Core i9-9900KS vs Xeon E-2386G

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 i9-9900KS vs Xeon E-2386G 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 i9-9900KS vs Xeon E-2386G: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i9-9900KS

2019

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (19,397 vs 19,468).
❌Launch MSRP is still $513 MSRP, while Xeon E-2386G mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌33.7% higher power demand at 127W vs 95W.

Xeon E-2386G

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 95W instead of 127W, a 32W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E-2386G better than Core i9-9900KS?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E-2386G makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-9900KS is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon E-2386G is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.6% 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, Xeon E-2386G is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Xeon E-2386G is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i9-9900KS is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon E-2386G comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $513 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i9-9900KS is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (37.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Xeon E-2386G makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2019) 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 i9-9900KS vs Xeon E-2386G Technical Specifications

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

Core i9-9900KS

The Core i9-9900KS is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 127 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,397 points. Launch price was $513.

Xeon E-2386G

The Xeon E-2386G is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Rocket Lake-E (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,468 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-9900KS packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E-2386G offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-9900KS has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-9900KS versus 5.1 GHz on the Xeon E-2386G — a 2% clock advantage for the Xeon E-2386G (base: 4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i9-9900KS uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E-2386G uses Rocket Lake-E (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9900KS scores 19,397 against the Xeon E-2386G's 19,468 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon E-2386G. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900KS vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon E-2386G.

Feature	Core i9-9900KS	Xeon E-2386G
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5 GHz	5.1 GHz+2%
Base Clock	4 GHz+14%	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)+33%	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Rocket Lake-E (2021)
PassMark	19,397	19,468

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9900KS uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E-2386G uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.