Xeon Gold 5320T vs Core i7-9700K
Xeon Gold 5320T
Core i7-9700K
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 5320T
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5320T | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,379) | ✅ More affordable ($200) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Ice Lake-SP (2021) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5320T | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+228%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,379) | ✅ More affordable ($200) |
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 5320T and Core i7-9700K
Xeon Gold 5320T
The Xeon Gold 5320T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 30,259 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K 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 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 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: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5320T packs 20 cores / 40 threads, while the Core i7-9700K offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon Gold 5320T has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5320T versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 33.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5320T uses the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5320T scores 30,259 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 71% lead for the Xeon Gold 5320T. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 5320T vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5320T | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 20 / 40+150% | 8 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.9 GHz+40% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+57% |
| L3 Cache | 30 MB (total)+150% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm-29% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Ice Lake-SP (2021) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 30,259+110% | 14,397 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 22,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,290 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 19,074 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5320T uses the LGA4189 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-9700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2933 memory speed. The Xeon Gold 5320T supports up to 6144 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 191.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (Xeon Gold 5320T) vs 2 (Core i7-9700K). PCIe lanes: 64 (Xeon Gold 5320T) vs 16 (Core i7-9700K) — the Xeon Gold 5320T offers 48 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621A (Xeon Gold 5320T) and Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5320T | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA4189 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 6144 GB+4700% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 8+300% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 64+300% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 5320T supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Gold 5320T) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon Gold 5320T requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon Gold 5320T targets High-density Cloud / Virtualization, Core i7-9700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 5320T rivals EPYC 7413.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5320T | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | High-density Cloud / Virtualization | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Gold 5320T launched at $1977 MSRP, while the Core i7-9700K debuted at $385. At current prices ($1379 vs $200), the Core i7-9700K is $1179 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Gold 5320T delivers 21.9 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700K — making the Core i7-9700K the 106.6% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5320T | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1977 | $385-81% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $1379 | $200-85% |
| Performance per Dollar | 21.9 | 72.0+229% |
| Release Date | 2021 | 2018 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon Gold 5320T and Core i7-9700K
