Intel Core i9-9900KS vs Intel Xeon W-2145 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison between the Intel Core i9-9900KS and the Intel Xeon W-2145 is decisive: the i9-9900KS wins all eight recorded benchmarks. The Xeon W-2145 does not secure a single victory in any test. The magnitude of the i9-9900KS advantage varies significantly by workload, ranging from a modest 7.4% edge in single-threaded Cinebench R15 to a dominant 27.5% lead in Geekbench single-core.

Starting with Cinebench R15, the i9-9900KS scores 1657 in the multicore test against the Xeon W-2145's 1542, a delta of 7.5%. The single-core result is similarly close, with 233 versus 217, a 7.4% gap. These margins indicate that in lightly threaded legacy workloads, the two processors are closely matched, though the i9-9900KS still holds the advantage.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern repeats. The i9-9900KS posts 6907 in multicore, while the Xeon W-2145 manages 6425, again a 7.5% difference. Single-core R20 shows 974 against 906, also 7.5%. The consistency of this 7.5% delta across R15 and R20 multicore and single-core tests suggests a uniform clock-for-clock efficiency advantage for the i9-9900KS, not just a boost-clock artifact.

Cinebench R23 continues the trend. The i9-9900KS scores 16446 multicore versus 15299 for the Xeon W-2145, a 7.5% lead. In single-core R23, the numbers are 2321 and 2159, again 7.5%. The fact that the delta remains exactly 7.5% across three generations of Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23) points to a stable architectural or frequency advantage that scales proportionally with the workload.

The most pronounced divergence appears in Geekbench. In the multicore test, the i9-9900KS scores 9771, which is 12.2% higher than the Xeon W-2145's 8712. The single-core Geekbench result is even more lopsided: 1715 versus 1345, a 27.5% margin. This large single-core gap is notable because it far exceeds the 7.4-7.5% seen in Cinebench single-core tests. Geekbench's workload mix appears to favor the i9-9900KS's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.50 GHz, or perhaps its memory subsystem configuration.

The average benchmark score across all recorded tests reinforces this hierarchy. The i9-9900KS averages 4738, while the Xeon W-2145 averages 4576. This 3.5% overall difference places the i9-9900KS at the 59th percentile of all CPUs in the database, versus the 58th percentile for the Xeon W-2145. Both are close in percentile ranking, but the i9-9900KS edges ahead in aggregate performance.

When contextualized against their nearest rivals, the two chips sit in similar performance tiers. The i9-9900KS's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-6950X at 4734 (0.1% behind), followed by the Intel Core i9-10900E at 4708 (0.6% behind), the AMD EPYC 7252 at 4772 (0.7% ahead), and the Intel Xeon W-1290E at 4775 (0.8% ahead). The Xeon W-2145's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2356G at 4548 (0.6% behind), the Intel Core i7-10700KF at 4547 (0.6% behind), the Intel Core i5-1340P at 4545 (0.7% behind), and the Intel Core i9-10900 at 4614 (0.8% ahead). These proximity values show that neither processor is isolated in its performance bracket; both are surrounded by comparable alternatives.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core i9-9900KS in Geekbench single-core compared to the Xeon W-2145?

A: The i9-9900KS scores 1715 versus 1345 for the Xeon W-2145, a delta of 27.5%. This is the largest single-threaded advantage in the entire head-to-head dataset.

Q: Does the Xeon W-2145 win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The i9-9900KS wins all eight head-to-head tests, covering Cinebench R15, R20, R23 (multicore and single-core each) and Geekbench (multicore and single-core). The winsA count is 8, winsB is 0.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two processors?

A: The i9-9900KS has an average benchmark score of 4738, while the Xeon W-2145 averages 4576. The i9-9900KS is approximately 3.5% higher on average.

Q: How do their percentile rankings compare across all CPUs in the database?

A: The i9-9900KS sits at the 59th percentile, while the Xeon W-2145 sits at the 58th percentile. Despite the consistent benchmark wins, the overall percentile gap is only one point.

Q: In which test does the i9-9900KS show its smallest lead?

A: The smallest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i9-9900KS scores 233 versus 217, a delta of 7.4%. All Cinebench R20 and R23 tests show exactly 7.5% deltas.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900KS has a launch MSRP of $513. The Intel Xeon W-2145 has a launch MSRP of $1113.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-9900KS wins every benchmark in this comparison, so the use-case split is not about choosing one over the other for raw performance. Instead, the analysis should focus on where the i9-9900KS's advantages are largest and where the Xeon W-2145 might still be selected despite losing every test.

