Xeon Gold 6242 vs Core i9-11900K
Xeon Gold 6242
Core i9-11900K
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 6242
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-11900K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6242 | Core i9-11900K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($435) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6242 | Core i9-11900K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($435) |
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 6242 and Core i9-11900K
Xeon Gold 6242
The Xeon Gold 6242 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 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 24,994 points. Launch price was $2,529.
Core i9-11900K
The Core i9-11900K 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 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 24,990 points. Launch price was $539.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6242 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Core i9-11900K offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Gold 6242 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6242 versus 5.2 GHz on the Core i9-11900K — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Core i9-11900K (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6242 uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-11900K uses Rocket Lake (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6242 scores 24,994 against the Core i9-11900K's 24,990 — a 0% lead for the Xeon Gold 6242. L3 cache: 22 MB on the Xeon Gold 6242 vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-11900K.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6242 | Core i9-11900K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32+100% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 5.2 GHz+33% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.5 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 22 MB+38% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 16 MB+3100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Rocket Lake (2021) |
| PassMark | 24,994 | 24,990 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6242 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-11900K uses LGA1200 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6242 | Core i9-11900K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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