Xeon Gold 5218 vs Core 5 120
Xeon Gold 5218
Core 5 120
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 5218
Performance Per Dollar Core 5 120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5218 | Core 5 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) | ✅ More affordable ($340) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5218 | Core 5 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+47%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) | ✅ More affordable ($340) |
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 5218 and Core 5 120
Xeon Gold 5218
The Xeon Gold 5218 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 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 21,586 points. Launch price was $1,273.
Core 5 120
The Core 5 120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,629 points. Launch price was $211.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5218 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Core 5 120 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon Gold 5218 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5218 versus 4.5 GHz on the Core 5 120 — a 14.3% clock advantage for the Core 5 120 (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5218 uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core 5 120 uses Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5218 scores 21,586 against the Core 5 120's 21,629 — a 0.2% lead for the Core 5 120. L3 cache: 22 MB on the Xeon Gold 5218 vs 18 MB (total) on the Core 5 120.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5218 | Core 5 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32+167% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 4.5 GHz+15% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.5 GHz+9% |
| L3 Cache | 22 MB+22% | 18 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 16 MB+1180% | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 10 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) |
| PassMark | 21,586 | 21,629 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5218 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 5 120 uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5218 | Core 5 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | 2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 | — |
| RAM Channels | 6 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 48 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 5218) / not specified (Core 5 120).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5218 | Core 5 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Gold 5218 launched at $1273 MSRP, while the Core 5 120 debuted at $340. At current prices ($500 vs $340), the Core 5 120 is $160 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Gold 5218 delivers 43.2 pts/$ vs 63.6 pts/$ for the Core 5 120 — making the Core 5 120 the 38.3% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5218 | Core 5 120 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1273 | $340-73% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $500 | $340-32% |
| Performance per Dollar | 43.2 | 63.6+47% |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2025 |
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