CPU
GPU
Xeon Gold 6326
Core i9-12900
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 6326
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-12900
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6326 | Core i9-12900 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($420) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Ice Lake-SP (2021) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6326 | Core i9-12900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($420) |
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 6326 and Core i9-12900
Xeon Gold 6326
The Xeon Gold 6326 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 185 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 33,764 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i9-12900
The Core i9-12900 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 33,695 points. Launch price was $489.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6326 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, matching the Core i9-12900's 16 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6326 versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-12900 — a 37.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6326 uses the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i9-12900 uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6326 scores 33,764 against the Core i9-12900's 33,695 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon Gold 6326. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 6326 vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6326 | Core i9-12900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32 | 16 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 5.1 GHz+46% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+21% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB (total) | 30 MB (total)+25% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+25% |
| Process | 10 nm | Intel 7 nm-30% |
| Architecture | Ice Lake-SP (2021) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 33,764 | 33,695 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 24,500 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,631 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 16,254 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6326 uses the LGA4189 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-12900 uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Xeon Gold 6326 versus 4800 on the Core i9-12900 — the Core i9-12900 supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6326 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 128 — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (Xeon Gold 6326) vs 2 (Core i9-12900). PCIe lanes: 64 (Xeon Gold 6326) vs 20 (Core i9-12900) — the Xeon Gold 6326 offers 44 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621A,Ice Lake-SP (Xeon Gold 6326) and Z690,B660 (Core i9-12900).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6326 | Core i9-12900 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA4189 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0+25% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | 4800+119900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4096 GB+3355443100% | 128 |
| RAM Channels | 8+300% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 64+220% | 20 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Gold 6326 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Gold 6326) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-12900). The Core i9-12900 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon Gold 6326 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon Gold 6326 targets High-core Server. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6326 rivals EPYC 7313; Core i9-12900 rivals Ryzen 9 5900.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6326 | Core i9-12900 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | High-core Server | — |
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