Xeon Gold 6146 vs Core i9-10900K
Xeon Gold 6146
Core i9-10900K
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 6146
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-10900K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6146 | Core i9-10900K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6146 | Core i9-10900K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) |
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 6146 and Core i9-10900K
Xeon Gold 6146
The Xeon Gold 6146 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 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB. L2 cache: 12 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 22,595 points. Launch price was $3,286.
Core i9-10900K
The Core i9-10900K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 22,382 points. Launch price was $488.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6146 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Core i9-10900K offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon Gold 6146 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6146 versus 5.2 GHz on the Core i9-10900K — a 21.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-10900K (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6146 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-10900K uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6146 scores 22,595 against the Core i9-10900K's 22,382 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon Gold 6146. L3 cache: 24.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6146 vs 20 MB (total) on the Core i9-10900K.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6146 | Core i9-10900K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 24+20% | 10 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz | 5.2 GHz+24% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.7 GHz+16% |
| L3 Cache | 24.75 MB+24% | 20 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 12 MB+4700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 22,595 | 22,382 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6146 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-10900K uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6146 | Core i9-10900K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2933 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon Gold 6146) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-10900K). The Core i9-10900K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon Gold 6146 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-10900K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6146 | Core i9-10900K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
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