Xeon Gold 6138T vs Core i5-12500H
Xeon Gold 6138T
Core i5-12500H
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 6138T
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12500H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6138T | Core i5-12500H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-H (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6138T | Core i5-12500H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 6138T and Core i5-12500H
Xeon Gold 6138T
The Xeon Gold 6138T 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 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 27.5 MB. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 20,356 points. Launch price was $2,742.
Core i5-12500H
The Core i5-12500H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 16 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 Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,462 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6138T packs 20 cores / 40 threads, while the Core i5-12500H offers 12 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Gold 6138T has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6138T versus 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-12500H — a 19.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-12500H (base: 2 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6138T uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-12500H uses Alder Lake-H (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6138T scores 20,356 against the Core i5-12500H's 20,462 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-12500H. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,030 vs 2,260, a 74.8% lead for the Core i5-12500H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,988 vs 9,900 (19.1% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6138T). L3 cache: 27.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 6138T vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12500H.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138T | Core i5-12500H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 20 / 40+67% | 12 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4.5 GHz+22% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.5 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 27.5 MB+53% | 18 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 20 MB+1500% | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | Intel 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Alder Lake-H (2022) |
| PassMark | 20,356 | 20,462 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,030 | 2,260+119% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 11,988+21% | 9,900 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6138T uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-12500H uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Xeon Gold 6138T versus DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-12500H — the Core i5-12500H supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6138T supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon Gold 6138T) vs 2 (Core i5-12500H). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon Gold 6138T) vs 20 (Core i5-12500H) — the Xeon Gold 6138T offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C620 (Xeon Gold 6138T) and Adler Lake-H PCH (Core i5-12500H).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138T | Core i5-12500H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | FCBGA1744 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR5-4800+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 GB+1100% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 6+200% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 48+140% | 20 |
Advanced Features
Only the Xeon Gold 6138T supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: Yes (Xeon Gold 6138T) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12500H). The Core i5-12500H includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Xe Graphics 80EU), while the Xeon Gold 6138T requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12500H targets Performance Laptop.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138T | Core i5-12500H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel Iris Xe Graphics 80EU |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Performance Laptop |
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