Intel Core i9-9920X vs Intel Xeon W-2170B Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-2170B and Intel Core i9-9920X are both 14 nm Skylake derivatives on the Intel Socket 2066 platform, but they target different segments: the Xeon is a Server/Workstation part, while the Core i9 is a Desktop enthusiast processor. Despite their shared lineage, benchmark results show a consistent, if narrow, edge for the Core i9-9920X across every single tested workload. The data shows a clear pattern of six wins for the Core i9 and zero for the Xeon, though the margins are remarkably tight, hovering around 1.7% in all cases.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i9-9920X wins all six Cinebench tests, with a uniform deltaPct of -1.7% relative to the Xeon W-2170B. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core i9 scores 2121 against the Xeon’s 2085, a 36-point advantage. The single-core R15 result follows suit, with the Core i9 posting 299 versus 294. This pattern repeats exactly in R20, where the Core i9 leads 8839 to 8691 in multi-core and 1247 to 1226 in single-core. The newest R23 test shows the same story: the Core i9 achieves 21046 multi-core and 2971 single-core, while the Xeon manages 20693 and 2921 respectively.

The consistency of the 1.7% delta across every test is notable. It suggests a fixed architectural or clock-related advantage rather than workload-specific scaling differences. In absolute terms, the Core i9’s multi-core lead in R23 is 353 points, while its single-core lead is 50 points. These are not dramatic gaps, but they are real and repeatable. The average benchmark scores corroborate this: the Xeon W-2170B averages 5985 across its tested workloads, while the Core i9-9920X averages 5917. Interestingly, the Xeon’s average is actually higher than the Core i9’s in the nearestRivals data, but this is because the Xeon’s average includes only its Cinebench results, whereas the Core i9’s average includes both Cinebench and Geekbench scores.

The Geekbench results for the Core i9-9920X are not part of the head-to-head comparison, but they exist in the fact pack: 9422 multi-core and 1393 single-core. These scores are not compared directly to the Xeon, but they contribute to the Core i9’s overall average. In the nearestRivals comparison, the Xeon W-2170B is 1.1% ahead of the Core i9-9920X in average score (5985 vs 5917), yet the head-to-head tests all favor the Core i9. This discrepancy stems from the different benchmark sets used to compute each average, not from contradictory performance data.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i9-9920X wins every benchmark in the head-to-head set, making its victory unconditional across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core. The Xeon W-2170B has zero wins in this comparison. However, the Xeon does hold a different kind of advantage: it is the only one of the two with ECC memory support enabled. The Xeon’s memory support is DDR4 quad-channel with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, identical to the Core i9, but the ECC capability is a differentiator that matters for data integrity in workstation environments.

In terms of raw performance, the Xeon’s higher core count (14 vs 12) does not translate into a win. The Core i9’s higher base clock (3.50 GHz vs 2.50 GHz) and boost clock (4.50 GHz vs 4.30 GHz) appear to compensate for the Xeon’s two extra cores. The Xeon also has more PCIe lanes (48 vs 44), which could benefit multi-GPU or high-I/O workstation setups, but that does not affect CPU benchmark scores. The Core i9 has an unlocked multiplier, allowing user overclocking, while the Xeon is locked. This is a feature advantage for the Core i9, though the fact pack does not specify any overclocked benchmark results.

For practical use cases, the data suggests the Core i9-9920X is the better choice for anyone prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering performance, which is a proxy for general multi-threaded and single-threaded compute. The Xeon W-2170B, with its ECC support and higher PCIe lane count, is better suited for server or workstation roles where reliability and expansion capacity outweigh a 1.7% performance deficit. Neither processor is currently in production, as both are end-of-life, but the Core i9 retains a launch MSRP of $1189, which is the only pricing information available.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Skylake architecture, 14 nm process node, 484 mm² die size, and identical cache hierarchy: 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 19.25 MB shared L3. The core configurations differ: the Xeon W-2170B has 14 cores and 28 threads, while the Core i9-9920X has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Xeon’s extra two cores are its primary architectural advantage, yet they do not yield benchmark wins due to the Core i9’s higher clock speeds.

The clock speeds are a key differentiator. The Xeon runs at 2.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost, while the Core i9 runs at 3.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost. The 1.0 GHz base clock advantage for the Core i9 is substantial, and the 0.2 GHz boost advantage further cements its lead. The TDP reflects this: the Xeon is rated at 140 W, while the Core i9 is rated at 165 W, indicating the Core i9 consumes more power to achieve its higher clocks.

Memory support is identical in type and bus, with both using DDR4 quad-channel and 85.3 GB/s bandwidth. The critical difference is ECC: the Xeon supports it, the Core i9 does not. PCIe lane counts also differ, with the Xeon offering 48 Gen 3 lanes versus the Core i9’s 44. The Core i9 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the Xeon is locked. The Core i9 is from the Core i9 (X-Series 9th Gen) generation, released on 2018-10-18, while the Xeon is from the Xeon W (Skylake-W) generation, released on 2017-12-20. The part numbers are SR3W3 for the Xeon and SREZ6 for the Core i9. Both are end-of-life and lack integrated graphics.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2170B has 14 cores and 28 threads, while the Intel Core i9-9920X has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Does the Core i9-9920X beat the Xeon W-2170B in all benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the Core i9-9920X wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, each multi-core and single-core), with a consistent deltaPct of -1.7%.

Q: What is the difference in memory support between the two?

A: Both support DDR4 quad-channel memory with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, but the Xeon W-2170B supports ECC memory, while the Core i9-9920X does not.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The Xeon W-2170B has a 2.50 GHz base clock and 4.30 GHz boost clock, while the Core i9-9920X has a 3.50 GHz base clock and 4.50 GHz boost clock.

Q: Is the Core i9-9920X overclockable?

A: Yes, the Core i9-9920X has an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon W-2170B does not, as its multiplier is locked.

Q: What are their average benchmark scores?

A: The Xeon W-2170B has an average benchmark score of 5985, while the Core i9-9920X has an average of 5917. The Xeon is 1.1% ahead in this aggregate metric, despite losing all head-to-head tests.

The Verdict

The data is decisive on raw performance: the Intel Core i9-9920X outperforms the Intel Xeon W-2170B in every single benchmark test conducted. The Core i9’s 12 cores, paired with a 3.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost clock, consistently beat the Xeon’s 14 cores at 2.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. The 1.7% margin is small but uniform, making the Core i9 the clear winner for anyone running Cinebench-style workloads, whether multi-threaded rendering or single-threaded tasks.

The Xeon W-2170B’s case rests entirely on its server-oriented features. It offers ECC memory support, which the Core i9 lacks, and 48 PCIe lanes versus 44. These are meaningful for workstation reliability and expandability, but they do not appear in the benchmark scores. The Xeon’s average benchmark score is 5985, which is 1.1% higher than the Core i9’s 5917, but this is due to different benchmark sets, not actual performance superiority in the head-to-head tests.

For a user who prioritizes compute performance above all else, the Core i9-9920X is the only choice based on this data. Its lower core count is offset by higher clocks, and it also offers an unlocked multiplier for additional overclocking headroom. The Xeon W-2170B is the appropriate pick only if ECC memory is a hard requirement or if the extra four PCIe lanes are essential for a specific expansion setup. Both processors are end-of-life, but the Core i9’s performance lead and overclocking capability make it the stronger candidate for desktop and workstation compute tasks, while the Xeon’s niche is validated solely by its ECC and I/O advantages. The verdict is straightforward: the Core i9-9920X wins on every benchmark metric, and the Xeon’s only wins are in feature support, not performance.