Intel Core i9-13900F vs Intel Xeon Phi 7290 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of recorded benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900F wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Xeon Phi 7290 wins only one comparison, in the PassMark extended instructions test.

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

A: The Core i9-13900F scores 40,928 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Xeon Phi 7290 scores 15,163. The i9-13900F leads by 63%.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core i9-13900F scores 5,778 versus 2,140 for the Xeon Phi 7290, a 63% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, the i9-13900F scores 4,406 versus 485, an 89% lead.

Q: Where does the Xeon Phi 7290 outperform the Core i9-13900F?

A: The Xeon Phi 7290 wins in PassMark extended instructions, scoring 41,517 versus 36,525 for the Core i9-13900F, a 13.7% advantage.

Q: How do the two CPUs rank overall among all CPUs in the database?

A: Both processors hold the 91st percentile among all CPUs. The Xeon Phi 7290 has an average benchmark score of 53,469, while the Core i9-13900F averages 51,730.

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

A: The Xeon Phi 7290 has 72 cores and 288 threads. The Core i9-13900F has 24 cores and 32 threads.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon Phi 7290 and Intel Core i9-13900F represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Xeon Phi 7290 uses the Knights Landing architecture, built on a 14 nm process with 8,000 million transistors. It is designed for server and workstation workloads, with 72 cores and 288 threads. Its base clock is 1,500 MHz with a boost clock of 1,700 MHz, and it carries a 245 W TDP. The processor uses DDR4 memory and supports ECC, fitting its server-oriented role.

The Core i9-13900F uses the Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process with a die size of 257 mm². It is a desktop processor with 24 cores and 32 threads, featuring a base clock of 2,000 MHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. Its TDP is 65 W, considerably lower than the Xeon Phi. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel configuration, and includes ECC support as well. The Core i9-13900F also offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

Cache structures differ significantly. The Xeon Phi 7290 has 32 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with no listed L3 cache. The Core i9-13900F has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. This difference reflects the Xeon Phi's many-core approach versus the Core i9's larger per-core cache and shared pool.

The socket platforms are incompatible: the Xeon Phi 7290 uses Intel Socket 3647, while the Core i9-13900F uses Intel Socket 1700. The Xeon Phi 7290 was released on 2016-06-19, while the Core i9-13900F was released on 2023-01-03. The Core i9-13900F has an active production status, while the Xeon Phi 7290's production status is not recorded. The Core i9-13900F has a launch MSRP of $524, while the Xeon Phi 7290 has no launch MSRP listed. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The benchmark data strongly favors the Intel Core i9-13900F for nearly every workload category recorded. It wins 16 out of 17 head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 2.6% in random string sorting to 89% in single-thread performance. The Core i9-13900F is the clear choice for general computing, rendering, encryption, integer math, floating-point math, and multithreaded applications.

The Intel Xeon Phi 7290 should only be considered for the specific case of extended instruction workloads, where it leads by 13.7%. Its 72 cores and 288 threads do not translate into wins in the recorded benchmarks, as the Core i9-13900F's higher clocks and newer architecture deliver superior results across Cinebench and PassMark tests.

For users prioritizing single-thread speed, the Core i9-13900F is decisively ahead, with an 89% advantage in PassMark single-thread and a 63% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core. For multi-threaded workloads, the Core i9-13900F leads by 63% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and by 64.1% in PassMark multithread. The Xeon Phi 7290's only winning category, extended instructions, suggests it may have niche value for specific instruction-heavy tasks, but the overall data does not support choosing it over the Core i9-13900F for typical use.

The average benchmark scores confirm the close overall positioning: the Xeon Phi 7290 averages 53,469, which is 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and 0.5% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7313P, while trailing the Intel Core i7-14700F by 0.3% and the Intel Xeon 6505P by 0.4%. The Core i9-13900F averages 51,730, which is 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, 0.7% behind the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX, 0.7% behind the AMD EPYC 8124P, and 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285T. Both sit at the 91st percentile among all CPUs.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon Phi 7290 | Intel Core i9-13900F |

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

| Cores | 72 | 24 |

| Threads | 288 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 1,500 MHz | 2,000 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1,700 MHz | 5.60 GHz |

| TDP | 245 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 3647 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Knights Landing | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Knights Landing | Raptor Lake-S |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Transistors | 8,000 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | Not listed | 257 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 32 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | Not listed | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Not listed | Dual-channel |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Production Status | Not listed | Active |

| Release Date | 2016-06-19 | 2023-01-03 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $524 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | SR2WY | SRMB7 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core i9-13900F dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 4,125 versus 1,528 for the Xeon Phi 7290, a 63% difference. The single-core result is similar: 582 versus 215, a 63.1% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 17,189 versus 6,368, again a 63% gap, and R20 single-core is 2,426 versus 898, also 63%. Cinebench R23 multi-core sees the Core i9-13900F at 40,928 versus 15,163, a 63% lead, and R23 single-core at 5,778 versus 2,140, a 63% advantage across the board.

PassMark results follow the same pattern. Data compression favors the Core i9-13900F with 635,147 versus 564,535, an 11.1% lead. Data encryption is much wider: 38,214 versus 12,505, a 67.3% advantage. Find prime numbers shows 204 versus 114, a 44.1% lead. Floating-point math is 131,007 versus 47,417, a 63.8% difference. Integer math is 188,022 versus 126,922, a 32.5% lead. Multithread performance is 49,693 versus 17,839, a 64.1% gap. Physics is 2,766 versus 2,257, an 18.4% lead. Random string sorting is close: 70,441 versus 68,593, only a 2.6% difference. Single-thread performance is the largest gap: 4,406 versus 485, an 89% lead.

The single exception is PassMark extended instructions, where the Xeon Phi 7290 scores 41,517 versus 36,525 for the Core i9-13900F, a 13.7% advantage. This is the only recorded benchmark where the Xeon Phi 7290 comes out ahead.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i9-13900F wins in every major workload category recorded except one. Its largest margins come in single-thread tasks, where it is 89% faster in PassMark single-thread and 63% faster in Cinebench R23 single-core. This makes it the clear choice for applications that rely on high clock speeds and per-core efficiency, such as everyday desktop use, gaming, and lightly threaded productivity software.

In multi-threaded workloads, the Core i9-13900F also leads decisively, with a 63% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 64.1% advantage in PassMark multithread. Its 24 cores and 32 threads outperform the Xeon Phi 7290's 72 cores and 288 threads in these tests, likely due to the significantly higher boost clock of 5.60 GHz versus 1,700 MHz, along with the newer Raptor Lake architecture and larger L3 cache.

Encryption and compression workloads go to the Core i9-13900F, with a 67.3% lead in data encryption and an 11.1% lead in data compression. Integer math and floating-point math also favor it, by 32.5% and 63.8% respectively. Even physics and prime number finding favor the Core i9-13900F, with leads of 18.4% and 44.1%.

The Xeon Phi 7290 wins only in PassMark extended instructions, with a 13.7% advantage. This category likely reflects the Xeon Phi's specialized instruction handling, which could be relevant for certain scientific or niche computing tasks. However, no other recorded benchmark shows an advantage for the Xeon Phi 7290. For users whose workloads depend on extended instruction throughput, the Xeon Phi 7290 has a measurable edge, but for all other recorded measures, the Core i9-13900F is the superior choice.