Xeon W-2133
VS
Core i5-1235U

Xeon W-2133 vs Core i5-1235U

Intel

Xeon W-2133

6 Cores12 Thrd140 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2017
VS
Intel

Core i5-1235U

10 Cores12 Thrd15 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

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. The Xeon W-2133 is positioned at rank 618 and the Core i5-1235U is on rank 171, so the Core i5-1235U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon W-2133

#1
Xeon Platinum 8454H
MSRP: $6540|Avg: N/A
10162%
#6
Xeon Gold 6240R
MSRP: $2444|Avg: N/A
1919%
#10
Xeon 6337P
MSRP: $60|Avg: $5
1705%
#15
EPYC 9174F
MSRP: $194|Avg: $30
1317%
#369
Xeon Gold 6542Y
MSRP: $2878|Avg: N/A
98%
#370
EPYC 7502
MSRP: $2600|Avg: $1299
98%
#371
Xeon 6730P
MSRP: $3726|Avg: $3726
97%
#372
Xeon Gold 6330
MSRP: $2128|Avg: $2128
97%
#373
Xeon Gold 6548Y+
MSRP: $3726|Avg: $3726
96%
#374
Xeon Gold 6448H
MSRP: $3658|Avg: N/A
96%
#375
Xeon D-2766NT
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $212
96%
#376
Xeon Gold 6442Y
MSRP: $2878|Avg: N/A
95%
#377
Xeon 6740P
MSRP: $4650|Avg: $4650
95%
#378
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
MSRP: $7999|Avg: $7999
94%
#618
Xeon W-2133
MSRP: $617|Avg: $617
100%
#622
Xeon E5607
MSRP: $135|Avg: $27
97%
#626
Xeon Silver 4209T
MSRP: $563|Avg: $649
96%
#627
Xeon E3-1240
MSRP: $273|Avg: $39
96%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-1235U

#49
Core i9-12900HX
MSRP: $606|Avg: N/A
97%
#159
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
345%
#160
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
340%
#161
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
312%
#162
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
311%
#163
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
308%
#165
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
298%
#166
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
285%
#167
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
285%
#168
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
277%
#171
Core i5-1235U
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#173
Celeron N3060
MSRP: $107|Avg: N/A
99%
#176
Core 2 Duo T9300
MSRP: $316|Avg: $20
98%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Use Case Distinction: This is a comparison between a Professional Workstation processor ($617) and a Consumer Desktop CPU. The Xeon W-2133 is engineered for massive parallel workloads (rendering, scientific simulations), offering significantly higher core counts.
InsightXeon W-2133Core i5-1235U
Gaming
Lower gaming performance
Superior gaming performance
Workstation
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Better multi-core power
Price
⚠️ Higher cost ($617)
More affordable ($0)
Longevity
✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm)
✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i5-1235U ($0), however, is optimized for mixed workloads and gaming. For most users, it offers superior single-thread performance and responsiveness at a fraction of the cost ($617 less, 100% cheaper), making it the better choice for daily use and gaming.
InsightXeon W-2133Core i5-1235U
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
⚠️ Higher cost ($617)
More affordable ($0)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 W-2133 and Core i5-1235U

Intel

Xeon W-2133

The Xeon W-2133 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400, DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 12,615 points. Launch price was $617.

Intel

Core i5-1235U

The Core i5-1235U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 12,740 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

The Xeon W-2133 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i5-1235U offers 10 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-1235U has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon W-2133 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1235U — a 12% clock advantage for the Core i5-1235U (base: 3.6 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Xeon W-2133 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-1235U uses Alder Lake-U (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W-2133 scores 12,615 against the Core i5-1235U's 12,740 — a 1% lead for the Core i5-1235U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,292 vs 2,095, a 47.4% lead for the Core i5-1235U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 8.25 MB (total) on the Xeon W-2133 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-1235U.

FeatureXeon W-2133Core i5-1235U
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
10 / 12+67%
Boost Clock
3.9 GHz
4.4 GHz+13%
Base Clock
3.6 GHz+177%
1.3 GHz
L3 Cache
8.25 MB (total)
12 MB (total)+45%
L2 Cache
1 MB (per core)
1.25 MB (per core)+25%
Process
14 nm
Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture
Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
Alder Lake-U (2022)
PassMark
12,615
12,740
Cinebench R23 Multi
6,000
Geekbench 6 Single
1,292
2,095+62%
Geekbench 6 Multi
6,647
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Xeon W-2133 uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-1235U uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Xeon W-2133 versus LPDDR5-5200 on the Core i5-1235U — the Core i5-1235U supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon W-2133 supports up to 512 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon W-2133) vs 2 (Core i5-1235U). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon W-2133) vs 20 (Core i5-1235U) — the Xeon W-2133 offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

FeatureXeon W-2133Core i5-1235U
Socket
LGA2066
FCBGA1744
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
LPDDR5-5200+25%
Max RAM Capacity
512 GB+700%
64 GB
RAM Channels
4+100%
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
48+140%
20
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon W-2133 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon W-2133) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1235U). The Core i5-1235U includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 80EU), while the Xeon W-2133 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon W-2133 targets Workstation, Core i5-1235U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Xeon W-2133 rivals Ryzen Threadripper 1900X; Core i5-1235U rivals Ryzen 5 6600U.

FeatureXeon W-2133Core i5-1235U
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
Iris Xe Graphics 80EU
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
Yes
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Workstation
Mainstream Laptop