PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-13850HX

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 55W instead of 165W, a 110W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1964 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics, while Xeon Gold 6338T needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 36 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6338T, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Gold 6338T

2021

Why buy it

✅+20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13850HX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (35,801 vs 36,409).
❌Launch MSRP is still $3,139 MSRP, while Core i7-13850HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌200% higher power demand at 165W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 with DDR4, while Core i7-13850HX moves to FCBGA1964 and DDR5.

Core i7-13850HX

2023

Xeon Gold 6338T

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 55W instead of 165W, a 110W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1964 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics, while Xeon Gold 6338T needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 36 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6338T, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13850HX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (35,801 vs 36,409).
❌Launch MSRP is still $3,139 MSRP, while Core i7-13850HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌200% higher power demand at 165W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 with DDR4, while Core i7-13850HX moves to FCBGA1964 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13850HX better than Xeon Gold 6338T?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 6338T makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-13850HX is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-13850HX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 10.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13850HX is the better fit. You are getting 1.7% better PassMark, backed by 20 cores and 28 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-13850HX is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Gold 6338T makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-13850HX is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $3,139 MSRP, and it gives you a 10.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon Gold 6338T is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (11.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-13850HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021), a healthier platform with FCBGA1964 and DDR5 instead of LGA4189, and more multi-core headroom with 20 cores / 28 threads instead of 24/48. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-13850HX Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6338T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13850HX	Xeon Gold 6338T
1080p
low	291 FPS	185 FPS
medium	284 FPS	149 FPS
high	229 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	192 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	233 FPS	154 FPS
medium	203 FPS	120 FPS
high	159 FPS	93 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	74 FPS
4K
low	161 FPS	72 FPS
medium	140 FPS	60 FPS
high	108 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	38 FPS

Open Core i7-13850HX Open Xeon Gold 6338T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13850HX	Xeon Gold 6338T
1080p
low	349 FPS	232 FPS
medium	298 FPS	208 FPS
high	251 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	227 FPS	139 FPS
1440p
low	304 FPS	199 FPS
medium	270 FPS	180 FPS
high	228 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	119 FPS
4K
low	179 FPS	124 FPS
medium	163 FPS	114 FPS
high	155 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	136 FPS	81 FPS

Open Core i7-13850HX Open Xeon Gold 6338T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13850HX	Xeon Gold 6338T
1080p
low	647 FPS	895 FPS
medium	530 FPS	817 FPS
high	467 FPS	766 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	680 FPS
1440p
low	590 FPS	746 FPS
medium	491 FPS	643 FPS
high	427 FPS	603 FPS
ultra	370 FPS	535 FPS
4K
low	433 FPS	479 FPS
medium	373 FPS	378 FPS
high	338 FPS	334 FPS
ultra	289 FPS	272 FPS

Open Core i7-13850HX Open Xeon Gold 6338T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13850HX	Xeon Gold 6338T
1080p
low	910 FPS	895 FPS
medium	851 FPS	813 FPS
high	735 FPS	698 FPS
ultra	660 FPS	600 FPS
1440p
low	799 FPS	701 FPS
medium	712 FPS	616 FPS
high	615 FPS	527 FPS
ultra	542 FPS	451 FPS
4K
low	548 FPS	506 FPS
medium	497 FPS	452 FPS
high	444 FPS	396 FPS
ultra	388 FPS	344 FPS

Open Core i7-13850HX Open Xeon Gold 6338T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13850HX and Xeon Gold 6338T

Core i7-13850HX

The Core i7-13850HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture. It features 20 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 36,409 points. Launch price was $428.

Xeon Gold 6338T

The Xeon Gold 6338T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 35,801 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-13850HX packs 20 cores / 28 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6338T offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon Gold 6338T has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.3 GHz on the Core i7-13850HX versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6338T — a 43.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13850HX (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i7-13850HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6338T uses Ice Lake-SP (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13850HX scores 36,409 against the Xeon Gold 6338T's 35,801 — a 1.7% lead for the Core i7-13850HX. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13850HX vs 36 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 6338T.

Feature	Core i7-13850HX	Xeon Gold 6338T
Cores / Threads	20 / 28	24 / 48+20%
Boost Clock	5.3 GHz+56%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	36 MB (total)+20%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-HX (2023)	Ice Lake-SP (2021)
PassMark	36,409+2%	35,801

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13850HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6338T uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5600 on the Core i7-13850HX versus 3200 on the Xeon Gold 6338T — the Core i7-13850HX supports 54.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6338T supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 192 — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13850HX) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 6338T). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13850HX) vs 64 (Xeon Gold 6338T) — the Xeon Gold 6338T offers 44 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Raptor Lake-HX (Core i7-13850HX) and C621A (Xeon Gold 6338T).

Feature	Core i7-13850HX	Xeon Gold 6338T
Socket	FCBGA1964	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	5600+75%	3200
Max RAM Capacity	192	6144+3100%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	64+220%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-13850HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i7-13850HX includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics), while the Xeon Gold 6338T requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13850HX rivals Ryzen 7 8845HS; Xeon Gold 6338T rivals EPYC 7443P.