Core i9-13950HX
VS
Xeon Gold 6338N

Core i9-13950HX vs Xeon Gold 6338N

Intel

Core i9-13950HX

24 Cores32 Thrd55 WWMax: 5.5 GHz2023
VS
Intel

Xeon Gold 6338N

32 Cores64 Thrd185 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2021

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i9-13950HX

#64
Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
MSRP: $600|Avg: $600
104%
#73
Core i9-13950HX
MSRP: $590|Avg: $199
100%
#82
Core i7-11700B
MSRP: $323|Avg: $311
96%
#83
Core i7-13700HX
MSRP: $485|Avg: N/A
95%
#86
Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370
MSRP: $500|Avg: $500
94%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6338N

#431
Xeon Platinum 8360Y
MSRP: $5383|Avg: N/A
108%
#432
Xeon W-3245
MSRP: $2199|Avg: $1200
108%
#433
Xeon Gold 6346
MSRP: $2708|Avg: $2195
106%
#434
Xeon W-3225
MSRP: $1319|Avg: $850
105%
#435
Xeon Gold 6354
MSRP: $2878|Avg: $2898
104%
#436
Xeon Gold 5218T
MSRP: $1572|Avg: $1349
104%
#437
Xeon 6960P
MSRP: $9625|Avg: $9625
103%
#438
EPYC 9555
MSRP: $9826|Avg: $7973
103%
#439
Xeon Gold 6338
MSRP: $2990|Avg: $1604
102%
#440
Xeon Gold 6538N
MSRP: $3351|Avg: $170
102%
#441
EPYC 7F52
MSRP: $3100|Avg: $1826
102%
#442
EPYC 7542
MSRP: $3400|Avg: $899
101%
#443
EPYC 9655
MSRP: $11852|Avg: $11852
100%
#444
Xeon 6781P
MSRP: $8960|Avg: $8960
100%
#445
Xeon Gold 6338N
MSRP: $3200|Avg: $3200
100%
#446
Xeon Gold 5117
MSRP: $1286|Avg: $300
100%
#447
EPYC 73F3
MSRP: $3521|Avg: $2100
100%
#448
EPYC 9384X
MSRP: $5529|Avg: $4157
99%
#449
EPYC 8534P
MSRP: $5529|Avg: $5529
99%
#450
EPYC 7663
MSRP: $6366|Avg: $6366
98%
#450
EPYC 9565
MSRP: $10486|Avg: $8233
98%
#452
EPYC 9755
MSRP: $12984|Avg: $10931
97%
#454
Xeon Platinum 8368
MSRP: $7214|Avg: $429
97%
#456
EPYC 9575F
MSRP: $11791|Avg: $9238
95%
#457
EPYC 7642
MSRP: $4775|Avg: $850
95%
#458
EPYC 7573X
MSRP: $5590|Avg: $3580
94%
#459
Xeon Platinum 8568Y+
MSRP: $6497|Avg: $6497
93%
#460
Xeon E5-2686 V3
MSRP: $1500|Avg: $160
92%
#460
Xeon Gold 6242R
MSRP: $2977|Avg: $779
92%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Use Case Distinction: This is a comparison between a Professional Workstation processor ($3,200) and a Consumer Desktop CPU. The Xeon Gold 6338N is engineered for massive parallel workloads (rendering, scientific simulations), offering significantly higher core counts.
InsightCore i9-13950HXXeon Gold 6338N
Gaming
Superior gaming performance
Lower gaming performance
Workstation
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Better multi-core power
Price
More affordable ($199)
⚠️ Higher cost ($3,200)
Longevity
✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-HX (2023) / Intel 7 nm)
✨ Modern (Ice Lake-SP (2021) / 10 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i9-13950HX ($199), however, is optimized for mixed workloads and gaming. For most users, it offers superior single-thread performance and responsiveness at a fraction of the cost ($3,001 less, 94% cheaper), making it the better choice for daily use and gaming.
InsightCore i9-13950HXXeon Gold 6338N
Cost Efficiency
Better overall value (+1467%)
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
More affordable ($199)
⚠️ Higher cost ($3,200)

Performance Check

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.

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13950HX and Xeon Gold 6338N

Intel

Core i9-13950HX

The Core i9-13950HX 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 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 36 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: 41,012 points. Launch price was $590.

Intel

Xeon Gold 6338N

The Xeon Gold 6338N is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 48 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 185 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 42,086 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Core i9-13950HX packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6338N offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Xeon Gold 6338N has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.5 GHz on the Core i9-13950HX versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6338N — a 44.4% clock advantage for the Core i9-13950HX (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i9-13950HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6338N uses Ice Lake-SP (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13950HX scores 41,012 against the Xeon Gold 6338N's 42,086 — a 2.6% lead for the Xeon Gold 6338N. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13950HX vs 48 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 6338N.

FeatureCore i9-13950HXXeon Gold 6338N
Cores / Threads
24 / 32
32 / 64+33%
Boost Clock
5.5 GHz+57%
3.5 GHz
Base Clock
2.2 GHz
2.2 GHz
L3 Cache
36 MB (total)
48 MB (total)+33%
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
41,012
42,086+3%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13950HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6338N uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5600 on the Core i9-13950HX versus 2667 on the Xeon Gold 6338N — the Core i9-13950HX supports 71% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6338N supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 192 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-13950HX) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 6338N). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-13950HX) vs 64 (Xeon Gold 6338N) — the Xeon Gold 6338N offers 44 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Raptor Lake-HX (Core i9-13950HX) and LGA4189 (Xeon Gold 6338N).

FeatureCore i9-13950HXXeon Gold 6338N
Socket
FCBGA1964
LGA4189
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
5600+110%
2667
Max RAM Capacity
192
6144+3100%
RAM Channels
2
8+300%
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
20
64+220%
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-13950HX 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 i9-13950HX includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics), while the Xeon Gold 6338N requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i9-13950HX rivals M3 Max 16-Core; Xeon Gold 6338N rivals EPYC 7513.

FeatureCore i9-13950HXXeon Gold 6338N
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Intel UHD Graphics
None
Unlocked
Yes
No
AVX-512
Yes
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
VT-x, VT-d
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-13950HX launched at $590 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6338N debuted at $3200. At current prices ($199 vs $3200), the Core i9-13950HX is $3001 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-13950HX delivers 206.1 pts/$ vs 13.2 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6338N — making the Core i9-13950HX the 176% better value option.

FeatureCore i9-13950HXXeon Gold 6338N
MSRP
$590-82%
$3200
Avg Price (30d)
$199-94%
$3200
Performance per Dollar
206.1+1461%
13.2
Release Date
2023
2021