Intel Core i9-9900T vs Intel Xeon W-2135 Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-2135 and Intel Core i9-9900T are both end-of-life Intel processors built on the 14 nm process, but they target entirely different segments of the market. The Xeon W-2135 is a 6-core, 12-thread Skylake-W part designed for servers and workstations, while the i9-9900T is an 8-core, 16-thread Coffee Lake-R desktop chip. Despite the i9-9900T having more cores and threads, the benchmark data consistently shows the Xeon W-2135 taking a decisive lead across every tested workload. This head-to-head analysis examines the architectural differences, benchmark results, and use-case implications for both processors.

Architecture Differences

The most significant architectural split between these two CPUs lies in their core configurations and memory subsystems. The Intel Xeon W-2135 uses the Skylake-W architecture with 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i9-9900T relies on the Coffee Lake-R architecture with 8 cores and 16 threads. This means the i9-9900T has two additional physical cores and four additional threads, yet the Xeon W-2135 still outperforms it in every single benchmark recorded.

The cache hierarchies expose another major difference. The Xeon W-2135 offers 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 8.25 MB of shared L3 cache. In contrast, the i9-9900T provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and a larger 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The i9-9900T’s larger L3 cache is a notable advantage for data reuse, but the Xeon W-2135’s larger per-core L2 cache may help with certain workload patterns.

Memory support diverges sharply as well. The Xeon W-2135 supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while the i9-9900T is limited to dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. This gives the Xeon W-2135 exactly double the theoretical memory bandwidth. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, whereas the i9-9900T does not. PCIe connectivity is another differentiator: the Xeon W-2135 provides 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the i9-9900T offers only 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

The i9-9900T includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, while the Xeon W-2135 has no integrated graphics. The Xeon W-2135 uses the Intel Socket 2066 platform, while the i9-9900T uses Intel Socket 1151. The Xeon’s die size is 484 mm², substantially larger than the i9-9900T’s 180.3 mm² die. Both processors have locked multipliers, so neither supports unlocked overclocking.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably one-sided, with the Intel Xeon W-2135 winning all six head-to-head tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon W-2135 scores 1230 against the i9-9900T’s 1117, a 10.1% advantage. The single-core result in R15 shows a similar gap: 173 versus 157, which is a 10.2% lead for the Xeon.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The Xeon W-2135 posts 5126 in multi-core, beating the i9-9900T’s 4658 by exactly 10%. In single-core R20, the Xeon scores 723 versus 657, another 10% win. The most recent Cinebench R23 test confirms the trend: the Xeon W-2135 achieves 12205 in multi-core and 1723 in single-core, while the i9-9900T manages 11091 and 1565 respectively. Both R23 deltas are 10% or 10.1% in favor of the Xeon.

The i9-9900T does have additional Geekbench scores in its benchmark list—7298 multi-core and 1452 single-core—but no comparable Geekbench results exist for the Xeon W-2135 in the head-to-head data. Since the head-to-head section only lists Cinebench tests, the Geekbench numbers cannot be directly compared. Still, the overall picture is clear: the Xeon W-2135 outperforms the i9-9900T by a consistent 10% margin across all tested Cinebench workloads.

The Verdict

From the data, the Intel Xeon W-2135 is the outright performance winner, taking all six benchmark comparisons and beating the i9-9900T by roughly 10% in every test. This is surprising given that the i9-9900T has 8 cores and 16 threads versus the Xeon’s 6 cores and 12 threads. The Xeon’s higher base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.50 GHz, compared to the i9-9900T’s 2.10 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost, likely compensate for the core deficit. The Xeon also benefits from quad-channel memory bandwidth, which can improve performance in memory-sensitive workloads.

The i9-9900T’s sole advantage in the specifications is its 35 W TDP versus the Xeon W-2135’s 140 W TDP. For builders prioritizing energy efficiency or working within a compact cooling solution, the i9-9900T is the obvious choice, but it sacrifices roughly 10% of Cinebench performance to achieve that efficiency. The i9-9900T also includes integrated graphics, which the Xeon lacks, making it more suitable for systems without a discrete GPU.

The Xeon W-2135 is the pick for workstation users who need maximum multi-threaded throughput and ECC memory support. The i9-9900T is the pick for low-power desktop builds where the 35 W TDP and integrated graphics matter more than raw benchmark scores. Neither chip is current, and both are end-of-life, so the decision comes down to platform needs versus performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900T has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon W-2135 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2135 scores 12205, which is 10% ahead of the Intel Core i9-9900T’s 11091.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon W-2135 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon W-2135 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i9-9900T does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2135 has a TDP of 140 W, while the Intel Core i9-9900T has a TDP of 35 W.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900T includes UHD Graphics 630, but the Intel Xeon W-2135 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How much memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2135 supports 85.3 GB/s with quad-channel memory, while the Intel Core i9-9900T supports 42.7 GB/s with dual-channel memory.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon W-2135 wins in every benchmark category recorded, including all multi-core and single-core Cinebench tests from R15 through R23. Its 10% lead in each test makes it the clear choice for compute-heavy workloads such as rendering, video encoding, or scientific simulations that rely on sustained multi-threaded performance. The quad-channel memory bus and 85.3 GB/s bandwidth are additional assets for workloads that stress memory throughput, and ECC support makes it suitable for data integrity-critical environments. The 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes also allow for extensive expansion, such as multiple GPUs or high-speed storage controllers.

The Intel Core i9-9900T wins in efficiency and platform convenience. Its 35 W TDP is a fraction of the Xeon’s 140 W, enabling passive or low-profile cooling solutions in compact builds. The integrated UHD Graphics 630 means a discrete GPU is not required for basic display output, reducing system cost and complexity. The dual-channel memory support and 180.3 mm² die size point to a more power-lean design, and the larger 16 MB L3 cache may benefit certain cache-sensitive applications despite the overall benchmark deficit. The i9-9900T also uses the more common Intel Socket 1151 platform, which may offer more affordable motherboard options compared to the Xeon’s Socket 2066.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. The Intel Xeon W-2135 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i9-9900T has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks diverge significantly: the Xeon runs at 3.70 GHz versus the i9-9900T’s 2.10 GHz, with boost clocks at 4.50 GHz and 4.40 GHz respectively. TDP is a stark contrast at 140 W for the Xeon and 35 W for the i9-9900T.

The Xeon W-2135 uses Intel Socket 2066 and the Skylake-W architecture, while the i9-9900T uses Intel Socket 1151 and Coffee Lake-R. Both are built on Intel’s 14 nm process, but the Xeon’s die is 484 mm² versus the i9-9900T’s 180.3 mm². Cache layouts differ: the Xeon has 1 MB L2 per core and 8.25 MB shared L3, while the i9-9900T has 256 KB L2 per core and 16 MB shared L3. Both have 64 KB L1 per core.

Memory support is quad-channel with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth for the Xeon, and dual-channel with 42.7 GB/s for the i9-9900T. ECC memory is supported only on the Xeon. PCIe lanes are 48 (Gen 3) on the Xeon versus 16 (Gen 3) on the i9-9900T. Integrated graphics exist only on the i9-9900T as UHD Graphics 630. The Xeon W-2135 launched with an $835 MSRP, while the i9-9900T launched with a $423 MSRP. Both are end-of-life products, with release dates of August 2017 and April 2019 respectively.