Core Ultra 5 238V vs Xeon Gold 5120
Core Ultra 5 238V
Xeon Gold 5120
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 5 238V
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 5120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 238V | Xeon Gold 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($454) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Lunar Lake (2024) / 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 238V | Xeon Gold 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($454) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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 Ultra 5 238V and Xeon Gold 5120
Core Ultra 5 238V
The Core Ultra 5 238V is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 September 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2.5 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2833. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,219 points. Launch price was $299.
Xeon Gold 5120
The Xeon Gold 5120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB. L2 cache: 14 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 18,132 points. Launch price was $1,555.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 5 238V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5120 offers 14 cores / 28 threads — the Xeon Gold 5120 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 238V versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5120 — a 38% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 238V uses the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5120 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 238V scores 18,219 against the Xeon Gold 5120's 18,132 — a 0.5% lead for the Core Ultra 5 238V. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 238V vs 19.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 5120.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 238V | Xeon Gold 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 | 14 / 28+75% |
| Boost Clock | 4.7 GHz+47% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.2 GHz+5% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 19.25 MB+141% |
| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB (per core) | 14 MB+460% |
| Process | 3 nm-79% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Lunar Lake (2024) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 18,219 | 18,132 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 10,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,683 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 10,130 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 5 238V uses the FCBGA2833 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 5120 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 238V | Xeon Gold 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2833 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5x-8533 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 238V) / not specified (Xeon Gold 5120). The Core Ultra 5 238V includes integrated graphics (Arc Graphics 130V), while the Xeon Gold 5120 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 238V targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 238V rivals Ryzen 5 8640U.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 238V | Xeon Gold 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Arc Graphics 130V | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Productivity | — |
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