CPU Information
Choosing your processor consists of a couple of steps. First you need to determine what type of processor you want: Intel or AMD, and which of their respective product lines. Each motherboard only supports a single type of socket, which may have one or more CPU types that fit it, so if you aren't seeing the options you want you may need to adjust the motherboard first. Once you have taken care of that step, you need to decide the exact model you'd prefer. Within a single product line the differences between processors will be one or more of the following specifications:
Clock Speed: This is the easiest metric to see when looking at a processor, and when comparing models within the same product line can be very helpful. If all other specs are equal, then this will show a linear performance difference: if the clock speed of one chip is 10% higher than another then it will perform tasks ~10% faster. Be careful of using this when comparing different processor series or brands, though, as there are many other differences that can have a larger effect - some of which are listed below.
Number of Cores: Modern CPUs have multiple cores in them, each of which can independently work on processing something. If you tend to run multiple programs at the same time, or if you have very demanding software that can use multiple processor cores at the same time, then getting a chip with as many cores as possible will help. Some chips from Intel also support Hyper-threading technology, where each core can switch back and forth between two tasks very quickly. One Hyper-threaded core isn't as effective as actually having two real ones, but it can be a way to improve performance without adding additional real cores.
On-Chip Cache: This is super-fast and efficient memory integrated into the processor, which it uses to store short-term or frequently accessed data. This type of memory is so zippy because it runs at the full clock speed of the processor, meaning at the gigahertz level. Cache is the first place the CPU looks for instructions. If not found, then the CPU must rely on the much slower system RAM, which operates at the megahertz level. Most CPUs today have on-chip L1 (level 1) and L2 cache, and some also have on-chip L3 cache. The L2 cache size will often be one of the main differences between CPUs, and as a general rule of thumb the larger the L2 cache the better the performance will be.
Enough technical jargon, which is faster?!?
CPU technology changes so often that anything we write proclaiming one processor to be the best will quickly be outdated. If you want the latest info you can call or email our sales team - they keep up on these things so that you don't have to! If you are just looking for a decent performing computer, though, none of the processor options we list will be a bad choice. For the best value, look at the price differences between models in relation to the speed jumps - and select one where the next model up costs a lot more, but the model down doesn't save much.
None - Included on motherboard | Intel Xeon E-2246G 3.6Ghz Six Core 12MB 80W | Intel Xeon E-2288G 3.7Ghz Eight Core 16MB 95W | Intel Xeon W-3235 3.3GHz Twelve Core 19.25MB 180W | Intel Xeon W-3275 2.5GHz Twenty-Eight Core 38.5MB 205W | Intel Xeon W-3245 3.2GHz Sixteen Core 22MB 205W | Intel Xeon W-3265 2.7GHz Twenty-Four Core 33MB 205W | Intel Xeon W-3225 3.7GHz Eight Core 16.5MB 160W | Intel Xeon E-2224G 3.5Ghz Quad Core 8MB 71W | Intel Core i9 10900X 3.7GHz Ten Core 19.25MB 165W | Intel Core i9 10940X 3.3GHz Fourteen Core 19.25MB 165W | Intel Core i9 10980XE 3.0GHz Eighteen Core 24.75MB 165W | Intel Core i9 10920X 3.5GHz Twelve Core 19.25MB 165W | Intel Xeon W-2255 3.7GHz 10 Core 19.25MB 165W | Intel Xeon W-2295 3.0GHz 18 Core 24.75MB 165W | Intel Xeon W-2275 3.3GHz 14 Core 19.25MB 165W | Intel Xeon W-2235 3.8GHz 6 Core 8.25MB 130W | Intel Xeon W-2225 4.1GHz 4 Core 8.25MB 105W | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 3.7GHz 32 Core 280W | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 3.8GHz 24 Core 280W | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X 