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 i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.6% higher average FPS across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon 6357P needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Xeon 6357P mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌56.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 80W.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon 6357P

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 80W instead of 125W, a 45W reduction.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (30,401 vs 34,347).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Xeon 6357P

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.6% higher average FPS across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon 6357P needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Draws 80W instead of 125W, a 45W reduction.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Xeon 6357P mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌56.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 80W.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (30,401 vs 34,347).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Xeon 6357P?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon 6357P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-12700K 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 i7-12700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 18.6% more average FPS across 45 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700K is the better fit. You are getting 13% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i7-12700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700K is at an unclear MSRP at $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 18.6% average FPS lead across 45 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Xeon 6357P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2021) and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Xeon 6357P Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Xeon 6357P
1080p
low	314 FPS	257 FPS
medium	295 FPS	246 FPS
high	246 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	222 FPS
medium	225 FPS	190 FPS
high	182 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	153 FPS
medium	142 FPS	130 FPS
high	109 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Xeon 6357P

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Xeon 6357P
1080p
low	630 FPS	620 FPS
medium	533 FPS	523 FPS
high	450 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	408 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	532 FPS
medium	475 FPS	467 FPS
high	403 FPS	398 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	346 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	311 FPS
medium	280 FPS	278 FPS
high	266 FPS	265 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	233 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Xeon 6357P

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Xeon 6357P
1080p
low	797 FPS	646 FPS
medium	633 FPS	529 FPS
high	556 FPS	466 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	404 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	588 FPS
medium	565 FPS	489 FPS
high	490 FPS	425 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	369 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	424 FPS
medium	425 FPS	369 FPS
high	381 FPS	335 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	285 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Xeon 6357P

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Xeon 6357P
1080p
low	859 FPS	760 FPS
medium	802 FPS	760 FPS
high	699 FPS	726 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	652 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	760 FPS
medium	678 FPS	704 FPS
high	590 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	536 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	537 FPS
medium	488 FPS	490 FPS
high	437 FPS	439 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	383 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Xeon 6357P

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Xeon 6357P

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.

Xeon 6357P

The Xeon 6357P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 30,401 points. Launch price was $556.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon 6357P offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 5.1 GHz on the Xeon 6357P — a 2% clock advantage for the Xeon 6357P (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Xeon 6357P uses Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Xeon 6357P's 30,401 — a 12.2% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 24 MB (total) on the Xeon 6357P.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Xeon 6357P
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+50%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5 GHz	5.1 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+20%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)+4%	24 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	10 nm	Intel 7 nm-30%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)
PassMark	34,347+13%	30,401
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	18,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,784
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	12,769

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus DDR5-4800 on the Xeon 6357P — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and Server chipsets (Xeon 6357P).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Xeon 6357P
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+95900%	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	128	128 GB+104857500%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	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 6357P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon 6357P). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon 6357P requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon 6357P targets Edge Server / Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; Xeon 6357P rivals Core i7-14700.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Xeon 6357P
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	—	Edge Server / Workstation