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: +7.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,090 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 335.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 19.3 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 250W, a 125W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 48,140).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 36 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-3345, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Xeon W-3345

2021

Why buy it

✅+40.2% higher PassMark.
✅+44% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.3 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($2,499 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 250W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 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-3345

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,090 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 335.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 19.3 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 250W, a 125W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+40.2% higher PassMark.
✅+44% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 48,140).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 36 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-3345, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.3 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($2,499 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 250W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 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-3345?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-3345 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 streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon W-3345 is the better fit. You are getting 40.2% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 44% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 25 MB).

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

Core i7-12700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700K is $2,090 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $2,499 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon W-3345 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 40.2% better PassMark. It is also 335.9% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 19.3 PassMark/$), 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 i7-12700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA4189. 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-3345 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-3345
1080p
low	314 FPS	194 FPS
medium	295 FPS	155 FPS
high	246 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	159 FPS
medium	225 FPS	124 FPS
high	182 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	73 FPS
medium	142 FPS	60 FPS
high	109 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	39 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Xeon W-3345

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-3345
1080p
low	630 FPS	497 FPS
medium	533 FPS	431 FPS
high	450 FPS	345 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	285 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	425 FPS
medium	475 FPS	376 FPS
high	403 FPS	309 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	245 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	264 FPS
medium	280 FPS	237 FPS
high	266 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	174 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Xeon W-3345

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-3345
1080p
low	797 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	633 FPS	973 FPS
high	556 FPS	914 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	826 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	841 FPS
medium	565 FPS	744 FPS
high	490 FPS	699 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	626 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	540 FPS
medium	425 FPS	444 FPS
high	381 FPS	390 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	320 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Xeon W-3345

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-3345
1080p
low	859 FPS	938 FPS
medium	802 FPS	847 FPS
high	699 FPS	732 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	635 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	735 FPS
medium	678 FPS	645 FPS
high	590 FPS	554 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	481 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	534 FPS
medium	488 FPS	477 FPS
high	437 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	362 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Xeon W-3345

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Xeon W-3345

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-3345

The Xeon W-3345 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-W (2021) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 48,140 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon W-3345 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon W-3345 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4 GHz on the Xeon W-3345 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (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 W-3345 uses Ice Lake-W (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Xeon W-3345's 48,140 — a 33.4% lead for the Xeon W-3345. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 36 MB (total) on the Xeon W-3345.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-3345
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	24 / 48+100%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+25%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+20%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	36 MB (total)+44%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	10 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Ice Lake-W (2021)
PassMark	34,347	48,140+40%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon W-3345 uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus 3200 on the Xeon W-3345 — the Core i7-12700K supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon W-3345 supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 128 — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-12700K) vs 8 (Xeon W-3345). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700K) vs 128 (Xeon W-3345) — the Xeon W-3345 offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and SP3,C621A (Xeon W-3345).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-3345
Socket	LGA1700	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+50%	3200
Max RAM Capacity	128	4096+3100%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-12700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon W-3345 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon W-3345 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; Xeon W-3345 rivals Xeon Platinum 8362.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Xeon W-3345
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Xeon W-3345 debuted at $2499. On MSRP ($409 vs $2499), the Core i7-12700K is $2090 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 19.3 pts/$ for the Xeon W-3345 — making the Core i7-12700K the 125.4% better value option.