The i9-9900KS is the clear choice for single-threaded responsiveness. Its Geekbench single-core score of 1715 is 27.5% higher than the Xeon W-2145's 1345. This massive delta means the i9-9900KS will feel snappier in everyday desktop tasks, lightly threaded applications, and any workload that cannot fully utilize multiple cores. The 5.00 GHz boost clock, versus 4.50 GHz on the Xeon, directly explains this edge. For users running software that is latency-sensitive or single-thread dominant, the i9-9900KS is unequivocally superior.

In multi-threaded productivity, the i9-9900KS also leads, but by a narrower margin. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16446 versus 15299 (7.5% higher) and Geekbench multicore of 9771 versus 8712 (12.2% higher) show that the i9-9900KS handles parallel workloads well, though the gap shrinks compared to single-core. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration is identical on both parts, so the advantage comes from higher clocks rather than additional compute resources.

The Xeon W-2145 retains relevance in specific platform requirements. Its socket is Intel Socket 2066, versus Socket 1151 for the i9-9900KS, meaning the Xeon fits in workstation motherboards with different expansion options. The Xeon offers 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the i9-9900KS provides only 16 lanes. For systems needing many PCIe devices, such as multiple GPUs, NVMe arrays, or specialized I/O cards, the Xeon W-2145's larger lane count is a decisive factor despite its benchmark losses.

Memory bandwidth is another area where the Xeon W-2145 wins on paper. The Xeon supports quad-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while the i9-9900KS is dual-channel at 42.7 GB/s. In memory-bound workloads, the Xeon's 2x bandwidth advantage could close the gap, though the recorded benchmarks do not isolate memory throughput. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i9-9900KS, which matters for data integrity in server or workstation environments.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications beyond their benchmark scores. The i9-9900KS has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Xeon W-2145 operates at 3.70 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost. This 0.30 GHz base and 0.50 GHz boost advantage for the i9-9900KS is the primary driver of its benchmark wins.

Thermal design power differs as well: the i9-9900KS is rated at 127 W, while the Xeon W-2145 is rated at 140 W. The i9-9900KS delivers higher performance with lower power consumption per the TDP figures. The socket types are incompatible: the i9-9900KS uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Xeon W-2145 uses Intel Socket 2066. The i9-9900KS has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the Xeon W-2145 is locked.

Memory support is a major differentiator. The i9-9900KS uses dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth and does not support ECC. The Xeon W-2145 uses quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth and supports ECC memory. PCIe lane counts also differ dramatically: the i9-9900KS provides 16 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Xeon W-2145 provides 48 Gen 3 lanes.

The i9-9900KS includes integrated graphics (UHD 630), while the Xeon W-2145 has no integrated graphics. The die size is notably different: 180 mm² for the i9-9900KS versus 484 mm² for the Xeon W-2145, reflecting their different architectures. The release dates are also distinct, with the i9-9900KS launching on 2019-10-27 and the Xeon W-2145 on 2017-08-28.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is clear from the codenames and process details. The i9-9900KS is based on Coffee Lake (Coffee Lake-R), while the Xeon W-2145 is based on Skylake (Skylake-W). Both are built on Intel's 14 nm process at Intel's foundry, but the underlying designs diverge significantly.

Cache hierarchies differ in L2 and L3. The i9-9900KS has 256 KB L2 per core and 16 MB shared L3. The Xeon W-2145 has 1 MB L2 per core and 11 MB shared L3. The i9-9900KS's larger L3 (16 MB versus 11 MB) likely contributes to its single-threaded advantage, while the Xeon's larger per-core L2 (1 MB versus 256 KB) may help in certain working-set scenarios. Both have 64 KB L1 per core.

The generation labels confirm the lineage: the i9-9900KS is part of the Core i9 (Coffee Lake Refresh) generation, while the Xeon W-2145 is part of the Xeon W (Skylake-W) generation. The market segments are different by design: the i9-9900KS targets desktop users, while the Xeon W-2145 targets server and workstation platforms. This explains the Xeon's ECC support, quad-channel memory, and higher PCIe lane count, all features aimed at reliability and expandability rather than raw speed.

The i9-9900KS has a part number of SRG1Q, while the Xeon W-2145 is SR3LQ. Both are end-of-life products. The i9-9900KS's die size of 180 mm² versus the Xeon's 484 mm² indicates the Xeon is a physically larger chip, likely due to its memory controller and PCIe implementation. The i9-9900KS's integrated UHD 630 graphics are absent on the Xeon, which requires a discrete GPU for display output.