Xeon Gold 5218R 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.

Xeon Gold 5218R

2020

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (28 MB vs 22 MB).
✅Draws 125W instead of 150W, a 25W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Xeon Gold 6242

2019

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (24,994 vs 25,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (22 MB vs 28 MB).
❌20% higher power demand at 150W vs 125W.

Xeon Gold 5218R

2020

Xeon Gold 6242

2019

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (28 MB vs 22 MB).
✅Draws 125W instead of 150W, a 25W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (24,994 vs 25,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (22 MB vs 28 MB).
❌20% higher power demand at 150W vs 125W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 5218R better than Xeon Gold 6242?

Yes. Xeon Gold 5218R is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.8% average FPS lead across 7 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0% 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 5218R is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.8% more average FPS across 7 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 5218R is the better fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 20 cores and 40 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (28 MB vs 22 MB).

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

Xeon Gold 5218R still looks like the safer overall buy. Xeon Gold 5218R is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 7 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Xeon Gold 5218R is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019), 25% larger total L3 cache (28 MB vs 22 MB), more multi-core headroom with 20 cores / 40 threads instead of 16/32, 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.

Xeon Gold 5218R Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6242 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Xeon Gold 5218R	Xeon Gold 6242
1080p
low	186 FPS	184 FPS
medium	151 FPS	148 FPS
high	123 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	146 FPS	146 FPS
medium	115 FPS	114 FPS
high	92 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	68 FPS	68 FPS
medium	57 FPS	57 FPS
high	45 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	36 FPS

Open Xeon Gold 5218R Open Xeon Gold 6242

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Xeon Gold 5218R	Xeon Gold 6242
1080p
low	212 FPS	400 FPS
medium	188 FPS	346 FPS
high	161 FPS	288 FPS
ultra	136 FPS	242 FPS
1440p
low	183 FPS	346 FPS
medium	166 FPS	307 FPS
high	143 FPS	256 FPS
ultra	120 FPS	213 FPS
4K
low	119 FPS	224 FPS
medium	109 FPS	199 FPS
high	99 FPS	177 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	146 FPS

Open Xeon Gold 5218R Open Xeon Gold 6242

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Xeon Gold 5218R	Xeon Gold 6242
1080p
low	625 FPS	625 FPS
medium	625 FPS	625 FPS
high	625 FPS	625 FPS
ultra	625 FPS	625 FPS
1440p
low	625 FPS	625 FPS
medium	625 FPS	612 FPS
high	625 FPS	580 FPS
ultra	559 FPS	512 FPS
4K
low	487 FPS	462 FPS
medium	399 FPS	361 FPS
high	352 FPS	322 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	261 FPS

Open Xeon Gold 5218R Open Xeon Gold 6242

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Xeon Gold 5218R	Xeon Gold 6242
1080p
low	625 FPS	625 FPS
medium	625 FPS	625 FPS
high	625 FPS	625 FPS
ultra	567 FPS	576 FPS
1440p
low	625 FPS	625 FPS
medium	590 FPS	598 FPS
high	508 FPS	517 FPS
ultra	440 FPS	444 FPS
4K
low	468 FPS	468 FPS
medium	419 FPS	421 FPS
high	374 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	323 FPS	328 FPS

Open Xeon Gold 5218R Open Xeon Gold 6242

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Xeon Gold 5218R and Xeon Gold 6242

Xeon Gold 5218R

The Xeon Gold 5218R 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 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 27.5 MB. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 25,000 points. Launch price was $1,273.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

The Xeon Gold 5218R packs 20 cores / 40 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6242 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Xeon Gold 5218R has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5218R versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6242 — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 5218R (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). Both are built on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture using a 14 nm process. In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5218R scores 25,000 against the Xeon Gold 6242's 24,994 — a 0% lead for the Xeon Gold 5218R. L3 cache: 27.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 5218R vs 22 MB on the Xeon Gold 6242.

Feature	Xeon Gold 5218R	Xeon Gold 6242
Cores / Threads	20 / 40+25%	16 / 32
Boost Clock	4 GHz+3%	3.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	2.8 GHz+33%
L3 Cache	27.5 MB+25%	22 MB
L2 Cache	20 MB+25%	16 MB
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	25,000	24,994