Intel Xeon D-2799 vs Intel Xeon Gold 6326 Comparison

The Intel Xeon Gold 6326 and the Intel Xeon D-2799 are both active server/workstation processors from Intel, built on the same 10 nm Ice Lake architecture but aimed at different deployment scenarios. The benchmark data reveals a consistent, if narrow, performance edge for the Xeon D-2799 across every tested workload, despite the Gold 6326 having a higher base clock. This head-to-head analysis breaks down the Cinebench results, architectural differences, and specification gaps to determine which processor fits which role.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are decisively one-sided. The Intel Xeon D-2799 wins all six Cinebench comparisons, with a uniform deltaPct of -2.9% relative to the Gold 6326 in each test. This consistent margin indicates that the D-2799’s advantage is not workload-specific but rather a general characteristic of its configuration.

In the multi-core tests, the gap is small but present. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the D-2799 scores 2895 against the Gold 6326’s 2812. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar story: 12063 for the D-2799 versus 11719 for the Gold 6326. In the most demanding Cinebench R23 multi-core workload, the D-2799 posts 28723, while the Gold 6326 trails at 27904. These are tight margins, but they hold across all three multi-threaded tests, suggesting the D-2799’s higher core count outweighs any clock speed deficit.

The single-core results follow the same pattern. The D-2799 takes Cinebench R15 single-core with 408 points against 396 for the Gold 6326. In R20 single-core, the D-2799 scores 1703 versus 1654. The R23 single-core test shows the D-2799 at 4055, with the Gold 6326 at 3939. The fact that the D-2799 wins single-core tests despite a lower boost clock (3.40 GHz vs 3.50 GHz) is notable; the data indicates that architectural implementation differences within the same Ice Lake generation give the D-2799 a slight per-thread efficiency edge.

The average benchmark score reinforces this overall picture. The D-2799’s average score is 8308, placing it in the 64th percentile of all CPUs. The Gold 6326 has an average score of 8071, also in the 64th percentile. The Gold 6326’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8180M (avg score 8110, deltaPct -0.5%), the Intel Core i3-8100 (avg score 8123, deltaPct -0.6%), and the AMD EPYC 7302 (avg score 8139, deltaPct -0.8%). The D-2799’s closest competition includes the Intel Xeon Platinum 8268 (avg score 8315, deltaPct -0.1%) and the Intel Xeon Gold 5320T (avg score 8316, deltaPct -0.1%). These rival comparisons show both chips sitting in a dense performance band, where a few percentage points separate many models.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 10 nm process node and share the Ice Lake architecture, but they belong to different sub-families. The Gold 6326 is an Ice Lake-SP part, designed for scalable server platforms, while the D-2799 is an Ice Lake-D part, tailored for dense edge and network applications. This distinction drives nearly every other difference between them.

The core counts differ significantly. The Gold 6326 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the D-2799 packs 20 cores and 40 threads. This 25% core advantage for the D-2799 is the primary reason it leads in multi-threaded benchmarks. The cache hierarchy scales accordingly. The Gold 6326 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The D-2799 has larger per-core allocations: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The larger caches on the D-2799 likely contribute to its single-core advantage as well.

Memory architecture is another major divergence. The Gold 6326 supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a theoretical bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The D-2799 uses quad-channel DDR4, halving the memory channels and bandwidth to 102.4 GB/s. This is a critical trade-off: the D-2799 gives up raw memory throughput in exchange for a lower power envelope and a more compact footprint. Both support ECC memory, which is essential for server reliability.

The platform sockets are incompatible. The Gold 6326 uses Intel Socket 4189, a large LGA socket for standard server motherboards. The D-2799 uses Intel BGA 2579, a ball-grid-array package that is soldered directly to the board. This makes the D-2799 a system-on-chip solution, whereas the Gold 6326 is a replaceable component. The PCIe capabilities also differ: the Gold 6326 provides 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), while the D-2799 provides 32 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only). The Gold 6326’s doubled lane count supports more expansion cards and high-bandwidth peripherals.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2799 has 20 cores and 40 threads, while the Intel Xeon Gold 6326 has 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: Does the Gold 6326 win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Xeon D-2799 winning all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core), with a deltaPct of -2.9% in each case.

Q: How does memory bandwidth compare between the two?

A: The Gold 6326 supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the D-2799 uses quad-channel DDR4 with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in their sockets?

