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 i9-9980XE

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.8% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Silver 4314, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.7 vs 73.7 PassMark/$ ($1,979 MSRP vs $395 MSRP).
❌22.2% higher power demand at 165W vs 135W.

Xeon Silver 4314

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 44.
✅Costs $1,584 less on MSRP ($395 MSRP vs $1,979 MSRP).
✅Delivers 400.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.7 vs 14.7 PassMark/$ ($395 MSRP vs $1,979 MSRP).
✅Draws 135W instead of 165W, a 30W reduction.
✅45.5% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 44) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9980XE across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (29,095 vs 29,127).

Core i9-9980XE

2018

Xeon Silver 4314

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.8% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 44.
✅Costs $1,584 less on MSRP ($395 MSRP vs $1,979 MSRP).
✅Delivers 400.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.7 vs 14.7 PassMark/$ ($395 MSRP vs $1,979 MSRP).
✅Draws 135W instead of 165W, a 30W reduction.
✅45.5% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 44) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Silver 4314, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.7 vs 73.7 PassMark/$ ($1,979 MSRP vs $395 MSRP).
❌22.2% higher power demand at 165W vs 135W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9980XE across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (29,095 vs 29,127).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9980XE better than Xeon Silver 4314?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Silver 4314 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-9980XE 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 i9-9980XE is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 18.8% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9980XE is the better fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 18 cores and 36 threads.

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

Core i9-9980XE is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Silver 4314 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-9980XE is 401.0% more expensive on MSRP at $1,979 MSRP versus $395 MSRP, and it gives you a 18.8% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon Silver 4314 is also 400.5% better value on MSRP (73.7 vs 14.7 PassMark/$), 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 Silver 4314 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 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.

Core i9-9980XE Benchmark Check

Xeon Silver 4314 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-9980XE	Xeon Silver 4314
1080p
low	168 FPS	172 FPS
medium	148 FPS	138 FPS
high	119 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	87 FPS
1440p
low	140 FPS	141 FPS
medium	120 FPS	111 FPS
high	96 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	69 FPS
4K
low	76 FPS	67 FPS
medium	70 FPS	56 FPS
high	55 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i9-9980XE Open Xeon Silver 4314

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-9980XE	Xeon Silver 4314
1080p
low	498 FPS	370 FPS
medium	429 FPS	321 FPS
high	370 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	335 FPS	218 FPS
1440p
low	430 FPS	318 FPS
medium	377 FPS	285 FPS
high	329 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	286 FPS	194 FPS
4K
low	268 FPS	205 FPS
medium	234 FPS	186 FPS
high	222 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	192 FPS	127 FPS

Open Core i9-9980XE Open Xeon Silver 4314

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-9980XE	Xeon Silver 4314
1080p
low	728 FPS	727 FPS
medium	728 FPS	727 FPS
high	728 FPS	727 FPS
ultra	645 FPS	672 FPS
1440p
low	728 FPS	727 FPS
medium	659 FPS	633 FPS
high	624 FPS	595 FPS
ultra	554 FPS	526 FPS
4K
low	492 FPS	475 FPS
medium	414 FPS	372 FPS
high	371 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	306 FPS	267 FPS

Open Core i9-9980XE Open Xeon Silver 4314

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-9980XE	Xeon Silver 4314
1080p
low	728 FPS	727 FPS
medium	728 FPS	727 FPS
high	728 FPS	661 FPS
ultra	679 FPS	568 FPS
1440p
low	728 FPS	672 FPS
medium	728 FPS	587 FPS
high	639 FPS	506 FPS
ultra	558 FPS	434 FPS
4K
low	581 FPS	462 FPS
medium	525 FPS	415 FPS
high	469 FPS	370 FPS
ultra	409 FPS	323 FPS

Open Core i9-9980XE Open Xeon Silver 4314

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-9980XE and Xeon Silver 4314

Core i9-9980XE

The Core i9-9980XE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 29,127 points. Launch price was $1,979.

Xeon Silver 4314

The Xeon Silver 4314 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 29,095 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-9980XE packs 18 cores / 36 threads, while the Xeon Silver 4314 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-9980XE has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i9-9980XE versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4314 — a 27.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-9980XE (base: 3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i9-9980XE uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Silver 4314 uses Ice Lake-SP (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9980XE scores 29,127 against the Xeon Silver 4314's 29,095 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i9-9980XE. L3 cache: 24.75 MB (total) on the Core i9-9980XE vs 24 MB (total) on the Xeon Silver 4314.

Feature	Core i9-9980XE	Xeon Silver 4314
Cores / Threads	18 / 36+13%	16 / 32
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+32%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+25%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	24.75 MB (total)+3%	24 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	14 nm	10 nm-29%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Ice Lake-SP (2021)
PassMark	29,127	29,095
Cinebench R23 Multi	22,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,459	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,177	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9980XE uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Silver 4314 uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i9-9980XE versus 2667 on the Xeon Silver 4314 — the Xeon Silver 4314 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Silver 4314 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 191.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Core i9-9980XE) vs 8 (Xeon Silver 4314). PCIe lanes: 44 (Core i9-9980XE) vs 64 (Xeon Silver 4314) — the Xeon Silver 4314 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X299 (Core i9-9980XE) and C621A (Xeon Silver 4314).

Feature	Core i9-9980XE	Xeon Silver 4314
Socket	LGA2066	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	2667+66575%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+2184433%	6144
RAM Channels	4	8+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	44	64+45%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-9980XE 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. Primary use case: Core i9-9980XE targets HEDT / Workstation / Content Creation. Direct competitor: Core i9-9980XE rivals Ryzen Threadripper 2950X; Xeon Silver 4314 rivals EPYC 7313.

Feature	Core i9-9980XE	Xeon Silver 4314
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	HEDT / Workstation / Content Creation	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-9980XE launched at $1979 MSRP, while the Xeon Silver 4314 debuted at $395. On MSRP ($1979 vs $395), the Xeon Silver 4314 is $1584 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-9980XE delivers 14.7 pts/$ vs 73.7 pts/$ for the Xeon Silver 4314 — making the Xeon Silver 4314 the 133.4% better value option.