Core i9-7920X vs Xeon Gold 6122

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 i9-7920X

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (23,508 vs 23,781).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (17 MB vs 28 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6122, which brings 20 cores / 40 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,199 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6122 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌16.7% higher power demand at 140W vs 120W.

Xeon Gold 6122

2018

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅+69.7% larger total L3 cache (28 MB vs 17 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 20 cores / 40 threads.
✅Draws 120W instead of 140W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-7920X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Core i9-7920X

2017

Xeon Gold 6122

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅+69.7% larger total L3 cache (28 MB vs 17 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 20 cores / 40 threads.
✅Draws 120W instead of 140W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (23,508 vs 23,781).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (17 MB vs 28 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6122, which brings 20 cores / 40 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,199 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6122 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌16.7% higher power demand at 140W vs 120W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-7920X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6122 better than Core i9-7920X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 6122 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-7920X 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 6122 is the better fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 20 cores and 40 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 69.7% larger total L3 cache (28 MB vs 17 MB).

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

Xeon Gold 6122 is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Xeon Gold 6122 is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,199 MSRP, and it gives you 1.2% better PassMark. Core i9-7920X only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2017 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (19.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA2066.

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

Xeon Gold 6122 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2017), 69.7% larger total L3 cache (28 MB vs 17 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 20 cores / 40 threads instead of 12/24. 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 i9-7920X Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6122 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-7920X	Xeon Gold 6122
1080p
low	163 FPS	186 FPS
medium	142 FPS	151 FPS
high	113 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	95 FPS
1440p
low	140 FPS	146 FPS
medium	119 FPS	115 FPS
high	94 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	76 FPS	68 FPS
medium	70 FPS	57 FPS
high	55 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i9-7920X Open Xeon Gold 6122

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-7920X	Xeon Gold 6122
1080p
low	352 FPS	211 FPS
medium	300 FPS	188 FPS
high	274 FPS	161 FPS
ultra	243 FPS	136 FPS
1440p
low	315 FPS	183 FPS
medium	274 FPS	166 FPS
high	249 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	215 FPS	120 FPS
4K
low	227 FPS	119 FPS
medium	201 FPS	109 FPS
high	191 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	162 FPS	82 FPS

Open Core i9-7920X Open Xeon Gold 6122

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-7920X	Xeon Gold 6122
1080p
low	560 FPS	595 FPS
medium	468 FPS	559 FPS
high	420 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	366 FPS	439 FPS
1440p
low	507 FPS	558 FPS
medium	431 FPS	453 FPS
high	385 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	334 FPS	355 FPS
4K
low	390 FPS	405 FPS
medium	322 FPS	315 FPS
high	284 FPS	281 FPS
ultra	231 FPS	225 FPS

Open Core i9-7920X Open Xeon Gold 6122

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-7920X	Xeon Gold 6122
1080p
low	588 FPS	595 FPS
medium	588 FPS	595 FPS
high	588 FPS	595 FPS
ultra	588 FPS	577 FPS
1440p
low	588 FPS	595 FPS
medium	588 FPS	595 FPS
high	579 FPS	513 FPS
ultra	502 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	531 FPS	471 FPS
medium	480 FPS	421 FPS
high	424 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	366 FPS	325 FPS

Open Core i9-7920X Open Xeon Gold 6122

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-7920X and Xeon Gold 6122

Core i9-7920X

The Core i9-7920X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 September 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 16.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 23,508 points. Launch price was $1,199.

Xeon Gold 6122

The Xeon Gold 6122 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 28 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 23,781 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-7920X packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6122 offers 20 cores / 40 threads — the Xeon Gold 6122 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i9-7920X versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6122 — a 17.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-7920X (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i9-7920X is built on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i9-7920X scores 23,508 against the Xeon Gold 6122's 23,781 — a 1.2% lead for the Xeon Gold 6122. L3 cache: 16.5 MB (total) on the Core i9-7920X vs 28 MB on the Xeon Gold 6122.

Feature	Core i9-7920X	Xeon Gold 6122
Cores / Threads	12 / 24	20 / 40+67%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+19%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+61%	1.8 GHz
L3 Cache	16.5 MB (total)	28 MB+70%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	—
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	—
PassMark	23,508	23,781+1%

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-7920X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 6122 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.