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 i9-13905H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 150W, a 105W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1792 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe 96EU, while Xeon Gold 5318H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 5318H, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon Gold 5318H

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 18 cores / 36 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 12.
✅300% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13905H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (18,000 vs 19,384).
❌233.3% higher power demand at 150W vs 45W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 with DDR4, while Core i9-13905H moves to FCBGA1792 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13905H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i9-13905H

2023

Xeon Gold 5318H

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 150W, a 105W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1792 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe 96EU, while Xeon Gold 5318H needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 18 cores / 36 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 12.
✅300% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 5318H, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13905H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (18,000 vs 19,384).
❌233.3% higher power demand at 150W vs 45W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 with DDR4, while Core i9-13905H moves to FCBGA1792 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13905H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13905H better than Xeon Gold 5318H?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 5318H makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-13905H 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 i9-13905H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 17.0% 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 i9-13905H is the better fit. You are getting 7.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i9-13905H still looks like the safer overall buy. Core i9-13905H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 17.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Core i9-13905H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021), a healthier platform with FCBGA1792 and DDR5 instead of LGA4189, and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 20 threads instead of 18/36. 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 i9-13905H Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 5318H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-13905H	Xeon Gold 5318H
1080p
low	262 FPS	178 FPS
medium	253 FPS	143 FPS
high	210 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	180 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	223 FPS	144 FPS
medium	192 FPS	113 FPS
high	154 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	135 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	154 FPS	67 FPS
medium	132 FPS	56 FPS
high	101 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i9-13905H Open Xeon Gold 5318H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-13905H	Xeon Gold 5318H
1080p
low	636 FPS	401 FPS
medium	543 FPS	346 FPS
high	458 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	417 FPS	244 FPS
1440p
low	554 FPS	347 FPS
medium	492 FPS	307 FPS
high	416 FPS	258 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	215 FPS
4K
low	325 FPS	225 FPS
medium	296 FPS	200 FPS
high	279 FPS	179 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	147 FPS

Open Core i9-13905H Open Xeon Gold 5318H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-13905H	Xeon Gold 5318H
1080p
low	648 FPS	697 FPS
medium	530 FPS	559 FPS
high	467 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	439 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	557 FPS
medium	491 FPS	452 FPS
high	427 FPS	410 FPS
ultra	370 FPS	355 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	405 FPS
medium	374 FPS	314 FPS
high	339 FPS	281 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	225 FPS

Open Core i9-13905H Open Xeon Gold 5318H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-13905H	Xeon Gold 5318H
1080p
low	745 FPS	733 FPS
medium	745 FPS	733 FPS
high	745 FPS	681 FPS
ultra	672 FPS	592 FPS
1440p
low	745 FPS	700 FPS
medium	723 FPS	613 FPS
high	626 FPS	529 FPS
ultra	552 FPS	454 FPS
4K
low	555 FPS	481 FPS
medium	504 FPS	432 FPS
high	451 FPS	386 FPS
ultra	394 FPS	334 FPS

Open Core i9-13905H Open Xeon Gold 5318H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13905H and Xeon Gold 5318H

Core i9-13905H

The Core i9-13905H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1792. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 29,807 points. Launch price was $697.

Xeon Gold 5318H

The Xeon Gold 5318H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Cooper Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 RDIMM. Passmark benchmark score: 29,301 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-13905H packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5318H offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon Gold 5318H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i9-13905H versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5318H — a 34.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-13905H (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i9-13905H uses the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5318H uses Cooper Lake-SP (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13905H scores 29,807 against the Xeon Gold 5318H's 29,301 — a 1.7% lead for the Core i9-13905H. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 19,384 vs 18,000 (7.4% advantage for the Core i9-13905H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,300 vs 1,063, a 73.6% lead for the Core i9-13905H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 14,000 vs 15,000 (6.9% advantage for the Xeon Gold 5318H). L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-13905H vs 24.75 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 5318H.

Feature	Core i9-13905H	Xeon Gold 5318H
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	18 / 36+29%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+42%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+4%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	24.75 MB (total)+3%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024)	Cooper Lake-SP (2021)
PassMark	29,807+2%	29,301
Cinebench R23 Multi	19,384+8%	18,000
Geekbench 6 Single	2,300+116%	1,063
Geekbench 6 Multi	14,000	15,000+7%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13905H uses the FCBGA1792 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 5318H uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5200 on the Core i9-13905H versus DDR4-2667 on the Xeon Gold 5318H — the Core i9-13905H supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 5318H supports up to 1152 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 178.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-13905H) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 5318H). PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i9-13905H) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 5318H) — the Xeon Gold 5318H offers 36 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: WM790,HM770 (Core i9-13905H) and C620 Series (Xeon Gold 5318H).

Feature	Core i9-13905H	Xeon Gold 5318H
Socket	FCBGA1792	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5200+25%	DDR4-2667
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	1152 GB+1700%
RAM Channels	2	6+200%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	12	48+300%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Gold 5318H supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-13905H) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Gold 5318H). The Core i9-13905H includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe 96EU), while the Xeon Gold 5318H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-13905H targets Workstation, Xeon Gold 5318H targets Cloud Infrastructure / Virtualization. Direct competitor: Core i9-13905H rivals Ryzen 9 7940HS; Xeon Gold 5318H rivals EPYC 7352.

Feature	Core i9-13905H	Xeon Gold 5318H
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Iris Xe 96EU	—
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Workstation	Cloud Infrastructure / Virtualization