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 i9-12900T

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +24.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 35W instead of 140W, a 105W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon Gold 6238 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6238, which brings 22 cores / 44 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $489 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6238 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon Gold 6238

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 22 cores / 44 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-12900T across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (29,118 vs 29,601).
❌300% higher power demand at 140W vs 35W.
❌Older platform position on LGA3647 with DDR4, while Core i9-12900T moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-12900T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i9-12900T

2022

Xeon Gold 6238

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +24.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 35W instead of 140W, a 105W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon Gold 6238 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 22 cores / 44 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6238, which brings 22 cores / 44 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $489 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6238 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-12900T across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (29,118 vs 29,601).
❌300% higher power demand at 140W vs 35W.
❌Older platform position on LGA3647 with DDR4, while Core i9-12900T moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-12900T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-12900T better than Xeon Gold 6238?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 6238 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-12900T 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, Core i9-12900T is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 24.3% 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, Core i9-12900T is the better fit. You are getting 1.7% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads.

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

Core i9-12900T is the smarter buy today. Core i9-12900T is at an unclear MSRP at $489 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 24.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (60.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core i9-12900T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA3647, and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 22/44. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 i9-12900T Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6238 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-12900T	Xeon Gold 6238
1080p
low	269 FPS	187 FPS
medium	259 FPS	152 FPS
high	214 FPS	124 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	230 FPS	146 FPS
medium	198 FPS	115 FPS
high	159 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	140 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	68 FPS
medium	136 FPS	57 FPS
high	106 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i9-12900T Open Xeon Gold 6238

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-12900T	Xeon Gold 6238
1080p
low	315 FPS	214 FPS
medium	268 FPS	189 FPS
high	225 FPS	162 FPS
ultra	206 FPS	137 FPS
1440p
low	260 FPS	185 FPS
medium	230 FPS	168 FPS
high	199 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	173 FPS	121 FPS
4K
low	161 FPS	121 FPS
medium	143 FPS	110 FPS
high	135 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	120 FPS	83 FPS

Open Core i9-12900T Open Xeon Gold 6238

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-12900T	Xeon Gold 6238
1080p
low	740 FPS	700 FPS
medium	615 FPS	563 FPS
high	544 FPS	510 FPS
ultra	461 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	689 FPS	560 FPS
medium	552 FPS	456 FPS
high	482 FPS	413 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	356 FPS
4K
low	496 FPS	407 FPS
medium	414 FPS	317 FPS
high	371 FPS	282 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	226 FPS

Open Core i9-12900T Open Xeon Gold 6238

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-12900T	Xeon Gold 6238
1080p
low	740 FPS	728 FPS
medium	740 FPS	728 FPS
high	666 FPS	699 FPS
ultra	591 FPS	610 FPS
1440p
low	737 FPS	728 FPS
medium	652 FPS	639 FPS
high	561 FPS	550 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	468 FPS
4K
low	518 FPS	501 FPS
medium	469 FPS	449 FPS
high	415 FPS	400 FPS
ultra	361 FPS	345 FPS

Open Core i9-12900T Open Xeon Gold 6238

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-12900T and Xeon Gold 6238

Core i9-12900T

The Core i9-12900T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 29,601 points. Launch price was $299.

Xeon Gold 6238

The Xeon Gold 6238 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 22 cores and 44 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 30.25 MB. L2 cache: 22 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 29,118 points. Launch price was $2,612.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-12900T packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6238 offers 22 cores / 44 threads — the Xeon Gold 6238 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i9-12900T versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6238 — a 27.9% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900T (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i9-12900T uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6238 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12900T scores 29,601 against the Xeon Gold 6238's 29,118 — a 1.6% lead for the Core i9-12900T. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900T vs 30.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 6238.

Feature	Core i9-12900T	Xeon Gold 6238
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	22 / 44+38%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+32%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	1.4 GHz	2.1 GHz+50%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	30.25 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	22 MB+1660%
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	29,601+2%	29,118
Cinebench R23 Multi	22,809	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,331	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,116	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-12900T uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6238 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i9-12900T versus 2933 on the Xeon Gold 6238 — the Xeon Gold 6238 supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6238 supports up to 1024 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-12900T) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6238). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-12900T) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6238) — the Xeon Gold 6238 offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: LGA1700 (Core i9-12900T) and C621 (Xeon Gold 6238).

Feature	Core i9-12900T	Xeon Gold 6238
Socket	LGA1700	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	2933+58560%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+13107100%	1024
RAM Channels	2	6+200%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	48+140%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i9-12900T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon Gold 6238 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6238 rivals EPYC 7402.