Intel Core i9-14900KS vs Intel Xeon 6731P Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon 6731P has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Core i9-14900KS has 24 cores and 32 threads.

Q: What is the maximum boost clock for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900KS boosts up to 6.20 GHz, while the Intel Xeon 6731P reaches a lower 4.10 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Both processors support ECC memory, according to the database records.

Q: How do they compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900KS scores 50,995 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 12% higher than the Xeon 6731P's 44,871.

Q: Which CPU wins in PassMark data encryption?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900KS scores 47,717 in data encryption, 16% ahead of the Xeon 6731P's 40,087.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The Intel Xeon 6731P is built on a 5 nm process, while the Intel Core i9-14900KS uses a 10 nm process.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon 6731P and Intel Core i9-14900KS represent two distinct branches of Intel's product stack. The Xeon 6731P is a Granite Rapids part, belonging to the Xeon 6 (Granite Rapids-SP) generation, and is manufactured on Intel's 5 nm process. It is a server and workstation processor with a die size of 598 mm². In contrast, the Core i9-14900KS is a Raptor Lake-R desktop chip from the Core 14th Gen family, built on a 10 nm process with a die size of 257 mm². The process node difference is significant: the Xeon uses a denser, more advanced manufacturing technology, which helps pack 32 cores into a larger physical package.

The core configurations differ substantially. The Xeon 6731P offers 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Core i9-14900KS offers 24 cores and 32 threads. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Xeon 6731P has 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and a massive 144 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i9-14900KS has 80 KB of L1 per core, the same 2 MB of L2 per core, but only 36 MB of shared L3. That 108 MB difference in L3 is a major architectural gap, reflecting the Xeon's server-class design where large data sets and many concurrent threads benefit from extensive caching.

Memory support further separates the two. The Xeon 6731P uses DDR5 memory with an eight-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 409.6 GB/s. The Core i9-14900KS supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but only over a dual-channel memory bus, and the database does not list a memory bandwidth figure for it. The Xeon also provides far more PCIe connectivity: 136 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only) versus 16 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only) on the Core i9. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the Core i9-14900KS includes UHD Graphics 770. The Xeon 6731P is not multiplier-unlocked, whereas the Core i9-14900KS has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both CPUs have a TDP, and the Xeon's 245 W TDP is higher than the Core i9's 150 W.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data presents a split result: the Intel Core i9-14900KS wins 13 of the 17 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Xeon 6731P wins 4. However, the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

In Cinebench tests, the Core i9-14900KS consistently outperforms the Xeon 6731P by 12% across every workload, both single-core and multi-core. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 5,140 versus 4,522, R20 multi-core shows 21,417 versus 18,845, and R23 multi-core shows 50,995 versus 44,871. Single-core results follow the same pattern: R15 at 725 versus 638, R20 at 3,023 versus 2,660, and R23 at 7,199 versus 6,334. The 12% delta is uniform, indicating that the Core i9's higher boost clock of 6.20 GHz gives it a consistent edge in this rendering workload, despite the Xeon's larger core count.

The PassMark suite reveals where the Xeon 6731P's architecture excels. The most dramatic win is in find prime numbers, where the Xeon scores 541 against the Core i9's 244, a massive 121.7% advantage. PassMark physics also heavily favors the Xeon: 7,105 versus 3,381, a 110.1% lead. Extended instructions favor the Xeon by 44.2%, with scores of 65,656 versus 45,524. Floating point math is a narrower win for the Xeon at 2.2%, with 157,330 versus 153,975.

The Core i9-14900KS counters in several PassMark tests. Single-thread performance is a dominant win for the Core i9: 4,815 versus 2,107, a 56.2% advantage. Data encryption also favors the Core i9 by 16%, with 47,717 versus 40,087. Integer math goes to the Core i9 by 6.5%, at 212,644 versus 198,761. Multithreaded PassMark scores favor the Core i9 by 12%, at 60,012 versus 52,790. Data compression is nearly tied, with the Core i9 winning by only 0.5% (803,368 versus 799,474). Random string sorting also goes to the Core i9, but by just 2% (89,789 versus 88,019).

