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

✅Costs $948 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $1,333 MSRP).
✅Delivers 60.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 23.2 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $1,333 MSRP).
✅Draws 95W instead of 165W, a 70W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Xeon W-2295 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W-2295 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 30,986).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-2295, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Xeon W-2295

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+106.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 18 cores / 36 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅200% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.2 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($1,333 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌73.7% higher power demand at 165W vs 95W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Xeon W-2295

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $948 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $1,333 MSRP).
✅Delivers 60.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 23.2 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $1,333 MSRP).
✅Draws 95W instead of 165W, a 70W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Xeon W-2295 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+106.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 18 cores / 36 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 Xeon W-2295 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 30,986).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-2295, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.2 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($1,333 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌73.7% higher power demand at 165W vs 95W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon W-2295 better than Core i7-9700K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-2295 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 gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon W-2295 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 6.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon W-2295 is the better fit. You are getting 115.2% better PassMark, backed by 18 cores and 36 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 106.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Xeon W-2295 is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Xeon W-2295 is 246.2% more expensive on MSRP at $1,333 MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-9700K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 60.9% better value on paper (37.4 vs 23.2 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

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

Xeon W-2295 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2018), 106.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB), more multi-core headroom with 18 cores / 36 threads instead of 8/8, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 W-2295 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Xeon W-2295
1080p
low	308 FPS	286 FPS
medium	278 FPS	254 FPS
high	231 FPS	211 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	234 FPS
medium	221 FPS	190 FPS
high	178 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	165 FPS
medium	140 FPS	134 FPS
high	108 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Xeon W-2295

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Xeon W-2295
1080p
low	360 FPS	551 FPS
medium	321 FPS	457 FPS
high	291 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	345 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	457 FPS
medium	282 FPS	395 FPS
high	258 FPS	337 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	291 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	286 FPS
medium	221 FPS	248 FPS
high	208 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	201 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Xeon W-2295

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Xeon W-2295
1080p
low	360 FPS	775 FPS
medium	360 FPS	775 FPS
high	360 FPS	775 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	775 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	775 FPS
medium	360 FPS	775 FPS
high	360 FPS	775 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	620 FPS
medium	360 FPS	522 FPS
high	360 FPS	462 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	389 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Xeon W-2295

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Xeon W-2295
1080p
low	360 FPS	775 FPS
medium	360 FPS	775 FPS
high	360 FPS	775 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	775 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	775 FPS
medium	360 FPS	775 FPS
high	360 FPS	742 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	631 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	704 FPS
medium	360 FPS	611 FPS
high	360 FPS	538 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Xeon W-2295

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Xeon W-2295

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 W-2295

The Xeon W-2295 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 30,986 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon W-2295 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon W-2295 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 4.8 GHz on the Xeon W-2295 — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-9700K is built on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Xeon W-2295's 30,986 — a 73.1% lead for the Xeon W-2295. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 24.75 MB on the Xeon W-2295.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Xeon W-2295
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	18 / 36+125%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+2%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+20%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	24.75 MB+106%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	—
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	—
PassMark	14,397	30,986+115%
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,703
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	12,863

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W-2295 uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Xeon W-2295 supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-9700K) vs 4 (Xeon W-2295). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 48 (Xeon W-2295) — the Xeon W-2295 offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and C422 (Xeon W-2295).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Xeon W-2295
Socket	LGA1151	LGA2066
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	1024 GB+700%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
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 W-2295 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 W-2295 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop, Xeon W-2295 targets Workstation.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Xeon W-2295
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	Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Xeon W-2295 debuted at $1333. On MSRP ($385 vs $1333), the Core i7-9700K is $948 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 23.2 pts/$ for the Xeon W-2295 — making the Core i7-9700K the 46.7% better value option.