Core i9-9900KS vs Xeon E5-2690 v4
Core i9-9900KS
Xeon E5-2690 v4
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 i9-9900KS
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2690 v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-9900KS | Xeon E5-2690 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($350) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($389) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-9900KS | Xeon E5-2690 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+12%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($350) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($389) |
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 i9-9900KS and Xeon E5-2690 v4
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 E5-2690 v4
The Xeon E5-2690 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 35 MB. L2 cache: 3.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 19,255 points. Launch price was $2,090.
Processing Power
The Core i9-9900KS packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2690 v4 offers 14 cores / 28 threads — the Xeon E5-2690 v4 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-9900KS versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2690 v4 — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-9900KS (base: 4 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i9-9900KS uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2690 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9900KS scores 19,397 against the Xeon E5-2690 v4's 19,255 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i9-9900KS. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900KS vs 35 MB on the Xeon E5-2690 v4.
| Feature | Core i9-9900KS | Xeon E5-2690 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 14 / 28+75% |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+43% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+54% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 35 MB+119% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 3.5 MB+1300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 19,397 | 19,255 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-9900KS uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-2690 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i9-9900KS | Xeon E5-2690 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 1536 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Value Analysis
The Core i9-9900KS launched at $513 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2690 v4 debuted at $2090. At current prices ($350 vs $389), the Core i9-9900KS is $39 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-9900KS delivers 55.4 pts/$ vs 49.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2690 v4 — making the Core i9-9900KS the 11.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i9-9900KS | Xeon E5-2690 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $513-75% | $2090 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $350-10% | $389 |
| Performance per Dollar | 55.4+12% | 49.5 |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2016 |
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