The overall average benchmark scores reflect these results. The Xeon 6731P has an average benchmark score of 87,756, while the Core i9-14900KS has 81,127. Both processors sit at the 96th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6736P at a 0.1% lower score, the Intel Xeon w7-2575X at 0.5% lower, the AMD EPYC 7F72 at 3.2% higher, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 at 3.1% lower. The Core i9-14900KS's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon w5-3535X at 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX at 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 at 0.5% higher, and the Intel Xeon 638 at 0.5% higher.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field in the database.

| Specification | Intel Xeon 6731P | Intel Core i9-14900KS |

|----------------|------------------|------------------------|

| Cores | 32 | 24 |

| Threads | 64 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 6.20 GHz |

| TDP | 245 W | 150 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 4710 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Granite Rapids | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Granite Rapids | Raptor Lake-R |

| Generation | Xeon 6 (Granite Rapids-SP) | Core i9 (Raptor Lake Refresh) |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 598 mm² | 257 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 112 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 144 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 409.6 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 136 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | N/A | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2025-02-23 | 2024-03-13 |

| Launch MSRP | $2700 | $689 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SRVNR | SRN7R |

Additional differences: the Xeon 6731P has an eight-channel memory bus, while the Core i9-14900KS has a dual-channel bus. The Xeon's memory bandwidth is listed at 409.6 GB/s, while the Core i9 has no listed bandwidth. The Xeon supports ECC memory, and so does the Core i9. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the Core i9 includes UHD Graphics 770. The Xeon is not multiplier-unlocked, while the Core i9-14900KS is multiplier-unlocked. The Xeon's release date is February 2025, while the Core i9's is March 2024.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 6731P is the clear choice for workloads that depend on massive cache, high memory bandwidth, and specialized instruction throughput. Its 144 MB of shared L3 cache and 409.6 GB/s of eight-channel memory bandwidth are built for server and workstation scenarios where data sets exceed what a desktop chip can hold in cache. The benchmark data supports this: the Xeon wins PassMark find prime numbers by 121.7%, a test that heavily rewards raw computational throughput per thread and cache efficiency. PassMark physics shows a 110.1% lead, and extended instructions shows a 44.2% lead. Floating point math also goes to the Xeon, albeit narrowly at 2.2%. For scientific computing, simulations, encryption-heavy server workloads, and instruction-dense parallel tasks, the Xeon 6731P is the stronger part. Its 32 cores and 64 threads, combined with 136 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, make it suited for multi-GPU workstations and dense virtualization hosts.

The Intel Core i9-14900KS is the winner for latency-sensitive, single-threaded, and consumer-oriented tasks. Its 6.20 GHz boost clock delivers a 56.2% advantage in PassMark single-thread performance, which is the largest single-thread gap in the entire comparison. That speed advantage carries into Cinebench, where the Core i9 leads by 12% in all six tests, including multi-core workloads despite having fewer cores. The Core i9 also wins PassMark multithread by 12%, integer math by 6.5%, data encryption by 16%, random string sorting by 2%, and data compression by 0.5%. For gaming, desktop productivity, content creation with software that favors high clock speeds, and any workflow that relies on fast single-core response, the Core i9-14900KS is the better fit. Its unlocked multiplier also allows overclocking, which the Xeon does not permit.

The average benchmark scores place the Xeon 6731P higher overall at 87,756 versus 81,127, but both share the 96th percentile among all CPUs. The Xeon's score is dragged up by its dominant wins in specialized PassMark tests, while the Core i9's consistent 12% edge across Cinebench and strong PassMark results make it the more versatile desktop processor. The data shows a clear divide: the Xeon 6731P is a server-class workhorse for multi-threaded, cache-heavy, and bandwidth-intensive enterprise workloads, while the Core i9-14900KS is a high-frequency desktop champion for single-threaded and mixed-use scenarios.