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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-11700B

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $950 less on MSRP ($323 MSRP vs $1,273 MSRP).
✅Delivers 294.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 66.8 vs 17.0 PassMark/$ ($323 MSRP vs $1,273 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 750, while Xeon Gold 5218 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,581 vs 21,586).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 5218, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Gold 5218

2019

Why buy it

✅+0% higher PassMark.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-11700B across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.0 vs 66.8 PassMark/$ ($1,273 MSRP vs $323 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-11700B can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-11700B

2021

Xeon Gold 5218

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $950 less on MSRP ($323 MSRP vs $1,273 MSRP).
✅Delivers 294.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 66.8 vs 17.0 PassMark/$ ($323 MSRP vs $1,273 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 750, while Xeon Gold 5218 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+0% higher PassMark.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,581 vs 21,586).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 5218, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-11700B across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.0 vs 66.8 PassMark/$ ($1,273 MSRP vs $323 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-11700B can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-11700B better than Xeon Gold 5218?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 5218 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-11700B is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 5218 is the better fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-11700B is the smarter buy today. Core i7-11700B is $950 cheaper on MSRP at $323 MSRP versus $1,273 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon Gold 5218 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0% better PassMark. It is also 294.0% better value on MSRP (66.8 vs 17.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-11700B is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2019). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

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.

Core i7-11700B Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 5218 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-11700B	Xeon Gold 5218
1080p
low	250 FPS	182 FPS
medium	231 FPS	147 FPS
high	194 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	167 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	144 FPS
medium	186 FPS	114 FPS
high	151 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	133 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	155 FPS	67 FPS
medium	131 FPS	56 FPS
high	101 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i7-11700B Open Xeon Gold 5218

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-11700B	Xeon Gold 5218
1080p
low	540 FPS	395 FPS
medium	490 FPS	342 FPS
high	410 FPS	284 FPS
ultra	374 FPS	238 FPS
1440p
low	477 FPS	342 FPS
medium	421 FPS	303 FPS
high	365 FPS	252 FPS
ultra	317 FPS	210 FPS
4K
low	294 FPS	221 FPS
medium	262 FPS	197 FPS
high	247 FPS	174 FPS
ultra	219 FPS	143 FPS

Open Core i7-11700B Open Xeon Gold 5218

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-11700B	Xeon Gold 5218
1080p
low	540 FPS	540 FPS
medium	540 FPS	540 FPS
high	488 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	388 FPS	540 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	540 FPS
medium	501 FPS	540 FPS
high	426 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	346 FPS	506 FPS
4K
low	430 FPS	455 FPS
medium	369 FPS	357 FPS
high	325 FPS	318 FPS
ultra	260 FPS	259 FPS

Open Core i7-11700B Open Xeon Gold 5218

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-11700B	Xeon Gold 5218
1080p
low	540 FPS	540 FPS
medium	540 FPS	540 FPS
high	540 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	540 FPS	540 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	540 FPS
medium	540 FPS	540 FPS
high	540 FPS	509 FPS
ultra	492 FPS	436 FPS
4K
low	522 FPS	462 FPS
medium	469 FPS	416 FPS
high	417 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	358 FPS	323 FPS

Open Core i7-11700B Open Xeon Gold 5218

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-11700B and Xeon Gold 5218

Core i7-11700B

The Core i7-11700B is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: Up to 3200 MT/s. Passmark benchmark score: 21,581 points. Launch price was $299.

Xeon Gold 5218

The Xeon Gold 5218 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 2.3 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): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 21,586 points. Launch price was $1,273.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-11700B packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5218 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Xeon Gold 5218 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-11700B versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5218 — a 20.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-11700B (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i7-11700B uses the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Xeon Gold 5218 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-11700B scores 21,581 against the Xeon Gold 5218's 21,586 — a 0% lead for the Xeon Gold 5218. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i7-11700B vs 22 MB on the Xeon Gold 5218.

Feature	Core i7-11700B	Xeon Gold 5218
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	16 / 32+100%
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+23%	3.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+39%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)+9%	22 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	16 MB+1180%
Process	10 nm SuperFin-29%	14 nm
Architecture	Tiger Lake-H (2021)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	21,581	21,586
Cinebench R23 Multi	10,287	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,265	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,050	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-11700B uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 5218 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Core i7-11700B versus 2666 on the Xeon Gold 5218 — the Xeon Gold 5218 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 5218 supports up to 768 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-11700B) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 5218). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-11700B) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 5218) — the Xeon Gold 5218 offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM570,QM580,WM590 (Core i7-11700B) and C621 (Xeon Gold 5218).

Feature	Core i7-11700B	Xeon Gold 5218
Socket	FCBGA1787	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	2666+66550%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+17476167%	768
RAM Channels	2	6+200%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	48+140%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i7-11700B includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 750), while the Xeon Gold 5218 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-11700B targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i7-11700B	Xeon Gold 5218
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 750	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-11700B launched at $323 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 5218 debuted at $1273. On MSRP ($323 vs $1273), the Core i7-11700B is $950 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-11700B delivers 66.8 pts/$ vs 17.0 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 5218 — making the Core i7-11700B the 119% better value option.