A: The Gold 6326 uses Intel Socket 4189 (an LGA socket), while the D-2799 uses Intel BGA 2579 (a ball-grid-array package). This means the D-2799 is soldered onto the motherboard, whereas the Gold 6326 is socketed and replaceable.

Q: Are they built on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes. Both the Intel Xeon Gold 6326 and the Intel Xeon D-2799 are built on Intel’s 10 nm process node and share the Ice Lake architecture, though they are from the Ice Lake-SP and Ice Lake-D sub-families respectively.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Gold 6326 provides 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), while the D-2799 provides 32 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The most obvious is core count: the D-2799 has 20 cores and 40 threads, whereas the Gold 6326 has 16 cores and 32 threads. The clock speeds also differ, with the Gold 6326 having a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, compared to the D-2799’s 2.40 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The D-2799’s lower clocks are offset by its higher core count.

The cache configuration is distinct. The Gold 6326 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The D-2799 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The D-2799’s larger per-core and shared caches provide more on-die storage for active data.

Thermal and platform specs diverge significantly. The Gold 6326 has a TDP of 185 watts, while the D-2799 has a TDP of 129 watts. This 56-watt difference reflects the D-2799’s lower clock speeds and its design for power-constrained environments. The socket types are completely different: Socket 4189 for the Gold 6326 versus BGA 2579 for the D-2799. Memory channels also differ, with the Gold 6326 using eight channels and the D-2799 using four, leading to the respective bandwidth figures of 204.8 GB/s and 102.4 GB/s. PCIe lane counts are 64 for the Gold 6326 and 32 for the D-2799, both Gen 4.

The release dates are roughly a year apart: the Gold 6326 launched on 2021-04-05, while the D-2799 launched on 2022-02-23. The D-2799 has a launch MSRP of $1972, while the Gold 6326 has no launch MSRP listed in the data. The part number for the D-2799 is SRLCTSRM2C. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-2799 wins all six benchmark tests, making it the clear performance leader in this comparison. Its advantages are most pronounced in multi-threaded workloads, where its 20 cores and 40 threads provide a 25% core advantage over the Gold 6326. The D-2799 also wins single-threaded tests, which is surprising given its lower boost clock, but the larger L1 and L2 caches likely play a role. The D-2799’s lower TDP of 129 watts also makes it a better fit for dense, power-limited deployments such as edge servers, network appliances, or storage systems where space and cooling are at a premium. Its BGA package and 32 PCIe lanes suggest a system-on-chip design intended for integrated, fixed-function platforms.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6326, despite losing every benchmark, has its own strengths that the data supports. Its eight-channel memory bus provides 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth, double that of the D-2799. This makes the Gold 6326 better suited for memory-bandwidth-intensive workloads like large-scale virtualization, in-memory databases, or high-performance computing tasks that stream large datasets. The Gold 6326 also offers 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, which is twice the D-2799’s allocation, enabling more expansion cards, GPUs, NVMe drives, or high-speed network interfaces. Its Socket 4189 design allows for field replacement and upgradeability, which is a significant operational advantage in traditional rack-mount servers where downtime must be minimized. The Gold 6326’s higher base and boost clocks (2.90 GHz and 3.50 GHz) also provide a per-thread clock advantage, even if the benchmark data shows the D-2799 overcoming this in practice.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon D-2799 outperforms the Intel Xeon Gold 6326 in every measured Cinebench test, with a consistent 2.9% margin across both single-core and multi-core workloads. For anyone prioritizing raw CPU computation, the D-2799 is the superior choice. Its higher core count, larger caches, and lower TDP make it a compelling option for workloads that are compute-bound rather than memory-bound.

However, the Gold 6326 is not without a case. The data shows it provides double the memory bandwidth (204.8 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s) and double the PCIe lanes (64 versus 32). For applications that saturate memory channels or require extensive I/O expansion, the Gold 6326 is the more capable platform. The socketed design of the Gold 6326 also offers serviceability that the soldered BGA package of the D-2799 cannot match.

The choice comes down to workload profile. Pick the Intel Xeon D-2799 for compute-dense, power-constrained environments where the soldered system-on-chip form factor is acceptable and the 40 threads provide the needed throughput. Pick the Intel Xeon Gold 6326 for memory-bandwidth-hungry, I/O-expandable server deployments where the 204.8 GB/s memory bus and 64 PCIe lanes are critical, and where the modest 2.9% single-threaded performance deficit against the D-2799 is an acceptable trade-off. Both processors sit in the 64th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are well-matched in overall performance, but the D-2799’s benchmark sweep gives it the edge for general-purpose server use.