Core i5-12400F vs Xeon W3680
Core i5-12400F
Xeon W3680
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 i5-12400F
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3680
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Xeon W3680 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($26) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Xeon W3680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+52%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($26) |
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 i5-12400F and Xeon W3680
Core i5-12400F
The Core i5-12400F 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 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: 19,532 points. Launch price was $180.
Xeon W3680
The Xeon W3680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,025 points. Launch price was $350.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-12400F and Xeon W3680 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon W3680 — a 20% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon W3680 uses Gulftown (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Xeon W3680's 7,025 — a 94.2% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon W3680.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Xeon W3680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+22% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.33 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total)+50% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-78% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Gulftown (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 19,532+178% | 7,025 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 12,380 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,700 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 657 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W3680 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Xeon W3680 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) / not specified (Xeon W3680). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Xeon W3680 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Xeon W3680 debuted at $594. At current prices ($110 vs $26), the Xeon W3680 is $84 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 177.6 pts/$ vs 270.2 pts/$ for the Xeon W3680 — making the Xeon W3680 the 41.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Xeon W3680 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $174-71% | $594 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110 | $26-76% |
| Performance per Dollar | 177.6 | 270.2+52% |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2010 |
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