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The Intel Xeon Gold 5220R is a 24-core, 48-thread server processor built for parallel workloads, but its benchmark record is not a modern, controlled review across applications. A Dell PowerEdge R740xd submission posted SPEC integer-rate scores of 259 base and 270 peak; PassMark’s user-submission aggregate reported a 30,531 multithread CPU Mark and 2,149 single-thread rating through September 29, 2026. Against the original Xeon Gold 5220, PassMark’s August 2026 comparison favored the 5220R in multithreaded CPU Mark but showed a small single-thread disadvantage.
That makes the 5220R most compelling when you have a compatible server and a workload that can use its cores. Intel has discontinued it, so a purchase now means evaluating used or residual-stock hardware, the entire platform, and your support needs—not judging the processor by its name or score alone.
Xeon Gold 5220R specifications and platform requirements
The 5220R belongs to Intel’s 2nd Gen Xeon Scalable family, commonly known by its Cascade Lake codename. Its specifications describe a server CPU, not a drop-in desktop upgrade.
| Specification | Xeon Gold 5220R |
|---|---|
| Cores / threads | 24 / 48 |
| Base / maximum turbo frequency | 2.20 GHz / up to 4.00 GHz |
| Cache | 35.75 MB |
| Thermal design power (TDP) | 150 W |
| Socket / maximum sockets | FCLGA3647 / 2 |
| Memory support | Six DDR4-2667 channels; up to 1 TB, depending on memory type |
| PCI Express | 48 PCIe 3.0 lanes |
| Instruction-set extensions | Includes AVX-512 |
| Process technology | 14 nm |
These are Intel’s processor specifications, not a guarantee that every compatible server supports every memory capacity or DIMM arrangement. Check the system manual and vendor compatibility information for supported BIOS and board revisions, memory types and population rules, storage options, cooling, and power delivery. The processor’s 150 W TDP is not a measured whole-server power draw, nor does it establish electricity cost or performance per watt.
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Sources: Intel Xeon Gold 5220R specifications and Intel 2nd Gen Xeon Scalable family brief.
What the published benchmarks show
The figures come from two different kinds of evidence: one fixed result for a named Dell server configuration and a rolling aggregate of user-submitted PassMark results. They measure different things, so do not treat them as scores from a single, comparable test suite.
SPEC CPU2017 integer rate: a Dell R740xd system result
SPEC’s published result for a Dell PowerEdge R740xd equipped with the Xeon Gold 5220R reports SPECrate2017_int_base = 259 and SPECrate2017_int_peak = 270. The submission lists 96 copies, a January 2020 test date, Dell as sponsor, and February 2020 hardware availability.
These are integer-rate results for that submitted system and configuration. They are not a standalone chip score, and comparing them with a result from a different system, compiler, or benchmark suite can be misleading. Read the SPEC result PDF.
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PassMark’s Xeon Gold 5220R page reports an Average CPU Mark of 30,531 and a Single Thread Rating of 2,149, based on PerformanceTest V10 submissions through September 29, 2026. PassMark says its database draws on thousands of submitted results and is updated daily, so these figures are a dated snapshot of aggregate results rather than measurements from identical test systems.
CPU Mark is useful as a broad point of reference, but it cannot predict how a particular application will run. Workload, memory configuration, socket count, cooling, power limits, firmware, and software or compiler versions can all affect the result. See PassMark’s Xeon Gold 5220R benchmark page.
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Xeon Gold 5220R vs. Xeon Gold 5220
The “R” model adds cores and has a higher maximum turbo frequency, but its power rating is also higher. PassMark’s comparison offers a separate, submission-based view of the performance difference.
| Specification or result | Xeon Gold 5220R | Xeon Gold 5220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / threads | 24 / 48 | 18 / 36 |
| Base frequency | 2.20 GHz | 2.20 GHz |
| Maximum turbo frequency | 4.00 GHz | 3.90 GHz |
| TDP | 150 W | 125 W |
| PassMark CPU Mark (comparison dated August 25, 2026) | 30,372 | 24,480 |
In that August 25, 2026 comparison, based on 18 submitted benchmarks, PassMark characterized the 5220R as about 24% faster in multithreaded CPU Mark but about 5% slower in single-thread rating. Those are PassMark-specific findings, not a guarantee that the 5220R will be faster on every parallel task or slower on every single-thread task. The 30,372 comparison figure is also distinct from the 30,531 average on PassMark’s separate rolling benchmark page.
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Sources: Intel 2nd Gen Xeon Scalable family brief and PassMark’s Xeon Gold 5220 vs. 5220R comparison.
Rank #4
Who the Xeon Gold 5220R suits—and where it falls short
Good fit: parallel server work on a compatible platform
The 24 cores and 48 threads make the 5220R a throughput-oriented choice when software can keep many cores busy. The submitted SPEC integer-rate result and PassMark’s multithread aggregate support that positioning, though neither predicts results for an untested workload. Existing owners of a compatible server may find the processor relevant if their applications benefit from additional parallel capacity.
Less suitable: workloads dominated by one busy thread
A high core count does not make this a strong modern single-thread processor by itself. PassMark’s reported single-thread rating is much lower than its multithread CPU Mark, and its 5220 comparison shows a small single-thread disadvantage for the R model. Check benchmarks for the specific application and its version rather than relying on core count alone.
Power and efficiency need measurements, not TDP alone
Intel lists a 150 W TDP, but that figure is not benchmark-load power for the CPU or the complete server. The available benchmark figures do not provide controlled power measurements, so they cannot establish electricity costs or comparative efficiency. A useful efficiency comparison needs performance and measured wall or package power from the same workload and test setup.
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Is the Xeon Gold 5220R still worth buying?
There is no universal value answer without knowing the server, workload, budget, energy costs, and support requirements. Intel marks the processor discontinued and lists June 30, 2025 as its end-of-servicing-updates date. Its ordering page marks boxed code BX806955220R retired and discontinued; Intel also lists tray code CD8069504451301 and spec code SRGZP. A current purchase should therefore be treated as used or residual stock, not assumed to be supported new inventory.
Before buying, verify the specific machine and processor together:
- Confirm the server motherboard or system uses FCLGA3647 and explicitly supports the 5220R.
- Check the system’s BIOS requirements and board revision; socket compatibility alone is not enough.
- Confirm supported DIMMs, memory population, cooling, power delivery, and the server’s storage and firmware requirements in its manual.
- Ask the seller to confirm the exact SKU, condition, return terms, and any included heatsink or other required parts.
- Compare the total cost of a compatible system and its operating needs with alternatives suited to your workload; Intel’s listed customer pricing is not a current used-market price.
Sources: Intel product specifications and lifecycle information and Intel ordering information.
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