Core i9-8950HK vs Xeon Silver 4109T

Intel

Core i9-8950HK

6 Cores12 Thrd45 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2018
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Xeon Silver 4109T

8 Cores16 Thrd70 WWMax: 3 GHz2017
Similar parts
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Core i9-8950HK vs Xeon Silver 4109T Performance Spectrum

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.

Core i9-8950HK vs Xeon Silver 4109T FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i9-8950HK vs Xeon Silver 4109T: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i9-8950HK

2018

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +16.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 45W instead of 70W, a 25W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Silver 4109T, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads.

Xeon Silver 4109T

2017

Why buy it

  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-8950HK across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (10,348 vs 10,373).
  • 55.6% higher power demand at 70W vs 45W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-8950HK better than Xeon Silver 4109T?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon Silver 4109T makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-8950HK is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Core i9-8950HK is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 16.5% 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 i9-8950HK is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i9-8950HK still makes the most sense overall. Core i9-8950HK comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 16.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i9-8950HK makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2017) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i9-8950HK vs Xeon Silver 4109T Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Intel

Core i9-8950HK

The Core i9-8950HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,373 points. Launch price was $583.

Intel

Xeon Silver 4109T

The Xeon Silver 4109T 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 11 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 70 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 10,348 points. Launch price was $501.

Processing Power

The Core i9-8950HK packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon Silver 4109T offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Silver 4109T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-8950HK versus 3 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4109T — a 46.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-8950HK (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i9-8950HK uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Silver 4109T uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-8950HK scores 10,373 against the Xeon Silver 4109T's 10,348 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i9-8950HK. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i9-8950HK vs 11 MB on the Xeon Silver 4109T.

FeatureCore i9-8950HKXeon Silver 4109T
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock
4.8 GHz+60%
3 GHz
Base Clock
2.9 GHz+45%
2 GHz
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)+9%
11 MB
L2 Cache
256K (per core)+3100%
8 MB
Process
14 nm
14 nm
Architecture
Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)
Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark
10,373
10,348
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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-8950HK uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Silver 4109T uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i9-8950HKXeon Silver 4109T
Socket
BGA1440
LGA3647
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0