Xeon Gold 5318Y vs Core i7-12700K
Xeon Gold 5318Y
Core i7-12700K
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 5318Y
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-12700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5318Y | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($285) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Ice Lake-SP (2021) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5318Y | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($285) |
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 5318Y and Core i7-12700K
Xeon Gold 5318Y
The Xeon Gold 5318Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 33,139 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i7-12700K
The Core i7-12700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 34,347 points. Launch price was $409.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5318Y packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Core i7-12700K offers 12 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon Gold 5318Y has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5318Y versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K — a 38.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5318Y uses the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i7-12700K uses Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5318Y scores 33,139 against the Core i7-12700K's 34,347 — a 3.6% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 5318Y vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5318Y | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 24 / 48+100% | 12 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 5 GHz+47% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.6 GHz+71% |
| L3 Cache | 36 MB (total)+44% | 25 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+25% |
| Process | 10 nm | 10 nm |
| Architecture | Ice Lake-SP (2021) | Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) |
| PassMark | 33,139 | 34,347+4% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 28,500 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,251 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 21,846 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5318Y uses the LGA4189 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-12700K uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2933 on the Xeon Gold 5318Y versus 4800 on the Core i7-12700K — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 5318Y supports up to 6144 GB of RAM compared to 128 — 191.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (Xeon Gold 5318Y) vs 2 (Core i7-12700K). PCIe lanes: 64 (Xeon Gold 5318Y) vs 20 (Core i7-12700K) — the Xeon Gold 5318Y offers 44 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621A,Ice Lake-SP (Xeon Gold 5318Y) and Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5318Y | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA4189 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0+25% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | 4800+119900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 6144 GB+5033164700% | 128 |
| RAM Channels | 8+300% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 64+220% | 20 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i7-12700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 5318Y supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Gold 5318Y) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon Gold 5318Y requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon Gold 5318Y targets Server / Virtualization. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 5318Y rivals Xeon Silver 4316; Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5318Y | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Server / Virtualization | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon Gold 5318Y and Core i7-12700K
