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 i9-13980HX

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $7,051 less on MSRP ($668 MSRP vs $7,719 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1037.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.8 vs 6.0 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $7,719 MSRP).
✅Draws 55W instead of 270W, a 215W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1964 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics, while Xeon Platinum 8368Q needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (45,950 vs 46,681).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 57 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Platinum 8368Q, which brings 38 cores / 76 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Platinum 8368Q

2021

Why buy it

✅+1.6% higher PassMark.
✅+58.3% larger total L3 cache (57 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 38 cores / 76 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.0 vs 68.8 PassMark/$ ($7,719 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
❌390.9% higher power demand at 270W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 with DDR4, while Core i9-13980HX moves to FCBGA1964 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13980HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i9-13980HX

2023

Xeon Platinum 8368Q

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $7,051 less on MSRP ($668 MSRP vs $7,719 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1037.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.8 vs 6.0 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $7,719 MSRP).
✅Draws 55W instead of 270W, a 215W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1964 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics, while Xeon Platinum 8368Q needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+1.6% higher PassMark.
✅+58.3% larger total L3 cache (57 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 38 cores / 76 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (45,950 vs 46,681).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 57 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Platinum 8368Q, which brings 38 cores / 76 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.0 vs 68.8 PassMark/$ ($7,719 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
❌390.9% higher power demand at 270W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 with DDR4, while Core i9-13980HX moves to FCBGA1964 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13980HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13980HX better than Xeon Platinum 8368Q?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Platinum 8368Q makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-13980HX 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 Platinum 8368Q is the better fit. You are getting 1.6% better PassMark, backed by 38 cores and 76 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 58.3% larger total L3 cache (57 MB vs 36 MB).

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

Core i9-13980HX is the smarter buy today. Core i9-13980HX is $7,051 cheaper on MSRP at $668 MSRP versus $7,719 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon Platinum 8368Q is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.6% better PassMark. It is also 1037.4% better value on MSRP (68.8 vs 6.0 PassMark/$), 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 i9-13980HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with FCBGA1964 and DDR5 instead of LGA4189. 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.

Core i9-13980HX Benchmark Check

Xeon Platinum 8368Q Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Xeon Platinum 8368Q
1080p
low	321 FPS	190 FPS
medium	311 FPS	154 FPS
high	247 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	278 FPS	157 FPS
medium	240 FPS	123 FPS
high	178 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	158 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	192 FPS	72 FPS
medium	164 FPS	60 FPS
high	123 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	39 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Xeon Platinum 8368Q

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Xeon Platinum 8368Q
1080p
low	497 FPS	496 FPS
medium	434 FPS	431 FPS
high	354 FPS	345 FPS
ultra	313 FPS	286 FPS
1440p
low	422 FPS	425 FPS
medium	380 FPS	375 FPS
high	316 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	247 FPS
4K
low	236 FPS	264 FPS
medium	216 FPS	237 FPS
high	205 FPS	208 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	174 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Xeon Platinum 8368Q

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Xeon Platinum 8368Q
1080p
low	762 FPS	960 FPS
medium	626 FPS	836 FPS
high	543 FPS	790 FPS
ultra	467 FPS	701 FPS
1440p
low	680 FPS	759 FPS
medium	567 FPS	652 FPS
high	485 FPS	616 FPS
ultra	423 FPS	547 FPS
4K
low	497 FPS	487 FPS
medium	430 FPS	383 FPS
high	383 FPS	340 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	278 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Xeon Platinum 8368Q

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Xeon Platinum 8368Q
1080p
low	1012 FPS	930 FPS
medium	905 FPS	844 FPS
high	792 FPS	730 FPS
ultra	704 FPS	631 FPS
1440p
low	840 FPS	728 FPS
medium	739 FPS	641 FPS
high	646 FPS	551 FPS
ultra	568 FPS	473 FPS
4K
low	620 FPS	525 FPS
medium	555 FPS	470 FPS
high	491 FPS	413 FPS
ultra	430 FPS	358 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Xeon Platinum 8368Q

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13980HX and Xeon Platinum 8368Q

Core i9-13980HX

The Core i9-13980HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 45,950 points. Launch price was $668.

Xeon Platinum 8368Q

The Xeon Platinum 8368Q is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 38 cores and 76 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 57 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 270 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 46,681 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-13980HX packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Platinum 8368Q offers 38 cores / 76 threads — the Xeon Platinum 8368Q has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.5 GHz on the Core i9-13980HX versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8368Q — a 39.1% clock advantage for the Core i9-13980HX (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i9-13980HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Platinum 8368Q uses Ice Lake-SP (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13980HX scores 45,950 against the Xeon Platinum 8368Q's 46,681 — a 1.6% lead for the Xeon Platinum 8368Q. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13980HX vs 57 MB (total) on the Xeon Platinum 8368Q.

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Xeon Platinum 8368Q
Cores / Threads	24 / 32	38 / 76+58%
Boost Clock	5.5 GHz+49%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	2.6 GHz+18%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)	57 MB (total)+58%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-HX (2023)	Ice Lake-SP (2021)
PassMark	45,950	46,681+2%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13980HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Platinum 8368Q uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5600 on the Core i9-13980HX versus 3200 on the Xeon Platinum 8368Q — the Core i9-13980HX supports 54.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Platinum 8368Q supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 192 — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-13980HX) vs 8 (Xeon Platinum 8368Q). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-13980HX) vs 128 (Xeon Platinum 8368Q) — the Xeon Platinum 8368Q offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Raptor Lake-HX (Core i9-13980HX) and SP3,C621A (Xeon Platinum 8368Q).

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Xeon Platinum 8368Q
Socket	FCBGA1964	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	5600+75%	3200
Max RAM Capacity	192	4096+2033%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-13980HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i9-13980HX includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics), while the Xeon Platinum 8368Q requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i9-13980HX rivals Ryzen 9 7945HX; Xeon Platinum 8368Q rivals Xeon Platinum 8362.

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Xeon Platinum 8368Q
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-13980HX launched at $668 MSRP, while the Xeon Platinum 8368Q debuted at $7719. On MSRP ($668 vs $7719), the Core i9-13980HX is $7051 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-13980HX delivers 68.8 pts/$ vs 6.0 pts/$ for the Xeon Platinum 8368Q — making the Core i9-13980HX the 167.7% better value option.