Xeon Gold 5117 vs Core i9-10980HK
Xeon Gold 5117
Core i9-10980HK
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 Xeon Gold 5117
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-10980HK
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5117 | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake-H (2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5117 | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ 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 Xeon Gold 5117 and Core i9-10980HK
Xeon Gold 5117
The Xeon Gold 5117 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB. L2 cache: 14 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 16,897 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i9-10980HK
The Core i9-10980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,037 points. Launch price was $583.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5117 packs 14 cores / 28 threads, while the Core i9-10980HK offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Gold 5117 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5117 versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10980HK — a 58.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-10980HK (base: 2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5117 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-10980HK uses Comet Lake-H (2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5117 scores 16,897 against the Core i9-10980HK's 17,037 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i9-10980HK. L3 cache: 19.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 5117 vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-10980HK.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5117 | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 14 / 28+75% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 5.1 GHz+82% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.4 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 19.25 MB+20% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 14 MB+5500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Comet Lake-H (2020) |
| PassMark | 16,897 | 17,037 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5117 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-10980HK uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5117 | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 | — |
| RAM Channels | 6 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 48 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 5117) / not specified (Core i9-10980HK). Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 5117 rivals Xeon Silver 4114.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5117 | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
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