Core i7-11700K vs Xeon Gold 5220
Core i7-11700K
Xeon Gold 5220
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-11700K
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 5220
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-11700K | Xeon Gold 5220 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-11700K | Xeon Gold 5220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-11700K and Xeon Gold 5220
Core i7-11700K
The Core i7-11700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 24,362 points. Launch price was $299.
Xeon Gold 5220
The Xeon Gold 5220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB. L2 cache: 18 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 24,480 points. Launch price was $1,555.
Processing Power
The Core i7-11700K packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5220 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon Gold 5220 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-11700K versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5220 — a 24.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-11700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i7-11700K uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5220 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-11700K scores 24,362 against the Xeon Gold 5220's 24,480 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon Gold 5220. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i7-11700K vs 24.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 5220.
| Feature | Core i7-11700K | Xeon Gold 5220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 18 / 36+125% |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+28% | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+64% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 24.75 MB+55% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 18 MB+3500% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Rocket Lake (2021) | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 24,362 | 24,480 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 14,732 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-11700K uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 5220 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-11700K | Xeon Gold 5220 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-11700K) / not specified (Xeon Gold 5220). The Core i7-11700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750), while the Xeon Gold 5220 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i7-11700K | Xeon Gold 5220 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 750 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
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