Ryzen Threadripper 2920X vs Xeon Gold 6242

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.

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

2018

Why buy it

✅+45.5% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 22 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $649 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6242 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌20% higher power demand at 180W vs 150W.

Xeon Gold 6242

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 150W instead of 180W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (24,994 vs 25,148).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (22 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

2018

Xeon Gold 6242

2019

Why buy it

✅+45.5% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 22 MB).

Why buy it

✅Draws 150W instead of 180W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $649 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6242 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌20% higher power demand at 180W vs 150W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (24,994 vs 25,148).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (22 MB vs 32 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 2920X better than Xeon Gold 6242?

Yes. Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.6% 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, Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 45.5% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 22 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is at an unclear MSRP at $649 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (38.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Xeon Gold 6242 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2018). 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.

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6242 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X	Xeon Gold 6242
1080p
low	192 FPS	184 FPS
medium	168 FPS	148 FPS
high	138 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	155 FPS	146 FPS
medium	129 FPS	114 FPS
high	104 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	78 FPS	68 FPS
medium	70 FPS	57 FPS
high	55 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	36 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X Open Xeon Gold 6242

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X	Xeon Gold 6242
1080p
low	485 FPS	400 FPS
medium	433 FPS	346 FPS
high	369 FPS	288 FPS
ultra	328 FPS	242 FPS
1440p
low	429 FPS	346 FPS
medium	388 FPS	307 FPS
high	332 FPS	256 FPS
ultra	286 FPS	213 FPS
4K
low	276 FPS	224 FPS
medium	248 FPS	199 FPS
high	228 FPS	177 FPS
ultra	198 FPS	146 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X Open Xeon Gold 6242

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X	Xeon Gold 6242
1080p
low	629 FPS	625 FPS
medium	626 FPS	625 FPS
high	566 FPS	625 FPS
ultra	495 FPS	625 FPS
1440p
low	629 FPS	625 FPS
medium	522 FPS	612 FPS
high	458 FPS	580 FPS
ultra	399 FPS	512 FPS
4K
low	460 FPS	462 FPS
medium	369 FPS	361 FPS
high	330 FPS	322 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	261 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X Open Xeon Gold 6242

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X	Xeon Gold 6242
1080p
low	629 FPS	625 FPS
medium	629 FPS	625 FPS
high	629 FPS	625 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	576 FPS
1440p
low	629 FPS	625 FPS
medium	629 FPS	598 FPS
high	563 FPS	517 FPS
ultra	492 FPS	444 FPS
4K
low	503 FPS	468 FPS
medium	463 FPS	421 FPS
high	411 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	361 FPS	328 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X Open Xeon Gold 6242

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen Threadripper 2920X and Xeon Gold 6242

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

The Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the ZEN+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: SP3r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 180 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 25,148 points. Launch price was $649.

Xeon Gold 6242

The Xeon Gold 6242 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 2.8 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): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 24,994 points. Launch price was $2,529.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen Threadripper 2920X packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6242 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Xeon Gold 6242 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6242 — a 9.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Ryzen Threadripper 2920X uses the ZEN+ (2018−2019) architecture (12 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6242 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X scores 25,148 against the Xeon Gold 6242's 24,994 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X vs 22 MB on the Xeon Gold 6242.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X	Xeon Gold 6242
Cores / Threads	12 / 24	16 / 32+33%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+10%	3.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+25%	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB+45%	22 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	16 MB+3100%
Process	12 nm-14%	14 nm
Architecture	ZEN+ (2018−2019)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	25,148	24,994

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen Threadripper 2920X uses the SP3r2 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6242 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.