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 i9-13900KS

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +36.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $384 less on MSRP ($699 MSRP vs $1,083 MSRP).
✅Delivers 53.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 86.6 vs 56.5 PassMark/$ ($699 MSRP vs $1,083 MSRP).
✅Draws 150W instead of 205W, a 55W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon Gold 5520+ needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (21,421 vs 25,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 53 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 5520+, which brings 28 cores / 56 threads and 80 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Gold 5520+

2023

Why buy it

✅+16.7% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+45.8% larger total L3 cache (53 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 28 cores / 56 threads, plus 80 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅300% more PCIe lanes (80 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900KS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 56.5 vs 86.6 PassMark/$ ($1,083 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
❌36.7% higher power demand at 205W vs 150W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13900KS can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i9-13900KS

2023

Xeon Gold 5520+

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +36.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $384 less on MSRP ($699 MSRP vs $1,083 MSRP).
✅Delivers 53.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 86.6 vs 56.5 PassMark/$ ($699 MSRP vs $1,083 MSRP).
✅Draws 150W instead of 205W, a 55W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon Gold 5520+ needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+16.7% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+45.8% larger total L3 cache (53 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 28 cores / 56 threads, plus 80 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅300% more PCIe lanes (80 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (21,421 vs 25,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 53 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 5520+, which brings 28 cores / 56 threads and 80 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900KS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 56.5 vs 86.6 PassMark/$ ($1,083 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
❌36.7% higher power demand at 205W vs 150W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13900KS can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13900KS better than Xeon Gold 5520+?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 5520+ makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-13900KS 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 5520+ is the better fit. You are getting 16.7% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 28 cores and 56 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 45.8% larger total L3 cache (53 MB vs 36 MB).

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

Core i9-13900KS is the smarter buy today. Core i9-13900KS is $384 cheaper on MSRP at $699 MSRP versus $1,083 MSRP, and it gives you a 36.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon Gold 5520+ is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 16.7% better Geekbench multi-core. It is also 53.2% better value on MSRP (86.6 vs 56.5 PassMark/$), 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?

Xeon Gold 5520+ is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 45.8% larger total L3 cache (53 MB vs 36 MB), more multi-core headroom with 28 cores / 56 threads instead of 24/32, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i9-13900KS Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 5520+ Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-13900KS	Xeon Gold 5520+
1080p
low	325 FPS	185 FPS
medium	314 FPS	162 FPS
high	246 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	207 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	281 FPS	153 FPS
medium	241 FPS	129 FPS
high	177 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	156 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	194 FPS	70 FPS
medium	165 FPS	62 FPS
high	122 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	110 FPS	39 FPS

Open Core i9-13900KS Open Xeon Gold 5520+

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-13900KS	Xeon Gold 5520+
1080p
low	790 FPS	266 FPS
medium	688 FPS	238 FPS
high	550 FPS	197 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	164 FPS
1440p
low	662 FPS	227 FPS
medium	597 FPS	205 FPS
high	490 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	400 FPS	140 FPS
4K
low	368 FPS	141 FPS
medium	336 FPS	130 FPS
high	312 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	98 FPS

Open Core i9-13900KS Open Xeon Gold 5520+

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-13900KS	Xeon Gold 5520+
1080p
low	794 FPS	875 FPS
medium	660 FPS	792 FPS
high	572 FPS	748 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	658 FPS
1440p
low	711 FPS	749 FPS
medium	599 FPS	674 FPS
high	512 FPS	633 FPS
ultra	450 FPS	564 FPS
4K
low	522 FPS	506 FPS
medium	463 FPS	425 FPS
high	412 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	352 FPS	316 FPS

Open Core i9-13900KS Open Xeon Gold 5520+

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-13900KS	Xeon Gold 5520+
1080p
low	1089 FPS	933 FPS
medium	975 FPS	842 FPS
high	853 FPS	728 FPS
ultra	760 FPS	632 FPS
1440p
low	899 FPS	767 FPS
medium	791 FPS	674 FPS
high	690 FPS	579 FPS
ultra	607 FPS	498 FPS
4K
low	661 FPS	560 FPS
medium	592 FPS	504 FPS
high	523 FPS	445 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	383 FPS

Open Core i9-13900KS Open Xeon Gold 5520+

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13900KS and Xeon Gold 5520+

Core i9-13900KS

The Core i9-13900KS is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.8 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 60,543 points. Launch price was $699.

Xeon Gold 5520+

The Xeon Gold 5520+ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Emerald Rapids (2023) architecture. It features 28 cores and 56 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 52.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 61,227 points. Launch price was $1,640.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-13900KS packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5520+ offers 28 cores / 56 threads — the Xeon Gold 5520+ has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.8 GHz on the Core i9-13900KS versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5520+ — a 36.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-13900KS (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i9-13900KS uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5520+ uses Emerald Rapids (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13900KS scores 60,543 against the Xeon Gold 5520+'s 61,227 — a 1.1% lead for the Xeon Gold 5520+. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 3,123 vs 1,600, a 64.5% lead for the Core i9-13900KS that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 21,421 vs 25,000 (15.4% advantage for the Xeon Gold 5520+). L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13900KS vs 52.5 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 5520+.

Feature	Core i9-13900KS	Xeon Gold 5520+
Cores / Threads	24 / 32	28 / 56+17%
Boost Clock	5.8 GHz+45%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+45%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)	52.5 MB (total)+46%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Emerald Rapids (2023)
PassMark	60,543	61,227+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi	40,998	—
Geekbench 6 Single	3,123+95%	1,600
Geekbench 6 Multi	21,421	25,000+17%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13900KS uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 5520+ uses LGA4677 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Xeon Gold 5520+ supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-13900KS) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 5520+). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-13900KS) vs 80 (Xeon Gold 5520+) — the Xeon Gold 5520+ offers 60 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z790,B760 (Core i9-13900KS) and C741 (Xeon Gold 5520+).

Feature	Core i9-13900KS	Xeon Gold 5520+
Socket	LGA1700	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	4096 GB+2033%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	80+300%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-13900KS has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 5520+ supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core i9-13900KS) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 5520+). The Core i9-13900KS includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon Gold 5520+ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon Gold 5520+ targets Enterprise Server. Direct competitor: Core i9-13900KS rivals Ryzen 9 7950X; Xeon Gold 5520+ rivals EPYC 9354.

Feature	Core i9-13900KS	Xeon Gold 5520+
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Enterprise Server

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-13900KS launched at $699 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 5520+ debuted at $1083. On MSRP ($699 vs $1083), the Core i9-13900KS is $384 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-13900KS delivers 86.6 pts/$ vs 56.5 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 5520+ — making the Core i9-13900KS the 42% better value option.