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.

Xeon Gold 6130H

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,083 less on MSRP ($1,894 MSRP vs $2,977 MSRP).
✅Delivers 54.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 18.7 vs 12.1 PassMark/$ ($1,894 MSRP vs $2,977 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 205W, a 80W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6242R across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (35,440 vs 36,011).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (22 MB vs 36 MB).

Xeon Gold 6242R

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +50.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+62.5% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 22 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.1 vs 18.7 PassMark/$ ($2,977 MSRP vs $1,894 MSRP).
❌64% higher power demand at 205W vs 125W.

Xeon Gold 6130H

2018

Xeon Gold 6242R

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,083 less on MSRP ($1,894 MSRP vs $2,977 MSRP).
✅Delivers 54.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 18.7 vs 12.1 PassMark/$ ($1,894 MSRP vs $2,977 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 205W, a 80W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +50.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+62.5% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 22 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6242R across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (35,440 vs 36,011).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (22 MB vs 36 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.1 vs 18.7 PassMark/$ ($2,977 MSRP vs $1,894 MSRP).
❌64% higher power demand at 205W vs 125W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6242R better than Xeon Gold 6130H?

Yes. Xeon Gold 6242R is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 50.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon Gold 6242R is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 50.3% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6242R is the better fit. You are getting 1.6% better PassMark, backed by 20 cores and 40 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 62.5% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 22 MB).

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

Xeon Gold 6242R is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Gold 6130H makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon Gold 6242R is 57.2% more expensive on MSRP at $2,977 MSRP versus $1,894 MSRP, and it gives you a 50.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon Gold 6130H is also 54.7% better value on MSRP (18.7 vs 12.1 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Xeon Gold 6242R is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2018), 62.5% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 22 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 20 cores / 40 threads instead of 16/32. 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.

Xeon Gold 6130H Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6242R Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Xeon Gold 6130H	Xeon Gold 6242R
1080p
low	182 FPS	199 FPS
medium	146 FPS	160 FPS
high	119 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	144 FPS	159 FPS
medium	114 FPS	124 FPS
high	91 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	73 FPS
medium	56 FPS	60 FPS
high	45 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	38 FPS

Open Xeon Gold 6130H Open Xeon Gold 6242R

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Xeon Gold 6130H	Xeon Gold 6242R
1080p
low	211 FPS	501 FPS
medium	186 FPS	440 FPS
high	160 FPS	364 FPS
ultra	135 FPS	324 FPS
1440p
low	182 FPS	442 FPS
medium	165 FPS	389 FPS
high	141 FPS	326 FPS
ultra	118 FPS	274 FPS
4K
low	118 FPS	279 FPS
medium	107 FPS	247 FPS
high	98 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	200 FPS

Open Xeon Gold 6130H Open Xeon Gold 6242R

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Xeon Gold 6130H	Xeon Gold 6242R
1080p
low	697 FPS	900 FPS
medium	559 FPS	900 FPS
high	507 FPS	863 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	781 FPS
1440p
low	558 FPS	814 FPS
medium	453 FPS	720 FPS
high	411 FPS	665 FPS
ultra	355 FPS	596 FPS
4K
low	405 FPS	516 FPS
medium	315 FPS	423 FPS
high	281 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	306 FPS

Open Xeon Gold 6130H Open Xeon Gold 6242R

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Xeon Gold 6130H	Xeon Gold 6242R
1080p
low	848 FPS	900 FPS
medium	771 FPS	900 FPS
high	666 FPS	783 FPS
ultra	581 FPS	671 FPS
1440p
low	684 FPS	824 FPS
medium	600 FPS	707 FPS
high	516 FPS	605 FPS
ultra	443 FPS	515 FPS
4K
low	471 FPS	602 FPS
medium	423 FPS	523 FPS
high	377 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	327 FPS	387 FPS

Open Xeon Gold 6130H Open Xeon Gold 6242R

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Xeon Gold 6130H and Xeon Gold 6242R

Xeon Gold 6130H

The Xeon Gold 6130H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCLGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 35,440 points. Launch price was $800.

Xeon Gold 6242R

The Xeon Gold 6242R is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 36,011 points. Launch price was $2,529.

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Processing Power

The Xeon Gold 6130H packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6242R offers 20 cores / 40 threads — the Xeon Gold 6242R has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6130H versus 4.1 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6242R — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6242R (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6242R is built on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6130H scores 35,440 against the Xeon Gold 6242R's 36,011 — a 1.6% lead for the Xeon Gold 6242R. L3 cache: 22 MB on the Xeon Gold 6130H vs 35.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6242R.

Feature	Xeon Gold 6130H	Xeon Gold 6242R
Cores / Threads	16 / 32	20 / 40+25%
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	4.1 GHz+11%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.1 GHz+48%
L3 Cache	22 MB	35.75 MB+63%
L2 Cache	—	20 MB
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	—	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	35,440	36,011+2%

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon Gold 6130H uses the FCLGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 6242R uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 2666 on the Xeon Gold 6130H versus 2933 on the Xeon Gold 6242R — the Xeon Gold 6242R supports 9.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6242R supports up to 1024 of RAM compared to 768 — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 6-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 48 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: C621 (Xeon Gold 6130H) and C621 (Xeon Gold 6242R).

Feature	Xeon Gold 6130H	Xeon Gold 6242R
Socket	FCLGA3647	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	2666	2933+10%
Max RAM Capacity	768	1024+33%
RAM Channels	6	6
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	48	48

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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. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6130H rivals EPYC 7401; Xeon Gold 6242R rivals EPYC 7302.

Feature	Xeon Gold 6130H	Xeon Gold 6242R
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Xeon Gold 6130H launched at $1894 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6242R debuted at $2977. On MSRP ($1894 vs $2977), the Xeon Gold 6130H is $1083 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Gold 6130H delivers 18.7 pts/$ vs 12.1 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6242R — making the Xeon Gold 6130H the 42.9% better value option.