2.9GHz 64 Core 280W | Intel Xeon Scalable Gold 6258R 2.7GHz Twenty-Eight Core 38.5MB 205W | Intel Xeon Scalable Gold 6256 3.6GHz Twelve Core 33MB 205W | Intel Xeon Scalable Gold 6250 3.9GHz Eight Core 35.75MB 185W | Intel Xeon Scalable Gold 6246R 3.4GHz Sixteen Core 35.75MB 205W | Intel Xeon Scalable Gold 6248R 3.0GHz Twenty-Four Core 35.75MB 205W | Intel Xeon Scalable Gold 6238R 2.2GHz Twenty-Eight Core 38.5MB 165W | Intel Xeon Scalable Gold 6242R 3.1GHz Twenty Core 35.75MB 205W | Intel Xeon Scalable Gold 6240R 2.4GHz Twenty-Four Core 35.75MB 165W | Intel Xeon Scalable Gold 6230R 2.1GHz Twenty-Six Core 35.75MB 150W | Intel Xeon Scalable Gold 5220R 2.2GHz Twenty-Four Core 35.75MB 150W | Intel Xeon Scalable Gold 6226R 2.9GHz Sixteen Core 22MB 150W | Intel Xeon Scalable Gold 5218R 2.1GHz Twenty Core 27.5MB 125W | Intel Xeon Scalable Silver 4215R 3.2GHz Eight Core 11MB 130W | Intel Xeon Scalable Silver 4214R 2.4GHz Twelve Core 16.5MB 100W | Intel Xeon Scalable Silver 4210R 2.4GHz Ten Core 13.75MB 100W | Intel Core i7 10700K 3.8GHz Eight Core 16MB 125W | Intel Core i9 10900K 3.7GHz Ten Core 20MB 125W | AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 3.8GHz Eight Core 105W | AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 3.7GHz Twelve Core 105W | AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 3.4GHz Sixteen Core 105W | |
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Product Line | Xeon | Xeon | Xeon W | Xeon W | Xeon W | Xeon W | Xeon W | Xeon | Core i9 | Core i9 | Core i9 | Core i9 | Xeon W | Xeon W | Xeon W | Xeon W | Xeon W | Threadripper | Threadripper | Threadripper | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Xeon Scalable | Core i7 | Core i9 | Ryzen | Ryzen | Ryzen | |
Code Name | Coffee Lake | Coffee Lake | Cascade Lake-64L | Cascade Lake-64L | Cascade Lake-64L | Cascade Lake-64L | Cascade Lake-64L | Coffee Lake | Cascade Lake-X | Cascade Lake-X | Cascade Lake-X | Cascade Lake-X | Cascade Lake-W | Cascade Lake-W | Cascade Lake-W | Cascade Lake-W | Cascade Lake-W | Castle Peak | Castle Peak | Castle Peak | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Cascade Lake-SP Refresh | Comet Lake | Comet Lake | Vermeer | Vermeer | Vermeer | |
Socket | 1151 | 1151 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 1151 | 2066 | 2066 | 2066 | 2066 | 2066 | 2066 | 2066 | 2066 | 2066 | sTRX4 | sTRX4 | sTRX4 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 3647 | 1200 | 1200 | AM4 | AM4 | AM4 | |
Process | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 7 nm | 7 nm | 7 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 7 nm | 7 nm | 7 nm | |
Number of Cores | 6 | 8 | 12 | 28 | 16 | 24 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 18 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 32 | 24 | 64 | 28 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 28 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 16 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 16 | |
Clock Speed | 3.60 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 3.30 GHz | 2.50 GHz | 3.20 GHz | 2.70 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 3.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 3.30 GHz | 3.00 GHz | 3.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 3.00 GHz | 3.30 GHz | 3.80 GHz | 4.10 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 3.80 GHz | 2.90 GHz | 2.70 GHz | 3.60 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 3.40 GHz | 3.0 GHz | 2.20 GHz | 3.10 GHz | 2.40 GHz | 2.10 GHz | 2.20 GHz | 2.90 GHz | 2.10 GHz | 3.20 GHz | 2.40 GHz | 2.40 GHz | 3.80 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 3.80 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 3.40 GHz | |
Hyperthreading | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
Turbo Boost | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Max. Turbo Boost | 4.80 GHz | 5.00 GHz | 4.40 GHz | 4.40 GHz | 4.40 GHz | 4.40 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 4.70 GHz | 4.50 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 4.50 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 4.50 GHz | 4.50 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 4.50 GHz | 4.50 GHz | 4.10 GHz | 4.0 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 4.10 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 3.50 GHz | 3.20 GHz | 5.10 GHz | 5.30 GHz | 4.70 GHz | 4.80 GHz | 4.90 GHz | |
