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: +52.3% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+108.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon W-10855M needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 84.0 vs 103.8 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $118 MSRP).
❌8233.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 1.5W.

Xeon W-10855M

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $291 less on MSRP ($118 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 23.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 103.8 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($118 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 2W instead of 125W, a 124W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (12,249 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Xeon W-10855M

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +52.3% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+108.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon W-10855M needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Costs $291 less on MSRP ($118 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 23.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 103.8 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($118 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 2W instead of 125W, a 124W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 84.0 vs 103.8 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $118 MSRP).
❌8233.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 1.5W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (12,249 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌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 W-10855M?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-10855M 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 52.3% more average FPS across 2 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 180.4% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 108.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i7-12700K is the smarter buy by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. Core i7-12700K is 246.6% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $118 MSRP, and it gives you a 52.3% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon W-10855M only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games, especially when the gap is already 52.3% in the shared gaming data.

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

Core i7-12700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of BGA1440, 108.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 20 threads instead of 6/12. 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 i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Xeon W-10855M Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-10855M
1080p
low	314 FPS	275 FPS
medium	295 FPS	243 FPS
high	246 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	175 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	235 FPS
medium	225 FPS	187 FPS
high	182 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	163 FPS
medium	142 FPS	132 FPS
high	109 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	89 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Xeon W-10855M

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-10855M
1080p
low	630 FPS	306 FPS
medium	533 FPS	280 FPS
high	450 FPS	254 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	221 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	300 FPS
medium	475 FPS	245 FPS
high	403 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	194 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	251 FPS
medium	280 FPS	207 FPS
high	266 FPS	191 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	159 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Xeon W-10855M

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-10855M
1080p
low	797 FPS	306 FPS
medium	633 FPS	306 FPS
high	556 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	306 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	306 FPS
medium	565 FPS	306 FPS
high	490 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	306 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	306 FPS
medium	425 FPS	306 FPS
high	381 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	294 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Xeon W-10855M

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-10855M
1080p
low	859 FPS	306 FPS
medium	802 FPS	306 FPS
high	699 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	306 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	306 FPS
medium	678 FPS	306 FPS
high	590 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	306 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	306 FPS
medium	488 FPS	306 FPS
high	437 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	306 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Xeon W-10855M

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Xeon W-10855M

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 W-10855M

The Xeon W-10855M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,249 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon W-10855M offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.9 GHz on the Xeon W-10855M — a 2% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Xeon W-10855M uses Comet Lake-H (2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Xeon W-10855M's 12,249 — a 94.8% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 12 MB on the Xeon W-10855M.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-10855M
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+100%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5 GHz+2%	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+29%	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)+108%	12 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.5 MB+20%
Process	10 nm-29%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Comet Lake-H (2020)
PassMark	34,347+180%	12,249

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon W-10855M uses BGA1440 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-10855M
Socket	LGA1700	BGA1440
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	4800	—
Max RAM Capacity	128	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) / not specified (Xeon W-10855M). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon W-10855M requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-10855M
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Xeon W-10855M debuted at $118. On MSRP ($409 vs $118), the Xeon W-10855M is $291 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 103.8 pts/$ for the Xeon W-10855M — making the Xeon W-10855M the 21.1% better value option.