Xeon Gold 5120 vs Core i5-12450HX
Xeon Gold 5120
Core i5-12450HX
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 Xeon Gold 5120
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12450HX
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5120 | Core i5-12450HX |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-HX (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5120 | Core i5-12450HX |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Xeon Gold 5120 and Core i5-12450HX
Xeon Gold 5120
The Xeon Gold 5120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB. L2 cache: 14 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 18,132 points. Launch price was $1,555.
Core i5-12450HX
The Core i5-12450HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 May 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,064 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5120 packs 14 cores / 28 threads, while the Core i5-12450HX offers 8 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon Gold 5120 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5120 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12450HX — a 31.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-12450HX (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5120 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-12450HX uses Alder Lake-HX (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5120 scores 18,132 against the Core i5-12450HX's 18,064 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon Gold 5120. L3 cache: 19.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 5120 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-12450HX.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5120 | Core i5-12450HX |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 14 / 28+75% | 8 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 4.4 GHz+38% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.4 GHz+9% |
| L3 Cache | 19.25 MB+60% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 14 MB+1020% | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | Intel 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Alder Lake-HX (2022) |
| PassMark | 18,132 | 18,064 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,150 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5120 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-12450HX uses FCBGA1964 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5120 | Core i5-12450HX |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | FCBGA1964 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 48 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon Gold 5120) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12450HX). The Core i5-12450HX includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics for 12th Gen), while the Xeon Gold 5120 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12450HX targets Workstation/Enthusiast Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12450HX rivals Ryzen 5 7645HX.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5120 | Core i5-12450HX |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics for 12th Gen |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Workstation/Enthusiast Laptop |
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