Core Ultra 9 288V vs Xeon Gold 6138T
Core Ultra 9 288V
Xeon Gold 6138T
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 288V
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6138T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 9 288V | Xeon Gold 6138T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($600) | ✅ More affordable ($400) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Lunar Lake (2024) / 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 9 288V | Xeon Gold 6138T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+51%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($600) | ✅ More affordable ($400) |
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 288V and Xeon Gold 6138T
Core Ultra 9 288V
The Core Ultra 9 288V 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 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2.5 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2833. Thermal design power (TDP): 30 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,280 points. Launch price was $299.
Xeon Gold 6138T
The Xeon Gold 6138T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 25 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 27.5 MB. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 20,356 points. Launch price was $2,742.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 9 288V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6138T offers 20 cores / 40 threads — the Xeon Gold 6138T has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 288V versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6138T — a 31.8% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 9 288V (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core Ultra 9 288V uses the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6138T uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 9 288V scores 20,280 against the Xeon Gold 6138T's 20,356 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon Gold 6138T. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,800 vs 1,030, a 92.4% lead for the Core Ultra 9 288V that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,000 vs 11,988 (18.1% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6138T). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 288V vs 27.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 6138T.
| Feature | Core Ultra 9 288V | Xeon Gold 6138T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 | 20 / 40+150% |
| Boost Clock | 5.1 GHz+38% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+65% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 27.5 MB+129% |
| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB (per core) | 20 MB+700% |
| Process | 3 nm-79% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Lunar Lake (2024) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 20,280 | 20,356 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 9,300 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,800+172% | 1,030 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 10,000 | 11,988+20% |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 9 288V uses the FCBGA2833 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6138T uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5X-8533 on the Core Ultra 9 288V versus DDR4-2666 on the Xeon Gold 6138T — the Core Ultra 9 288V supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6138T supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 184% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core Ultra 9 288V) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6138T). PCIe lanes: 8 (Core Ultra 9 288V) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6138T) — the Xeon Gold 6138T offers 40 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core Ultra 9 288V) and C620 (Xeon Gold 6138T).
| Feature | Core Ultra 9 288V | Xeon Gold 6138T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2833 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5X-8533+25% | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 768 GB+2300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 6+200% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 48+500% |
Advanced Features
Only the Xeon Gold 6138T supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core Ultra 9 288V) vs Yes (Xeon Gold 6138T). The Core Ultra 9 288V includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc 140V), while the Xeon Gold 6138T requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core Ultra 9 288V | Xeon Gold 6138T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel Arc 140V | — |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | true | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Core Ultra 9 288V launched at $600 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6138T debuted at $2742. At current prices ($600 vs $400), the Xeon Gold 6138T is $200 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 9 288V delivers 33.8 pts/$ vs 50.9 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6138T — making the Xeon Gold 6138T the 40.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core Ultra 9 288V | Xeon Gold 6138T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $600-78% | $2742 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $600 | $400-33% |
| Performance per Dollar | 33.8 | 50.9+51% |
| Release Date | 2024 | 2017 |
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