All-Core Turbo Boost | 4.50 GHz | 4.70 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 3.20 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 3.40 GHz | 4.20 GHz | 4.40 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 4.10 GHz | 3.80 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 3.80 GHz | 4.10 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 4.50 GHz | 3.40 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 4.50 GHz | 4.0 GHz | 3.60 GHz | 3.0 GHz | 3.80 GHz | 3.20 GHz | 3.0 GHz | 2.90 GHz | 3.60 GHz | 2.90 GHz | 3.60 GHz | 3.00 GHz | 2.90 GHz | 4.70 GHz | 4.80 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 4.20 GHz | ||||
Bus Type | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | DMI3 | |||||||
Thermal Output | 80 W | 95 W | 180 W | 205 W | 205 W | 205 W | 160 W | 71 W | 165 W | 165 W | 165 W | 165 W | 165 W | 165 W | 165 W | 130 W | 105 W | 280 W | 280 W | 280 W | 205 W | 205 W | 185 W | 205 W | 205 W | 165 W | 205 W | 165 W | 150 W | 150 W | 150 W | 125 W | 130 W | 100 W | 100 W | 125 W | 125 W | 105 W | 105 W | 105 W | |
PCI-E Lanes | 16 | 16 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 16 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 56 | 56 | 56 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | |
Max Temperature | 100 C | 100 C | 85 C | 85 C | 85 C | 85 C | 85 C | 100 C | 94 C | 86 C | 86 C | 94 C | 86 C | 86 C | 86 C | 86 C | 95 C | 95 C | 95 C | 100 C | 100 C | 95 C | 95 C | 95 C | |||||||||||||||||
Intel Turbo Boost Max 3.0 | 4.50 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 4.40 GHz | 4.70 GHz | 4.80 GHz | 4.80 GHz | 4.80 GHz | 4.70 GHz | 4.80 GHz | 4.80 GHz | 5.10 GHz | 5.20 GHz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Simultaneous Multi-Threading | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cache | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Smart Cache | 12MB | 16MB | 19.25MB | 38.5MB | 22MB | 33MB | 16.5MB | 8MB | 19.25MB | 19.25MB | 24.75MB | 19.25MB | 19.25MB | 24.75MB | 19.25MB | 8.25MB | 8.25MB | 38.5MB | 33MB | 35.75 | 35.75 | 35.75 | 38.5MB | 35.75 | 35.75 | 35.75 | 35.75 | 22MB | 27.5MB | 11MB | 16.5MB | 13.75MB | 16MB | 20MB | |||||||
L2 | 16MB | 12MB | 32MB | 4MB | 6MB | 8MB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L3 | 128MB | 128MB | 256MB | 32MB | 64MB | 64MB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Onboard Graphics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Processor Type | Intel UHD Graphics P630 | Intel UHD Graphics P630 | Intel UHD Graphics P630 | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Core Speed | 1200 MHz | 1200 MHz | 1200 MHz | 1,200 MHz | 1,200 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DirectX Version | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
# of Displays Supported | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Specification | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Type | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | |
Maximum Frequency | 2666 | 2666 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2666 | 2666 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 3200 | 3200 | 3200 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2933 | 2666 | 2933 | 2666 | 2400 | 2400 | 2400 | 2933 | 2933 | 3200 | 3200 | 3200 | |
ECC Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Registered Support | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |||||||||||||||||
Advanced Technologies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
vPro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
Virtualization Technology (VT-x) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
Trusted Execution Technology | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
TSX-NI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |