Intel Core i9-10940X vs Intel Xeon W-2195 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is remarkably one-sided. Across all six Cinebench comparisons recorded in the database, the Intel Xeon W-2195 wins every single test, though by a narrow margin. The largest advantage appears in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the Xeon scores 2401 against the Core i9-10940X's 2370, a 1.3% delta. The same 1.3% gap repeats across Cinebench R20 multicore (10007 vs 9878), R23 multicore (23828 vs 23520), and even the single-core tests: R15 single-core is 338 vs 334, R20 single-core is 1412 vs 1394, and R23 single-core is 3363 vs 3320. Every head-to-head benchmark in the database shows the Xeon W-2195 ahead, always by 1.2% or 1.3%.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces this pattern, though it also puts both chips in a crowded mid-range context. The Xeon W-2195 averages 6892 points, placing it in the 63rd percentile of all CPUs. The Core i9-10940X averages 6605 points, sitting at the 62nd percentile. The Xeon's nearest rivals in average score are the Intel Core i5-3470 at 6906 (-0.2%), AMD Ryzen 3 3200G at 6931 (-0.6%), Intel Core i3-1115G4 at 6851 (+0.6%), and AMD Athlon X4 970 at 6850 (+0.6%). The i9-10940X's nearest rivals are the Intel Pentium Gold G6405 at 6605 (0.0% delta), Intel Core i9-12900E at 6611 (-0.1%), Intel Core i5-13500E at 6586 (+0.3%), and Intel Core i5-13400E at 6638 (-0.5%).

The practical interpretation is that neither chip dominates its own peer group by a large margin. The Xeon's 63rd percentile and the i9's 62nd percentile are essentially adjacent. The consistent 1.3% edge in multicore workloads suggests the Xeon's additional cores are doing real work, but the effect is modest. Meanwhile, the i9-10940X has an extra benchmark recorded in the database, Geekbench, where it scores 10464 multicore and 1556 single-core. Those Geekbench numbers are not part of the head-to-head comparison, so they cannot be directly matched against the Xeon, but they do show the i9's capabilities in a test the Xeon does not have recorded.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share a socket and a process node, but they diverge in nearly every other architectural detail. Both use Intel Socket 2066 and both are built on Intel's 14 nm process. The Xeon W-2195 uses the Skylake architecture with the Skylake-W codename, while the Core i9-10940X uses Cascade Lake with the Cascade Lake-X codename. The Xeon belongs to the Xeon W generation, the i9 to the Core 10th Gen X-Series.

Core counts differ meaningfully. The Xeon W-2195 has 18 cores and 36 threads. The Core i9-10940X has 14 cores and 28 threads. That is a 4-core, 8-thread advantage for the Xeon, which explains its consistent multicore wins. The i9 counters with higher clock speeds: its base clock is 3.30 GHz against the Xeon's 2.30 GHz, and its boost clock is 4.80 GHz against 4.30 GHz. The i9 also carries a higher TDP at 165 watts, while the Xeon is rated at 140 watts.

Cache layouts are similar in structure but different in total capacity. Both chips have 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core. The shared L3 differs: the Xeon has 24.75 MB, the i9 has 19.25 MB. The Xeon's larger L3 cache aligns with its larger core count. Memory support is DDR4 on both, and both use a quad-channel memory bus. The Xeon has a recorded memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s; the i9 does not have a bandwidth figure in the database. ECC memory is supported on the Xeon but not on the i9. The Xeon's PCIe configuration is listed as Gen 3 with 48 lanes (CPU only), while the i9 is simply listed as Gen 3 with no lane count given.

Other differences: the Xeon's die size is 484 mm², while the i9 has no die size recorded. The Xeon's market segment is Server/Workstation, the i9's is Desktop. The Xeon is end-of-life in production status, the i9 is active. The Xeon's release date is 2017-08-28, the i9's is 2019-10-18. The Xeon has a locked multiplier, the i9 has an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon's part number is SR3RX, the i9 has none recorded. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $2553, which is stated once here as recorded.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but narrow conclusion: the Intel Xeon W-2195 wins every head-to-head benchmark in the database. If the question is purely which chip scores higher in Cinebench, the answer is the Xeon, across all six tests, with deltas of 1.2% to 1.3%. The largest margin is 1.3%, so this is not a decisive victory. The Xeon achieves this with 18 cores and 36 threads against the i9's 14 cores and 28 threads, plus a larger 24.75 MB L3 cache and ECC memory support. Those features align with its Server/Workstation market segment.

The Core i9-10940X does have arguments in its favor. It has higher base and boost clocks (3.30 GHz and 4.80 GHz vs 2.30 GHz and 4.30 GHz), an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, a newer release date, and active production status. It is also the only one of the two with a Geekbench score in the database, recording 10464 multicore and 1556 single-core. However, none of those advantages translate into a head-to-head benchmark win in the recorded Cinebench tests. The i9's 62nd percentile versus the Xeon's 63rd percentile is effectively a tie in overall standing.

