CPU
GPU
Xeon W-1290P
Xeon Gold 6246
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 W-1290P
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6246
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W-1290P | Xeon Gold 6246 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W-1290P | Xeon Gold 6246 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 W-1290P and Xeon Gold 6246
Xeon W-1290P
The Xeon W-1290P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. 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: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 22,373 points. Launch price was $800.
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.
Processing Power
The Xeon W-1290P packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6246 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon Gold 6246 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Xeon W-1290P versus 4.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6246 — a 21.3% clock advantage for the Xeon W-1290P (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Xeon W-1290P uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6246 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W-1290P scores 22,373 against the Xeon Gold 6246's 22,571 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon Gold 6246. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon W-1290P vs 24.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6246.
| Feature | Xeon W-1290P | Xeon Gold 6246 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20 | 12 / 24+20% |
| Boost Clock | 5.2 GHz+24% | 4.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+12% | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total) | 24.75 MB+24% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 12 MB+4700% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Comet Lake (2020−2025) | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 22,373 | 22,571 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W-1290P uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 6246 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W-1290P | Xeon Gold 6246 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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