Xeon Gold 6421N vs i7-12700K

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-12700K and Xeon Gold 6421N processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	239	90
Place by popularity	57	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	40.09	44.63
Market segment	Desktop processor	Server
Series	Intel Core i7	no data
Power efficiency	16.49	18.94
Architecture codename	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
Release date	4 November 2021 (3 years ago)	10 January 2023 (1 year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$409	$2,368

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Xeon Gold 6421N has 11% better value for money than i7-12700K.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-12700K and Xeon Gold 6421N basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	12 (Dodeca-Core)	32 (Dotriaconta-Core)
Threads	20	64
Base clock speed	3.6 GHz	1.8 GHz
Boost clock speed	5 GHz	3.6 GHz
Bus type	DMI 4.0	no data
Bus rate	8 × 16 GT/s	no data
Multiplier	36	no data
L1 cache	80K (per core)	80K (per core)
L2 cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
L3 cache	25 MB (shared)	60 MB
Chip lithography	10 nm	Intel 7 nm
Die size	215.25 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	no data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	85 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	no data
Unlocked multiplier	+	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-12700K and Xeon Gold 6421N compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA4677
Power consumption (TDP)	125 Watt	185 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-12700K and Xeon Gold 6421N. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® AMX, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
AES-NI	+	+
FMA	+	-
AVX	+	+
vPro	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Speed Shift	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
TSX	-	+
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	-
SIPP	+	-
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	+	no data
Deep Learning Boost	+	+

Security technologies

Core i7-12700K and Xeon Gold 6421N technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	no data
SGX	no data	Yes with Intel® SPS
OS Guard	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-12700K and Xeon Gold 6421N are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-12700K and Xeon Gold 6421N. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4, DDR5	DDR5-4400
Maximum memory size	128 GB	4 TB
Max memory channels	2	8
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.805 GB/s	no data
ECC memory support	+	+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel UHD Graphics 770	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	-
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.5 GHz	no data
Execution Units	32	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-12700K and Xeon Gold 6421N integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

4

no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-12700K and Xeon Gold 6421N integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz	no data
Max resolution over eDP	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-12700K and Xeon Gold 6421N integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	no data
OpenGL	4.5	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-12700K and Xeon Gold 6421N.

PCIe version	5.0 and 4.0	5
PCI Express lanes	20	80

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	21.78	37.02
Recency	4 November 2021	10 January 2023
Physical cores	12	32
Threads	20	64
Power consumption (TDP)	125 Watt	185 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-12700K and Xeon Gold 6421N, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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