Core i9-12900HX vs Xeon Gold 6240R

Core i9-12900HX

16 Cores24 Thrd55 WWMax: 5 GHz2022

Xeon Gold 6240R

24 Cores48 Thrd165 WWMax: 4 GHz2020

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i9-12900HX

16 / 24

33,018

0.0%

33,353

+1.0%

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i9-12900HX

#36

Core i5-11500B

MSRP: $185|Avg: $185

112%

#42

Ryzen 9 9955HX3D

MSRP: $749|Avg: N/A

106%

#49

Core i9-12900HX

MSRP: $606|Avg: N/A

100%

#57

Ryzen AI 9 365

MSRP: $400|Avg: $400

91%

#64

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

MSRP: $600|Avg: $600

87%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6240R

Xeon Platinum 8454H

MSRP: $6540|Avg: N/A

530%

Core i9-9990XE

MSRP: $2000|Avg: N/A

Xeon W-11855M

MSRP: $450|Avg: $200

10%

MSRP: $623|Avg: $450

MSRP: $467|Avg: $350

MSRP: $600|Avg: $600

MSRP: $2444|Avg: N/A

100%

#10

Xeon 6337P

MSRP: $60|Avg: $5

89%

#15

EPYC 9174F

MSRP: $194|Avg: $30

69%

#16

EPYC 7302

MSRP: $978|Avg: $109

68%

#21

Xeon Platinum 8260M

MSRP: $7705|Avg: N/A

62%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Use Case Distinction: This is a comparison between a Professional Workstation processor ($2,444) and a Consumer Desktop CPU. The Xeon Gold 6240R is engineered for massive parallel workloads (rendering, scientific simulations), offering significantly higher core counts.

Insight	Core i9-12900HX	Xeon Gold 6240R
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	✅ More affordable ($606)	⚠️ Higher cost ($2,444)
Longevity	✨ Modern (Alder Lake-HX (2022) / Intel 7 nm)	✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i9-12900HX ($606), however, is optimized for mixed workloads and gaming. For most users, it offers superior single-thread performance and responsiveness at a fraction of the cost ($1,838 less, 75% cheaper), making it the better choice for daily use and gaming.

Insight	Core i9-12900HX	Xeon Gold 6240R
Cost Efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+299%)	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($606)	⚠️ Higher cost ($2,444)

Performance Check

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 i9-12900HX Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6240R Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-12900HX and Xeon Gold 6240R

Core i9-12900HX

The Core i9-12900HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 May 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 33,018 points. Launch price was $499.

Xeon Gold 6240R

The Xeon Gold 6240R is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB. L2 cache: 24 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 33,353 points. Launch price was $2,200.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-12900HX packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6240R offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon Gold 6240R has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-12900HX versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6240R — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900HX (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i9-12900HX uses the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6240R uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12900HX scores 33,018 against the Xeon Gold 6240R's 33,353 — a 1% lead for the Xeon Gold 6240R. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 23,150 vs 22,500 (2.8% advantage for the Core i9-12900HX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,426 vs 1,212, a 66.7% lead for the Core i9-12900HX that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 14,620 vs 17,218 (16.3% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6240R). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900HX vs 35.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6240R.

Feature	Core i9-12900HX	Xeon Gold 6240R
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	24 / 48+50%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+25%	4 GHz
Base Clock	2.3 GHz	2.4 GHz+4%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	35.75 MB+19%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	24 MB+1820%
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-HX (2022)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	33,018	33,353+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi	23,150+3%	22,500
Geekbench 6 Single	2,426+100%	1,212
Geekbench 6 Multi	14,620	17,218+18%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-12900HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6240R uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i9-12900HX versus DDR4-2933 on the Xeon Gold 6240R — the Core i9-12900HX supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6240R supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-12900HX) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6240R). Both provide 48 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM670,WM690 (Core i9-12900HX) and C621,Lewisburg (Xeon Gold 6240R).

Feature	Core i9-12900HX	Xeon Gold 6240R
Socket	FCBGA1964	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	1024 GB+700%
RAM Channels	2	6+200%
ECC Support	❌	✅
PCIe Lanes	48	48

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-12900HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 6240R supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. The Core i9-12900HX includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon Gold 6240R requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-12900HX targets High-end Mobile Performance, Xeon Gold 6240R targets Server / High-load computing. Direct competitor: Core i9-12900HX rivals Ryzen 9 6900HX; Xeon Gold 6240R rivals EPYC 7402.

Feature	Core i9-12900HX	Xeon Gold 6240R
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	High-end Mobile Performance	Server / High-load computing