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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.4% higher average FPS across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 65W instead of 155W, a 90W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2011 and older memory support.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E7-4890 v2.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 38 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E7-4890 v2, which brings 15 cores / 30 threads and 32 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Xeon E7-4890 v2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E7-4890 v2

2014

Why buy it

✅+108.3% larger total L3 cache (38 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 15 cores / 30 threads, plus 32 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (32 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (6,500 vs 12,380).
❌138.5% higher power demand at 155W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2011, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Xeon E7-4890 v2

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.4% higher average FPS across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 65W instead of 155W, a 90W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2011 and older memory support.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E7-4890 v2.

Why buy it

✅+108.3% larger total L3 cache (38 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 15 cores / 30 threads, plus 32 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (32 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 38 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E7-4890 v2, which brings 15 cores / 30 threads and 32 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Xeon E7-4890 v2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (6,500 vs 12,380).
❌138.5% higher power demand at 155W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2011, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Xeon E7-4890 v2?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon E7-4890 v2 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-12400F is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-12400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 3.4% more average FPS across 40 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400F is the better fit. You are getting 90.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-12400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12400F is at an unclear MSRP at $174 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 3.4% average FPS lead across 40 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-12400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2014), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA2011, and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 15/30. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

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.

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Xeon E7-4890 v2 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon E7-4890 v2
1080p
low	183 FPS	186 FPS
medium	168 FPS	148 FPS
high	139 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	92 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	153 FPS
medium	132 FPS	119 FPS
high	106 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	72 FPS
medium	81 FPS	59 FPS
high	64 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	38 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon E7-4890 v2

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon E7-4890 v2
1080p
low	471 FPS	368 FPS
medium	397 FPS	324 FPS
high	341 FPS	270 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	216 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	318 FPS
medium	351 FPS	282 FPS
high	309 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	184 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	199 FPS
medium	248 FPS	178 FPS
high	229 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	121 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon E7-4890 v2

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon E7-4890 v2
1080p
low	488 FPS	774 FPS
medium	488 FPS	774 FPS
high	488 FPS	763 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	679 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	744 FPS
medium	488 FPS	638 FPS
high	485 FPS	605 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	537 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	479 FPS
medium	389 FPS	376 FPS
high	337 FPS	335 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon E7-4890 v2

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon E7-4890 v2
1080p
low	488 FPS	774 FPS
medium	488 FPS	774 FPS
high	488 FPS	765 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	648 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	774 FPS
medium	488 FPS	686 FPS
high	488 FPS	586 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	493 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	581 FPS
medium	450 FPS	506 FPS
high	391 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	377 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon E7-4890 v2

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Xeon E7-4890 v2

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.

Xeon E7-4890 v2

The Xeon E7-4890 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 15 cores and 30 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 37.5 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 155 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 30,946 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E7-4890 v2 offers 15 cores / 30 threads — the Xeon E7-4890 v2 has 9 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E7-4890 v2 — a 25.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-12400F is built on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Xeon E7-4890 v2's 30,946 — a 45.2% lead for the Xeon E7-4890 v2. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 6,500 (62.3% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 730, a 79.8% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 5,500 (157.3% advantage for the Xeon E7-4890 v2). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 37.5 MB on the Xeon E7-4890 v2.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon E7-4890 v2
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	15 / 30+150%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+29%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	2.8 GHz+12%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	37.5 MB+108%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	—
Process	Intel 7 nm-68%	22 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	—
PassMark	19,532	30,946+58%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380+90%	6,500
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700+133%	730
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	5,500+737%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E7-4890 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR3-1600 on the Xeon E7-4890 v2 — the Core i5-12400F supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E7-4890 v2 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 4 (Xeon E7-4890 v2). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 32 (Xeon E7-4890 v2) — the Xeon E7-4890 v2 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and C602 (Xeon E7-4890 v2).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon E7-4890 v2
Socket	LGA1700	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+67%	DDR3-1600
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	1536 GB+1100%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	32+60%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Xeon E7-4890 v2 targets Enterprise Server (Legacy). Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Xeon E7-4890 v2 rivals Xeon E5-2697 v2.