Core i9-13900H vs Xeon Gold 6252

Intel

Core i9-13900H

14 Cores20 Thrd45 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2023

Popular choices:

VS
Intel

Xeon Gold 6252

24 Cores48 Thrd150 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2019

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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 i9-13900H

2023

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +10.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 45W instead of 150W, a 105W reduction.
  • Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 36 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6252, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads.
  • Launch MSRP is still $617 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6252 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon Gold 6252

2019

Why buy it

  • +49% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 24 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900H across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (27,148 vs 27,444).
  • 233.3% higher power demand at 150W vs 45W.
  • Older platform position on LGA3647 with DDR4, while Core i9-13900H moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13900H better than Xeon Gold 6252?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 6252 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-13900H is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Core i9-13900H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 10.8% 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, Core i9-13900H is the better fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i9-13900H is the smarter buy today. Core i9-13900H is at an unclear MSRP at $617 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 10.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (44.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?
Core i9-13900H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2019), a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of LGA3647, and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 20 threads instead of 24/48. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i9-13900HXeon Gold 6252
1080p
low262 FPS195 FPS
medium253 FPS158 FPS
high210 FPS128 FPS
ultra180 FPS100 FPS
1440p
low223 FPS157 FPS
medium192 FPS123 FPS
high154 FPS96 FPS
ultra135 FPS76 FPS
4K
low154 FPS72 FPS
medium132 FPS60 FPS
high101 FPS47 FPS
ultra90 FPS38 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i9-13900HXeon Gold 6252
1080p
low636 FPS233 FPS
medium543 FPS207 FPS
high458 FPS174 FPS
ultra417 FPS145 FPS
1440p
low554 FPS200 FPS
medium492 FPS180 FPS
high416 FPS153 FPS
ultra357 FPS123 FPS
4K
low325 FPS125 FPS
medium296 FPS114 FPS
high279 FPS104 FPS
ultra246 FPS86 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i9-13900HXeon Gold 6252
1080p
low648 FPS679 FPS
medium530 FPS679 FPS
high467 FPS679 FPS
ultra405 FPS657 FPS
1440p
low591 FPS679 FPS
medium491 FPS614 FPS
high427 FPS580 FPS
ultra370 FPS515 FPS
4K
low434 FPS459 FPS
medium374 FPS363 FPS
high339 FPS322 FPS
ultra290 FPS263 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i9-13900HXeon Gold 6252
1080p
low686 FPS679 FPS
medium686 FPS679 FPS
high686 FPS679 FPS
ultra672 FPS609 FPS
1440p
low686 FPS679 FPS
medium686 FPS625 FPS
high626 FPS536 FPS
ultra552 FPS458 FPS
4K
low555 FPS514 FPS
medium504 FPS459 FPS
high451 FPS402 FPS
ultra394 FPS348 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13900H and Xeon Gold 6252

Intel

Core i9-13900H

The Core i9-13900H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 27,444 points. Launch price was $617.

Intel

Xeon Gold 6252

The Xeon Gold 6252 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 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB. L2 cache: 24 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 27,148 points. Launch price was $3,655.

Processing Power

The Core i9-13900H packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6252 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon Gold 6252 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i9-13900H versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6252 — a 37.4% clock advantage for the Core i9-13900H (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i9-13900H uses the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6252 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13900H scores 27,444 against the Xeon Gold 6252's 27,148 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i9-13900H. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-13900H vs 35.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6252.

FeatureCore i9-13900HXeon Gold 6252
Cores / Threads
14 / 20
24 / 48+71%
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz+46%
3.7 GHz
Base Clock
2.6 GHz+24%
2.1 GHz
L3 Cache
24 MB (total)
35.75 MB+49%
L2 Cache
2 MB (per core)
24 MB+1100%
Process
Intel 7 nm-50%
14 nm
Architecture
Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024)
Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark
27,444+1%
27,148
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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13900H uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6252 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i9-13900HXeon Gold 6252
Socket
FCBGA1744
LGA3647
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+67%
PCIe 3.0