Who should pick which? Strictly from the data, the Xeon W-2195 is the better choice for anyone running Cinebench workloads or similar multicore rendering tasks, and for workstation users who need ECC memory. The i9-10940X is the better choice for users who want a desktop chip with higher clocks, an unlocked multiplier, and an active production status. The Xeon is end-of-life, which matters for long-term availability. The i9 is also the only one with a recorded Geekbench result, so for Geekbench-specific workloads, it is the only chip in this comparison with data to support it.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2195 scores 23828, ahead of the Intel Core i9-10940X's 23520, a 1.3% delta.

Q: Does the Core i9-10940X win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. Across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests recorded in the database, the Xeon W-2195 wins every one.

Q: What is the core and thread difference between the two?

A: The Xeon W-2195 has 18 cores and 36 threads. The Core i9-10940X has 14 cores and 28 threads.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2195 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i9-10940X does not.

Q: Does either chip have an unlocked multiplier?

A: The Core i9-10940X has an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon W-2195 does not.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core i9-10940X has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, higher than the Xeon W-2195's 4.30 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon W-2195 wins in every benchmark category that the database directly compares. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 2401 against 2370. In R15 single-core, 338 against 334. In R20 multicore, 10007 against 9878. In R20 single-core, 1412 against 1394. In R23 multicore, 23828 against 23520. In R23 single-core, 3363 against 3320. Every one of these is a Xeon victory with a 1.2% or 1.3% margin. The Xeon also wins on core count (18 vs 14), thread count (36 vs 28), L3 cache size (24.75 MB vs 19.25 MB), ECC support, memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s recorded vs none), PCIe lane count (48 vs not recorded), and average benchmark score (6892 vs 6605).

The Core i9-10940X wins on clock speed, with a 3.30 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost against the Xeon's 2.30 GHz and 4.30 GHz. It wins on TDP headroom with 165 watts versus 140 watts, though higher TDP is not inherently a performance advantage. It has an unlocked multiplier, the Xeon does not. It is in active production, while the Xeon is end-of-life. Its release date is later (2019-10-18 vs 2017-08-28). It is the only chip of the two with a Geekbench score in the database: 10464 multicore and 1556 single-core. Its market segment is Desktop, versus the Xeon's Server/Workstation. For users who care about overclocking, newer availability, or Geekbench-specific results, the i9 has the edge in those specific areas.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors, based only on recorded data:

• Cores: Xeon W-2195 has 18, Core i9-10940X has 14.
• Threads: Xeon W-2195 has 36, Core i9-10940X has 28.
• Base clock: Xeon W-2195 is 2.30 GHz, Core i9-10940X is 3.30 GHz.
• Boost clock: Xeon W-2195 is 4.30 GHz, Core i9-10940X is 4.80 GHz.
• TDP: Xeon W-2195 is 140 watts, Core i9-10940X is 165 watts.
• Architecture: Xeon W-2195 is Skylake, Core i9-10940X is Cascade Lake.
• Codename: Xeon W-2195 is Skylake-W, Core i9-10940X is Cascade Lake-X.
• Generation: Xeon W-2195 is Xeon W (Skylake-W), Core i9-10940X is Core i9 (X-Series 10th Gen).
• Die size: Xeon W-2195 is 484 mm², Core i9-10940X is not recorded.
• L3 cache: Xeon W-2195 is 24.75 MB shared, Core i9-10940X is 19.25 MB shared.
• Memory bandwidth: Xeon W-2195 is 85.3 GB/s, Core i9-10940X is not recorded.
• ECC memory: Xeon W-2195 supports it, Core i9-10940X does not.
• PCIe: Xeon W-2195 is Gen 3 with 48 lanes (CPU only), Core i9-10940X is Gen 3 with no lane count recorded.
• Market segment: Xeon W-2195 is Server/Workstation, Core i9-10940X is Desktop.
• Production status: Xeon W-2195 is end-of-life, Core i9-10940X is active.
• Release date: Xeon W-2195 is 2017-08-28, Core i9-10940X is 2019-10-18.
• Launch MSRP: Xeon W-2195 is $2553, Core i9-10940X has none recorded.
• Multiplier: Xeon W-2195 is locked, Core i9-10940X is unlocked.
• Part number: Xeon W-2195 is SR3RX, Core i9-10940X has none recorded.
• Geekbench scores: Core i9-10940X has 10464 multicore and 1556 single-core recorded, Xeon W-2195 has none.

Both chips share the same socket (Intel Socket 2066), process node (14 nm), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (1 MB per core), memory type (DDR4), memory bus (quad-channel), and foundry (Intel). Neither has integrated graphics.