4,141 against the Xeon Gold 6230N's 4,175 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon Gold 6230N. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-2500K vs 27.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 6230N.
| Feature | Core i5-2500K | Xeon Gold 6230N |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 20 / 40+400% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+6% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+43% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 27.5 MB+358% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 20 MB+7900% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 4,141 | 4,175 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,200 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 684 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,032 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2500K uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon Gold 6230N uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-2500K | Xeon Gold 6230N |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i5-2500K) / not specified (Xeon Gold 6230N). The Core i5-2500K includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Xeon Gold 6230N requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2500K targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-2500K rivals FX-6300.
| Feature | Core i5-2500K | Xeon Gold 6230N |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Gaming | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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