Xeon Gold 6240R vs Core i9-12900HX

CPU

GPU

Xeon Gold 6240R

24 Cores48 Thrd165 WWMax: 4 GHz2020

Core i9-12900HX

16 Cores24 Thrd55 WWMax: 5 GHz2022

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Xeon Gold 6240R

24 / 48

33,353

+1.0%

33,018

0.0%

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6240R

Xeon Platinum 8454H

MSRP: $6540|Avg: N/A

530%

Core i9-9990XE

MSRP: $2000|Avg: N/A

Xeon W-11855M

MSRP: $450|Avg: $200

10%

MSRP: $623|Avg: $450

MSRP: $467|Avg: $350

MSRP: $600|Avg: $600

MSRP: $2444|Avg: N/A

100%

#10

Xeon 6337P

MSRP: $60|Avg: $5

89%

#15

EPYC 9174F

MSRP: $194|Avg: $30

69%

#16

EPYC 7302

MSRP: $978|Avg: $109

68%

#21

Xeon Platinum 8260M

MSRP: $7705|Avg: N/A

62%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i9-12900HX

#36

Core i5-11500B

MSRP: $185|Avg: $185

112%

#42

Ryzen 9 9955HX3D

MSRP: $749|Avg: N/A

106%

#49

Core i9-12900HX

MSRP: $606|Avg: N/A

100%

#57

Ryzen AI 9 365

MSRP: $400|Avg: $400

91%

#64

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

MSRP: $600|Avg: $600

87%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Use Case Distinction: This is a comparison between a Professional Workstation processor ($2,444) and a Consumer Desktop CPU. The Xeon Gold 6240R is engineered for massive parallel workloads (rendering, scientific simulations), offering significantly higher core counts.

Insight	Xeon Gold 6240R	Core i9-12900HX
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($2,444)	✅ More affordable ($606)
Longevity	✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm)	✨ Modern (Alder Lake-HX (2022) / Intel 7 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i9-12900HX ($606), however, is optimized for mixed workloads and gaming. For most users, it offers superior single-thread performance and responsiveness at a fraction of the cost ($1,838 less, 75% cheaper), making it the better choice for daily use and gaming.

Insight	Xeon Gold 6240R	Core i9-12900HX
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+299%)
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($2,444)	✅ More affordable ($606)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Xeon Gold 6240R Benchmark Check

Core i9-12900HX Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Xeon Gold 6240R and Core i9-12900HX

Xeon Gold 6240R

The Xeon Gold 6240R 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 2.4 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): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 33,353 points. Launch price was $2,200.

Core i9-12900HX

The Core i9-12900HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 May 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 33,018 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Xeon Gold 6240R packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Core i9-12900HX offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon Gold 6240R has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6240R versus 5 GHz on the Core i9-12900HX — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900HX (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6240R uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-12900HX uses Alder Lake-HX (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6240R scores 33,353 against the Core i9-12900HX's 33,018 — a 1% lead for the Xeon Gold 6240R. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 22,500 vs 23,150 (2.8% advantage for the Core i9-12900HX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,212 vs 2,426, a 66.7% lead for the Core i9-12900HX that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 17,218 vs 14,620 (16.3% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6240R). L3 cache: 35.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6240R vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900HX.

Feature	Xeon Gold 6240R	Core i9-12900HX
Cores / Threads	24 / 48+50%	16 / 24
Boost Clock	4 GHz	5 GHz+25%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz+4%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	35.75 MB+19%	30 MB (total)
L2 Cache	24 MB+1820%	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	14 nm	Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)	Alder Lake-HX (2022)
PassMark	33,353+1%	33,018
Cinebench R23 Multi	22,500	23,150+3%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,212	2,426+100%
Geekbench 6 Multi	17,218+18%	14,620

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Xeon Gold 6240R uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-12900HX uses FCBGA1964 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2933 on the Xeon Gold 6240R versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i9-12900HX — the Core i9-12900HX supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6240R supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon Gold 6240R) vs 2 (Core i9-12900HX). Both provide 48 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: C621,Lewisburg (Xeon Gold 6240R) and HM670,WM690 (Core i9-12900HX).

Feature	Xeon Gold 6240R	Core i9-12900HX
Socket	LGA3647	FCBGA1964
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2933	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	1024 GB+700%	128 GB
RAM Channels	6+200%	2
ECC Support	✅	❌
PCIe Lanes	48	48

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-12900HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 6240R supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. The Core i9-12900HX includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon Gold 6240R requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon Gold 6240R targets Server / High-load computing, Core i9-12900HX targets High-end Mobile Performance. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6240R rivals EPYC 7402; Core i9-12900HX rivals Ryzen 9 6900HX.

Feature	Xeon Gold 6240R	Core i9-12900HX
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Server / High-load computing	High-end Mobile Performance