CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9920X and the Intel Xeon E-2388G occupy different corners of the Intel portfolio, yet their benchmark averages place them within 1.9% of each other. The i9-9920X, a 12-core Skylake-X desktop part from the 9th Gen X-Series, averages 5917 across the database, while the Xeon E-2388G, an 8-core Rocket Lake-E server/workstation chip, averages 5805. Both sit at the 61st percentile of all CPUs tracked. Looking at the nearest rivals, the i9-9920X trails the Intel Xeon W-2170B by 1.1% and leads the AMD EPYC 7401P by 1.8%, while the Xeon E-2388G is 0.2% behind the EPYC 7401P and 0.6% ahead of the Intel Xeon W-2175. The head-to-head results, however, tell a more nuanced story than the averages suggest, with the i9-9920X sweeping the Cinebench suite and the Xeon E-2388G countering decisively in Geekbench.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i9-9920X wins six of the eight direct comparisons, and it does so with remarkable consistency across the Cinebench family. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9-9920X scores 2121 against the Xeon’s 2009, a 5.6% advantage. The single-core R15 result is nearly identical in margin: 299 versus 283, again a 5.7% lead for the i9-9920X. Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds precisely, the i9-9920X posts 8839 multi-core and 1247 single-core, while the Xeon E-2388G manages 8374 and 1181. That is a 5.6% gap in both metrics. Cinebench R23 repeats the same story: the i9-9920X reaches 21046 multi-core and 2971 single-core, against the Xeon’s 19939 and 2814, with the delta again sitting at 5.6% for both. The consistency of that 5.6% margin across five separate tests suggests a stable architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Geekbench results flip the script entirely. In Geekbench multi-core, the Xeon E-2388G scores 9615, edging out the i9-9920X’s 9422 by 2.0%. That is a narrow win, but the single-core Geekbench result is a blowout: the Xeon E-2388G posts 2227 against the i9-9920X’s 1393, a staggering 37.4% difference. No other benchmark in this comparison comes close to that margin. The i9-9920X’s 1393 single-core Geekbench score is its weakest showing relative to its rival, and it drags its average down despite the Cinebench dominance. The Xeon E-2388G’s 2227 single-core score is more than 50% higher than the i9-9920X’s, which indicates a fundamental difference in how the two processors handle lightly threaded workloads under the Geekbench test methodology.

Architecture Differences

The two chips are built on the same 14 nm Intel process node, but nearly everything else about their design diverges. The i9-9920X uses the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-X codename, with 12 cores and 24 threads. It features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache. Its die measures 484 mm². The Xeon E-2388G, by contrast, uses the Rocket Lake architecture under the Rocket Lake-E codename, with 8 cores and 16 threads. Its cache layout differs: 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The die is significantly smaller at 276 mm². The larger per-core L1 on the Xeon (80 KB versus 64 KB) and the smaller per-core L2 (512 KB versus 1 MB) reflect the different design priorities of the two generations.

Memory subsystems also separate the pair. The i9-9920X supports quad-channel DDR4 with a theoretical bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while the Xeon E-2388G runs dual-channel DDR4 at 51.2 GB/s. That bandwidth gap favors the i9-9920X in memory-intensive multi-core work. However, the Xeon E-2388G supports ECC memory, which the i9-9920X does not. PCIe capabilities are another differentiator: the i9-9920X offers Gen 3 with 44 lanes from the CPU, whereas the Xeon E-2388G provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The newer PCIe generation on the Xeon gives it higher per-lane bandwidth, but the i9-9920X has more than double the lane count. The Xeon E-2388G also includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics P750, while the i9-9920X has no integrated graphics at all. Socket platforms differ as well, the i9-9920X fits Intel Socket 2066, and the Xeon E-2388G uses Intel Socket 1200.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-9920X is the clear winner for sustained multi-core rendering workloads. Its 5.6% lead across all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, and R23) in both single- and multi-core tests demonstrates that the extra 4 cores and 8 threads translate into a real, measurable advantage in these CPU-bound tasks. The Cinebench suite is heavily threaded and cache-sensitive, and the i9-9920X’s 19.25 MB of L3 combined with quad-channel memory bandwidth at 85.3 GB/s gives it the resources to keep all 24 threads fed. The Xeon E-2388G, with its 8 cores and 16 MB of L3, simply cannot match the parallel throughput in these tests, despite its higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus the i9-9920X’s 4.50 GHz.

The Xeon E-2388G wins where single-thread performance and newer platform features matter. The Geekbench single-core result is the standout: 2227 versus 1393, a 37.4% margin. That gap is far larger than the clock speed difference would suggest, indicating that the Rocket Lake architecture’s IPC improvements over Skylake are substantial in the Geekbench workload. The Xeon also takes the Geekbench multi-core test by 2.0%, which is notable because the i9-9920X has 50% more cores. That suggests the Xeon’s per-core efficiency and higher boost clock (5.10 GHz) can overcome a 4-core deficit in at least one multi-threaded scenario. For workloads that are latency-sensitive, lightly threaded, or dependent on single-core speed, the Xeon E-2388G is the better performer. Its PCIe Gen 4 support also gives it an edge for modern NVMe storage and GPUs that can utilize the higher bandwidth, though the i9-9920X’s 44 lanes remain useful for multi-GPU configurations.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. For users running Cinebench-style rendering, video encoding, or other tasks that scale with core count and memory bandwidth, the Intel Core i9-9920X is the stronger choice. It wins every Cinebench test by 5.6% to 5.7%, offers quad-channel memory at 85.3 GB/s, and provides 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes for expansion. The i9-9920X also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, which could widen its lead in multi-core tasks. Its 12 cores and 24 threads give it a structural advantage that the Xeon cannot overcome in these benchmarks.

For users prioritizing single-thread performance, ECC memory support, or newer platform features, the Intel Xeon E-2388G is the better fit. Its 37.4% single-core Geekbench lead is the largest margin in this entire comparison, and it also wins Geekbench multi-core by 2.0% despite having fewer cores. The Xeon’s PCIe Gen 4 support, integrated UHD Graphics P750, and ECC memory capability make it suitable for workstation and server environments where data integrity and modern connectivity are priorities. Its 95 W TDP is also substantially lower than the i9-9920X’s 165 W, which can simplify cooling requirements in dense systems. The i9-9920X is end-of-life, while the Xeon E-2388G remains active in production, which may factor into long-term availability and support decisions.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core Geekbench score?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2388G, with a score of 2227 compared to the Intel Core i9-9920X’s 1393, a 37.4% difference.

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

A: The Intel Core i9-9920X scores 21046, while the Intel Xeon E-2388G scores 19939, giving the i9-9920X a 5.6% lead.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E-2388G support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon E-2388G supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i9-9920X does not.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i9-9920X has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Xeon E-2388G has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2388G includes UHD Graphics P750. The Intel Core i9-9920X has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the memory channel configuration for each?

A: The Intel Core i9-9920X uses quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Xeon E-2388G uses dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-9920X | Intel Xeon E-2388G |

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

| Cores | 12 | 8 |

| Threads | 24 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 165 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2066 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Rocket Lake |

| Codename | Skylake-X | Rocket Lake-E |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 484 mm² | 276 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 19.25 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 85.3 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 44 Lanes | Gen 4, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics P750 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |