Core i5-8500B vs Xeon Gold 5122
Core i5-8500B
Xeon Gold 5122
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 i5-8500B
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 5122
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8500B | Xeon Gold 5122 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($192) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8500B | Xeon Gold 5122 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($192) | ✅ 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 i5-8500B and Xeon Gold 5122
Core i5-8500B
The Core i5-8500B is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 8,900 points. Launch price was $192.
Xeon Gold 5122
The Xeon Gold 5122 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 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16.5 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 8,867 points. Launch price was $1,221.
Processing Power
The Core i5-8500B packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5122 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-8500B has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-8500B versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5122 — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-8500B (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-8500B uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5122 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8500B scores 8,900 against the Xeon Gold 5122's 8,867 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-8500B. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8500B vs 16.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 5122.
| Feature | Core i5-8500B | Xeon Gold 5122 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+11% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 9 MB (total) | 16.5 MB+83% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 8,900 | 8,867 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,364 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-8500B uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 5122 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-8500B | Xeon Gold 5122 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-8500B) / not specified (Xeon Gold 5122). The Core i5-8500B includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon Gold 5122 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8500B targets Mini PC/Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i5-8500B rivals Ryzen 5 2600.
| Feature | Core i5-8500B | Xeon Gold 5122 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Mini PC/Embedded | — |
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