Core i9-11980HK vs Xeon W-1290P
Core i9-11980HK
Xeon W-1290P
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 i9-11980HK
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W-1290P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-11980HK | Xeon W-1290P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Tiger Lake-HK (2021) / 10 nm SuperFin) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-11980HK | Xeon W-1290P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i9-11980HK and Xeon W-1290P
Core i9-11980HK
The Core i9-11980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-HK (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 22,244 points. Launch price was $583.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i9-11980HK 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 GHz on the Core i9-11980HK versus 5.2 GHz on the Xeon W-1290P — a 3.9% clock advantage for the Xeon W-1290P (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i9-11980HK uses the Tiger Lake-HK (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Xeon W-1290P uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11980HK scores 22,244 against the Xeon W-1290P's 22,373 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon W-1290P. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-11980HK vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon W-1290P.
| Feature | Core i9-11980HK | Xeon W-1290P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 10 / 20+25% |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz | 5.2 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.7 GHz+42% |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB (total)+20% | 20 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm SuperFin-29% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Tiger Lake-HK (2021) | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 22,244 | 22,373 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 14,029 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,129 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 9,766 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-11980HK uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon W-1290P uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i9-11980HK | Xeon W-1290P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1787 | LGA1200 |
| 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, EPT (Core i9-11980HK) / not specified (Xeon W-1290P). The Core i9-11980HK includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 32EUs), while the Xeon W-1290P requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-11980HK targets Enthusiast Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i9-11980HK rivals Ryzen 9 5900HX.
| Feature | Core i9-11980HK | Xeon W-1290P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 32EUs | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Enthusiast Gaming Laptop | — |
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