Xeon Gold 5220R vs Core i9-9990XE
Xeon Gold 5220R
Core i9-9990XE
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 5220R
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-9990XE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5220R | Core i9-9990XE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($1,015) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,000) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5220R | Core i9-9990XE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+98%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($1,015) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,000) |
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 5220R and Core i9-9990XE
Xeon Gold 5220R
The Xeon Gold 5220R 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 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB. L2 cache: 24 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 30,372 points. Launch price was $1,555.
Core i9-9990XE
The Core i9-9990XE 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 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 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): 255 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 30,162 points. Launch price was $2,800.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5220R packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Core i9-9990XE offers 14 cores / 28 threads — the Xeon Gold 5220R has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5220R versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-9990XE — a 24.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-9990XE (base: 2.2 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5220R uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-9990XE uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5220R scores 30,372 against the Core i9-9990XE's 30,162 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon Gold 5220R. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,327 vs 1,392, a 4.8% lead for the Core i9-9990XE that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 35.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 5220R vs 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-9990XE.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5220R | Core i9-9990XE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 24 / 48+71% | 14 / 28 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 5.1 GHz+27% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 4 GHz+82% |
| L3 Cache | 35.75 MB+86% | 19.25 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 24 MB+2300% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 30,372 | 30,162 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,327 | 1,392+5% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 16,199 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5220R uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-9990XE uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2667 memory speed. The Xeon Gold 5220R supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon Gold 5220R) vs 4 (Core i9-9990XE). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon Gold 5220R) vs 44 (Core i9-9990XE) — the Xeon Gold 5220R offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C620 (Xeon Gold 5220R) and X299 (Core i9-9990XE).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5220R | Core i9-9990XE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA2066 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2667 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1024 GB+700% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 6+50% | 4 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 48+9% | 44 |
Advanced Features
Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: Yes (Xeon Gold 5220R) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-9990XE). Primary use case: Core i9-9990XE targets HEDT. Direct competitor: Core i9-9990XE rivals Threadripper 2970WX.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5220R | Core i9-9990XE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | Yes | Yes |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | HEDT |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Gold 5220R launched at $1780 MSRP, while the Core i9-9990XE debuted at $2000.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5220R | Core i9-9990XE |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1780-11% | $2000 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $1015 | — |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2019 |
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