Core i7-9800X vs Xeon Gold 5120
Core i7-9800X
Xeon Gold 5120
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 i7-9800X
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 5120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-9800X | Xeon Gold 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($210) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-9800X | Xeon Gold 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($210) | ✅ 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 i7-9800X and Xeon Gold 5120
Core i7-9800X
The Core i7-9800X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 16.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 18,128 points. Launch price was $589.
Xeon Gold 5120
The Xeon Gold 5120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB. L2 cache: 14 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 18,132 points. Launch price was $1,555.
Processing Power
The Core i7-9800X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5120 offers 14 cores / 28 threads — the Xeon Gold 5120 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-9800X versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5120 — a 33.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-9800X (base: 3.8 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). Both are built on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture using a 14 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i7-9800X scores 18,128 against the Xeon Gold 5120's 18,132 — a 0% lead for the Xeon Gold 5120. L3 cache: 16.5 MB (total) on the Core i7-9800X vs 19.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 5120.
| Feature | Core i7-9800X | Xeon Gold 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 14 / 28+75% |
| Boost Clock | 4.5 GHz+41% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+73% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16.5 MB (total) | 19.25 MB+17% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 14 MB+1300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 18,128 | 18,132 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 13,067 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,372 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 7,552 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-9800X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 5120 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-9800X | Xeon Gold 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2066 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 44 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9800X) / not specified (Xeon Gold 5120). Primary use case: Core i7-9800X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i7-9800X rivals Ryzen 5 3600XT.
| Feature | Core i7-9800X | Xeon Gold 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Workstation | — |
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