Intel Xeon D-2799 vs Intel Xeon Gold 5320T Comparison

The Intel Xeon Gold 5320T and the Intel Xeon D-2799 are two 20-core Ice Lake server processors that deliver almost identical application performance, but they serve fundamentally different deployment scenarios. Benchmark data shows a near dead heat, with the Gold 5320T taking a narrow edge in every single Cinebench test. However, the D-2799 counters with a lower thermal envelope, a different socket design, and a specific launch MSRP, making the choice entirely dependent on the target platform and system requirements.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear performance stalemate, but a distinct divergence in platform strategy. The Intel Xeon Gold 5320T is the winner for traditional, socketed rack servers where eight-channel memory bandwidth and maximum PCIe expansion are critical, and where the 150W TDP is acceptable. The Intel Xeon D-2799 is the better pick for dense, edge-oriented or embedded deployments where the lower 129W TDP, the quad-channel memory bus, and the reduced 32-lane PCIe Gen 4 layout align with a compact BGA 2579 footprint. If raw compute is the sole metric, the Gold 5320T wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, but the margins are so thin (0.1% in most cases) that the D-2799 is effectively its equal in processing power. The D-2799 is the only one of the two with a recorded launch MSRP, listed at $1972, which can be stated as a single data point. Neither chip is unlocked, and both sit at the 64th percentile of all CPUs, confirming they are mid-pack performers in the broader processor landscape.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 10 nm process node and share the Ice Lake architecture, but they target different physical and platform realities. The Gold 5320T uses the Ice Lake-SP codename and fits the Intel Socket 4189, a large socket designed for scalable server platforms. The D-2799 uses the Ice Lake-D codename and is soldered to the Intel BGA 2579 socket, which eliminates the possibility of upgrading the processor independently of the board. This is a fundamental divergence: the Gold is a replaceable, serviceable component, while the D is a system-on-a-module approach.

The cache hierarchy also differs. The Gold 5320T allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, while the D-2799 allocates more per-core cache, with 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2. Both share a 30 MB L3 cache, but the larger L1 and L2 allocations on the D-2799 suggest a design tuned to reduce latency for workloads that fit in those smaller, faster caches. The memory architecture is a major differentiator: the Gold supports an eight-channel DDR4 memory bus delivering 191.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while the D-2799 is limited to a quad-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s. The D’s bandwidth is slightly more than half of the Gold’s, which could impact memory-intensive workloads. PCIe connectivity also scales differently, with the Gold offering 64 Gen 4 lanes versus the D’s 32 Gen 4 lanes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent, with the Gold 5320T winning every single test by a razor-thin margin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Gold scores 2898 against the D-2799’s 2895, a 0.1% lead. The single-core R15 test is a perfect tie at 408 points for both, though the data still credits the Gold with the win at a 0% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Gold posts 12076 multicore and 1704 single-core, while the D-2799 posts 12063 and 1703, respectively, both again 0.1% ahead for the Gold. In the heavier Cinebench R23 workload, the pattern holds: the Gold scores 28753 multicore and 4059 single-core, versus the D-2799’s 28723 and 4055.

The most significant delta in the entire head-to-head set is still only 0.1%, which means that for all practical purposes, these two CPUs are interchangeable in compute-bound tasks. The Gold’s 30-point advantage in R23 multicore (28753 vs 28723) is negligible, representing less than a 0.2% difference in raw rendering performance. The D-2799’s higher base clock of 2.40 GHz versus the Gold’s 2.30 GHz does not translate into a win, as the Gold’s higher boost clock of 3.50 GHz versus 3.40 GHz likely offsets it in single-threaded burst workloads. The data shows a consistent, but inconsequential, performance edge for the Gold, making the architectural differences in memory and expansion far more impactful than the CPU cores themselves.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields, while sharing the core count, thread count, process node, and L3 cache size. A side-by-side comparison of the divergent fields:

• Base Clock: The D-2799 runs at 2.40 GHz, higher than the Gold 5320T’s 2.30 GHz.
• Boost Clock: The Gold 5320T boosts to 3.50 GHz, ahead of the D-2799’s 3.40 GHz.
• TDP: The D-2799 is rated at 129W, while the Gold 5320T has a higher 150W rating.
• Socket: The Gold uses Intel Socket 4189, whereas the D-2799 uses Intel BGA 2579.
• Codename: The Gold is Ice Lake-SP; the D-2799 is Ice Lake-D.
• L1 Cache: The Gold has 64 KB per core; the D-2799 has 80 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: The Gold has 1 MB per core; the D-2799 has 1.25 MB per core.
• Memory Bus: The Gold is eight-channel; the D-2799 is quad-channel.
• Memory Bandwidth: The Gold delivers 191.6 GB/s; the D-2799 delivers 102.4 GB/s.
• PCIe Lanes: The Gold offers 64 Gen 4 lanes; the D-2799 offers 32 Gen 4 lanes.
• Release Date: The Gold launched on 2021-04-05; the D-2799 launched on 2022-02-23.
• Launch MSRP: The D-2799 has a listed launch MSRP of $1972; the Gold has no recorded MSRP.
• Part Number: The D-2799 has the part number SRLCTSRM2C; the Gold has none listed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 5320T scores 28753 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Xeon D-2799’s score of 28723.

Q: Do the two processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon Gold 5320T and the Intel Xeon D-2799 have 20 cores and 40 threads.

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

A: The Gold 5320T offers an eight-channel memory bus with 191.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the D-2799 has a quad-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a lower thermal design power?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2799 has a lower TDP of 129W, compared to the 150W TDP of the Gold 5320T.

Q: Are the processors based on the same process node?

A: Yes, both the Gold 5320T and the D-2799 are built on Intel’s 10 nm process node.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel Xeon D-2799?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2799 has a launch MSRP of $1972; the Gold 5320T has no recorded launch MSRP in the data.

Q: Which chip has more PCIe lanes for expansion?

A: The Gold 5320T provides 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the D-2799 provides 32 PCIe Gen 4 lanes.