CPU
GPU
Xeon Gold 6246
Core i9-12900TE
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 6246
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-12900TE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6246 | Core i9-12900TE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($664) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6246 | Core i9-12900TE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($664) |
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 6246 and Core i9-12900TE
Xeon Gold 6246
The Xeon Gold 6246 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 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 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: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 22,571 points. Launch price was $3,286.
Core i9-12900TE
The Core i9-12900TE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,887 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6246 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Core i9-12900TE offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i9-12900TE has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6246 versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-12900TE — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900TE (base: 3.3 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6246 uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-12900TE uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6246 scores 22,571 against the Core i9-12900TE's 22,887 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i9-12900TE. L3 cache: 24.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6246 vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900TE.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6246 | Core i9-12900TE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 24 | 16 / 24+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz | 4.8 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+200% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 24.75 MB | 30 MB (total)+21% |
| L2 Cache | 12 MB+860% | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 10 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 22,571 | 22,887+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6246 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-12900TE uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6246 | Core i9-12900TE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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