Core i9-12900TE vs Xeon Gold 6146
Core i9-12900TE
Xeon Gold 6146
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 i9-12900TE
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6146
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-12900TE | Xeon Gold 6146 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($664) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-12900TE | Xeon Gold 6146 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($664) | ✅ 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 i9-12900TE and Xeon Gold 6146
Core i9-12900TE
The Core i9-12900TE 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 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,887 points. Launch price was $299.
Xeon Gold 6146
The Xeon Gold 6146 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 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB. L2 cache: 12 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 22,595 points. Launch price was $3,286.
Processing Power
The Core i9-12900TE packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6146 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core i9-12900TE has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-12900TE versus 4.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6146 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900TE (base: 1.1 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i9-12900TE uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6146 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12900TE scores 22,887 against the Xeon Gold 6146's 22,595 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i9-12900TE. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900TE vs 24.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6146.
| Feature | Core i9-12900TE | Xeon Gold 6146 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 24+33% | 12 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 4.8 GHz+14% | 4.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.1 GHz | 3.2 GHz+191% |
| L3 Cache | 30 MB (total)+21% | 24.75 MB |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 12 MB+860% |
| Process | 10 nm-29% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 22,887+1% | 22,595 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-12900TE uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6146 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i9-12900TE | Xeon Gold 6146 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
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