Xeon Gold 5120T vs Core i9-9900K
Xeon Gold 5120T
Core i9-9900K
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 5120T
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-9900K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5120T | Core i9-9900K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($331) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5120T | Core i9-9900K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($331) |
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 5120T and Core i9-9900K
Xeon Gold 5120T
The Xeon Gold 5120T 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 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 18,127 points. Launch price was $1,727.
Core i9-9900K
The Core i9-9900K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 18,109 points. Launch price was $488.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5120T packs 14 cores / 28 threads, while the Core i9-9900K offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Gold 5120T has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5120T versus 5 GHz on the Core i9-9900K — a 43.9% clock advantage for the Core i9-9900K (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5120T uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-9900K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5120T scores 18,127 against the Core i9-9900K's 18,109 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon Gold 5120T. L3 cache: 19.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 5120T vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900K.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5120T | Core i9-9900K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 14 / 28+75% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 5 GHz+56% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+64% |
| L3 Cache | 19.25 MB+20% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 14 MB+5500% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 18,127 | 18,109 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5120T uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-9900K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5120T | Core i9-9900K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
The Core i9-9900K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon Gold 5120T requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5120T | Core i9-9900K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
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