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 i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,227 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $2,612 MSRP).
✅Delivers 305.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 9.2 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $2,612 MSRP).
✅Draws 95W instead of 125W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Xeon Gold 6138 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 24,108).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 28 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6138, which brings 20 cores / 40 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Gold 6138

2017

Why buy it

✅+67.5% higher PassMark.
✅+129.2% larger total L3 cache (28 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 20 cores / 40 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅200% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.2 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($2,612 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌31.6% higher power demand at 125W vs 95W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Xeon Gold 6138

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,227 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $2,612 MSRP).
✅Delivers 305.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 9.2 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $2,612 MSRP).
✅Draws 95W instead of 125W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Xeon Gold 6138 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+67.5% higher PassMark.
✅+129.2% larger total L3 cache (28 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 20 cores / 40 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅200% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 24,108).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 28 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6138, which brings 20 cores / 40 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.2 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($2,612 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌31.6% higher power demand at 125W vs 95W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-9700K better than Xeon Gold 6138?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 6138 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-9700K 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 Gold 6138 is the better fit. You are getting 67.5% better PassMark, backed by 20 cores and 40 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 129.2% larger total L3 cache (28 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i7-9700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-9700K is $2,227 cheaper on MSRP at $385 MSRP versus $2,612 MSRP, and it gives you a 19.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon Gold 6138 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 67.5% better PassMark. It is also 305.2% better value on MSRP (37.4 vs 9.2 PassMark/$), 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 i7-9700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2017). 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 i7-9700K Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6138 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Xeon Gold 6138
1080p
low	308 FPS	186 FPS
medium	278 FPS	151 FPS
high	231 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	146 FPS
medium	221 FPS	115 FPS
high	178 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	68 FPS
medium	140 FPS	57 FPS
high	108 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Xeon Gold 6138

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Xeon Gold 6138
1080p
low	360 FPS	212 FPS
medium	321 FPS	188 FPS
high	291 FPS	161 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	136 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	183 FPS
medium	282 FPS	166 FPS
high	258 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	120 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	119 FPS
medium	221 FPS	109 FPS
high	208 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	82 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Xeon Gold 6138

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Xeon Gold 6138
1080p
low	360 FPS	603 FPS
medium	360 FPS	603 FPS
high	360 FPS	603 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	603 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	603 FPS
medium	360 FPS	603 FPS
high	360 FPS	573 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	506 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	455 FPS
medium	360 FPS	357 FPS
high	360 FPS	318 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	259 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Xeon Gold 6138

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Xeon Gold 6138
1080p
low	360 FPS	603 FPS
medium	360 FPS	603 FPS
high	360 FPS	603 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	563 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	603 FPS
medium	360 FPS	587 FPS
high	360 FPS	505 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	433 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	462 FPS
medium	360 FPS	414 FPS
high	360 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	320 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Xeon Gold 6138

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Xeon Gold 6138

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

Xeon Gold 6138

The Xeon Gold 6138 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 25 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 27.5 MB. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 24,108 points. Launch price was $2,612.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6138 offers 20 cores / 40 threads — the Xeon Gold 6138 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6138 — a 27.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6138 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Xeon Gold 6138's 24,108 — a 50.4% lead for the Xeon Gold 6138. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 27.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 6138.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Xeon Gold 6138
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	20 / 40+150%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+32%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+80%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	27.5 MB+129%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	20 MB+7900%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	14,397	24,108+67%
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,261
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	15,439

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 6138 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Xeon Gold 6138 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-9700K) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6138). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6138) — the Xeon Gold 6138 offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and C621 (Xeon Gold 6138).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Xeon Gold 6138
Socket	LGA1151	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	768 GB+500%
RAM Channels	2	6+200%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	48+200%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 6138 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon Gold 6138 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop, Xeon Gold 6138 targets Server.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Xeon Gold 6138
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	Server

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6138 debuted at $2612. On MSRP ($385 vs $2612), the Core i7-9700K is $2227 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 9.2 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6138 — making the Core i7-9700K the 120.8% better value option.