Xeon Gold 6438N vs Core i5-12400F
Xeon Gold 6438N
Core i5-12400F
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 6438N
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6438N | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($3,351) | ✅ More affordable ($110) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6438N | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1027%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($3,351) | ✅ More affordable ($110) |
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 6438N and Core i5-12400F
Xeon Gold 6438N
The Xeon Gold 6438N is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 60 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR5-4400. Passmark benchmark score: 52,789 points. Launch price was $3,351.
Core i5-12400F
The Core i5-12400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,532 points. Launch price was $180.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6438N packs 32 cores / 64 threads, while the Core i5-12400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon Gold 6438N has 26 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6438N versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 20% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6438N uses the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6438N scores 52,789 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 92% lead for the Xeon Gold 6438N. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,500 vs 1,700, a 12.5% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 20,000 vs 657 (187.3% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6438N). L3 cache: 60 MB on the Xeon Gold 6438N vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6438N | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 32 / 64+433% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4.4 GHz+22% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.5 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 60 MB+233% | 18 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core)+60% | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | Intel 7 nm |
| Architecture | Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 52,789+170% | 19,532 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 12,380 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,500 | 1,700+13% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 20,000+2944% | 657 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6438N uses the LGA4677 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-12400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Xeon Gold 6438N supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (Xeon Gold 6438N) vs 2 (Core i5-12400F). PCIe lanes: 80 (Xeon Gold 6438N) vs 20 (Core i5-12400F) — the Xeon Gold 6438N offers 60 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C741 (Xeon Gold 6438N) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6438N | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA4677 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800 | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4096 GB+3100% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 8+300% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 80+300% | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6438N) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). Primary use case: Xeon Gold 6438N targets Server, Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6438N rivals EPYC 9354; Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6438N | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Server | Gaming Performance/Value |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Gold 6438N launched at $3351 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. At current prices ($3351 vs $110), the Core i5-12400F is $3241 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Gold 6438N delivers 15.8 pts/$ vs 177.6 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 167.4% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6438N | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $3351 | $174-95% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $3351 | $110-97% |
| Performance per Dollar | 15.8 | 177.6+1024% |
| Release Date | 2023 | 2022 |
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