CPU
GPU
Xeon Gold 5122
Core i5-8500B
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. The Xeon Gold 5122 is positioned at rank #489 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 5122
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8500B
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5122 | Core i5-8500B |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($192) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5122 | Core i5-8500B |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($192) |
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 5122 and Core i5-8500B
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5122 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-8500B offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Core i5-8500B has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5122 versus 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-8500B — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-8500B (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5122 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-8500B uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5122 scores 8,867 against the Core i5-8500B's 8,900 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-8500B. L3 cache: 16.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 5122 vs 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8500B.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5122 | Core i5-8500B |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 6+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4.1 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+20% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16.5 MB+83% | 9 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 8,867 | 8,900 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,364 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5122 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-8500B uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5122 | Core i5-8500B |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | BGA1440 |
| 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: not specified (Xeon Gold 5122) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-8500B). 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 | Xeon Gold 5122 | Core i5-8500B |
|---|---|---|
| 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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