Xeon Gold 5218R vs Core i9-9920X
Xeon Gold 5218R
Core i9-9920X
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 5218R
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-9920X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5218R | Core i9-9920X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($464) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5218R | Core i9-9920X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($464) |
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 5218R and Core i9-9920X
Xeon Gold 5218R
The Xeon Gold 5218R is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 27.5 MB. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 25,000 points. Launch price was $1,273.
Core i9-9920X
The Core i9-9920X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 24,974 points. Launch price was $1,189.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5218R packs 20 cores / 40 threads, while the Core i9-9920X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon Gold 5218R has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5218R versus 4.5 GHz on the Core i9-9920X — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-9920X (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5218R uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-9920X uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5218R scores 25,000 against the Core i9-9920X's 24,974 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon Gold 5218R. L3 cache: 27.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 5218R vs 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-9920X.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5218R | Core i9-9920X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 20 / 40+67% | 12 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4.5 GHz+13% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.5 GHz+67% |
| L3 Cache | 27.5 MB+43% | 19.25 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 20 MB+1900% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 25,000 | 24,974 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5218R uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-9920X uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5218R | Core i9-9920X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA2066 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1024 | — |
| RAM Channels | 6 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 48 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 5218R) / not specified (Core i9-9920X). Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 5218R rivals EPYC 7352.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5218R | Core i9-9920X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
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