Core Ultra 9 185H vs Xeon Gold 6238
Core Ultra 9 185H
Xeon Gold 6238
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 9 185H
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6238
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 9 185H | Xeon Gold 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-H (2023) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 9 185H | Xeon Gold 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 9 185H and Xeon Gold 6238
Core Ultra 9 185H
The Core Ultra 9 185H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 22 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 29,360 points. Launch price was $640.
Xeon Gold 6238
The Xeon Gold 6238 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 22 cores and 44 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 30.25 MB. L2 cache: 22 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 29,118 points. Launch price was $2,612.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 9 185H packs 16 cores / 22 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6238 offers 22 cores / 44 threads — the Xeon Gold 6238 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 185H versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6238 — a 31.8% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 9 185H (base: 3.9 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core Ultra 9 185H uses the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6238 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 9 185H scores 29,360 against the Xeon Gold 6238's 29,118 — a 0.8% lead for the Core Ultra 9 185H. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 185H vs 30.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 6238.
| Feature | Core Ultra 9 185H | Xeon Gold 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 22 | 22 / 44+38% |
| Boost Clock | 5.1 GHz+38% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.9 GHz+86% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB (total) | 30.25 MB+26% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 22 MB+1000% |
| Process | 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Meteor Lake-H (2023) | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 29,360 | 29,118 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 18,030 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,700 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 17,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 9 185H uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6238 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5x-7467, DDR5-5600 on the Core Ultra 9 185H versus 2933 on the Xeon Gold 6238 — the Xeon Gold 6238 supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6238 supports up to 1024 of RAM compared to 96 GB — 165.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core Ultra 9 185H) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6238). PCIe lanes: 28 (Core Ultra 9 185H) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6238) — the Xeon Gold 6238 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Meteor Lake SoC (Core Ultra 9 185H) and C621 (Xeon Gold 6238).
| Feature | Core Ultra 9 185H | Xeon Gold 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2049 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5x-7467, DDR5-5600 | 2933+58560% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 96 GB+9830300% | 1024 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 6+200% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 28 | 48+71% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Gold 6238 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core Ultra 9 185H) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6238). The Core Ultra 9 185H includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe-cores)), while the Xeon Gold 6238 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 9 185H targets Mainstream Performance / AI Workloads. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 9 185H rivals Ryzen 9 8945HS; Xeon Gold 6238 rivals EPYC 7402.
| Feature | Core Ultra 9 185H | Xeon Gold 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe-cores) | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Mainstream Performance / AI Workloads | — |
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