Xeon Gold 5220 vs Core i7-11700K
Xeon Gold 5220
Core i7-11700K
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 5220
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-11700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5220 | Core i7-11700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5220 | Core i7-11700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
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 5220 and Core i7-11700K
Xeon Gold 5220
The Xeon Gold 5220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB. L2 cache: 18 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 24,480 points. Launch price was $1,555.
Core i7-11700K
The Core i7-11700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) 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: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 24,362 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5220 packs 18 cores / 36 threads, while the Core i7-11700K offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Gold 5220 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5220 versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-11700K — a 24.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-11700K (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5220 uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-11700K uses Rocket Lake (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5220 scores 24,480 against the Core i7-11700K's 24,362 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon Gold 5220. L3 cache: 24.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 5220 vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i7-11700K.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5220 | Core i7-11700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 18 / 36+125% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 5 GHz+28% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+64% |
| L3 Cache | 24.75 MB+55% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 18 MB+3500% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Rocket Lake (2021) |
| PassMark | 24,480 | 24,362 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 14,732 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5220 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-11700K uses LGA1200 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5220 | Core i7-11700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon Gold 5220) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-11700K). The Core i7-11700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750), while the Xeon Gold 5220 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5220 | Core i7-11700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 750 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
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