Core i9-11900 vs Xeon W-1290P

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.

Core i9-11900 vs Xeon W-1290P FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i9-11900 vs Xeon W-1290P: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i9-11900

2021

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-1290P, which brings 10 cores / 20 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $439 MSRP, while Xeon W-1290P mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon W-1290P

2020

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 10 cores / 20 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (22,373 vs 22,422).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-11900 better than Xeon W-1290P?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon W-1290P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-11900 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-11900 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Core i9-11900 is the better buy right now. Core i9-11900 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $439 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.2% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon W-1290P is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (51.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i9-11900 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 10/20. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i9-11900 vs Xeon W-1290P Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i9-11900

The Core i9-11900 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 22,422 points. Launch price was $299.

Xeon W-1290P

The Xeon W-1290P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 22,373 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-11900 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon W-1290P offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon W-1290P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-11900 versus 5.2 GHz on the Xeon W-1290P — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Xeon W-1290P (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i9-11900 uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon W-1290P uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11900 scores 22,422 against the Xeon W-1290P's 22,373 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i9-11900. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-11900 vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon W-1290P.

Feature	Core i9-11900	Xeon W-1290P
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	10 / 20+25%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.2 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.7 GHz+48%
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	20 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Rocket Lake (2021)	Comet Lake (2020−2025)
PassMark	22,422	22,373