EPYC 4545P vs Xeon Gold 6438N

CPU

GPU

EPYC 4545P

16 Cores32 Thrd65 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2025

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Xeon Gold 6438N

32 Cores64 Thrd205 WWMax: 3.6 GHz2023

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

EPYC 4545P

16 / 32

54,255

+2.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Xeon Gold 6438N

32 / 64

52,789

0.0%

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.

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.

EPYC 4545P

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.1% higher average FPS across 34 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,802 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $3,351 MSRP).
✅Delivers 527.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 98.8 vs 15.8 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $3,351 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 205W, a 140W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics, while Xeon Gold 6438N needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Xeon Gold 6438N

2023

Why buy it

✅185.7% more PCIe lanes (80 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 4545P across 34 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (52,789 vs 54,255).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.8 vs 98.8 PassMark/$ ($3,351 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
❌215.4% higher power demand at 205W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while EPYC 4545P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

EPYC 4545P

2025

Xeon Gold 6438N

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.1% higher average FPS across 34 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,802 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $3,351 MSRP).
✅Delivers 527.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 98.8 vs 15.8 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $3,351 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 205W, a 140W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics, while Xeon Gold 6438N needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅185.7% more PCIe lanes (80 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 4545P across 34 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (52,789 vs 54,255).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.8 vs 98.8 PassMark/$ ($3,351 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
❌215.4% higher power demand at 205W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while EPYC 4545P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 4545P better than Xeon Gold 6438N?

Yes. EPYC 4545P is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 21.1% average FPS lead across 34 shared CPU game tests in our data, 2.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 4545P is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 21.1% more average FPS across 34 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 4545P is the better fit. You are getting 2.8% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads.

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

EPYC 4545P is the smarter buy today. EPYC 4545P is $2,802 cheaper on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $3,351 MSRP, and it gives you a 21.1% average FPS lead across 34 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 527.3% better value on MSRP (98.8 vs 15.8 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

EPYC 4545P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2023) and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 32/64. 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.

EPYC 4545P Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6438N Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 4545P	Xeon Gold 6438N
1080p
low	286 FPS	200 FPS
medium	262 FPS	165 FPS
high	215 FPS	137 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	262 FPS	159 FPS
medium	218 FPS	124 FPS
high	167 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	182 FPS	73 FPS
medium	151 FPS	61 FPS
high	115 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	39 FPS

Open EPYC 4545P Open Xeon Gold 6438N

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 4545P	Xeon Gold 6438N
1080p
low	674 FPS	239 FPS
medium	580 FPS	213 FPS
high	434 FPS	177 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	143 FPS
1440p
low	567 FPS	201 FPS
medium	506 FPS	182 FPS
high	392 FPS	157 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	122 FPS
4K
low	320 FPS	125 FPS
medium	289 FPS	116 FPS
high	255 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	219 FPS	83 FPS

Open EPYC 4545P Open Xeon Gold 6438N

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 4545P	Xeon Gold 6438N
1080p
low	850 FPS	956 FPS
medium	679 FPS	837 FPS
high	601 FPS	793 FPS
ultra	515 FPS	705 FPS
1440p
low	679 FPS	774 FPS
medium	543 FPS	668 FPS
high	469 FPS	623 FPS
ultra	398 FPS	555 FPS
4K
low	484 FPS	495 FPS
medium	401 FPS	391 FPS
high	360 FPS	342 FPS
ultra	302 FPS	279 FPS

Open EPYC 4545P Open Xeon Gold 6438N

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 4545P	Xeon Gold 6438N
1080p
low	1072 FPS	924 FPS
medium	966 FPS	835 FPS
high	843 FPS	720 FPS
ultra	760 FPS	622 FPS
1440p
low	842 FPS	716 FPS
medium	747 FPS	630 FPS
high	652 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	462 FPS
4K
low	619 FPS	517 FPS
medium	553 FPS	462 FPS
high	487 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	421 FPS	351 FPS

Open EPYC 4545P Open Xeon Gold 6438N

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 4545P and Xeon Gold 6438N

EPYC 4545P

The EPYC 4545P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 May 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Grado (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 54,255 points. Launch price was $549.

Xeon Gold 6438N

The Xeon Gold 6438N is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 60 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR5-4400. Passmark benchmark score: 52,789 points. Launch price was $3,351.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 4545P packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6438N offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Xeon Gold 6438N has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the EPYC 4545P versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6438N — a 40% clock advantage for the EPYC 4545P (base: 3 GHz vs 2 GHz). The EPYC 4545P uses the Grado (2025) architecture (4 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6438N uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 4545P scores 54,255 against the Xeon Gold 6438N's 52,789 — a 2.7% lead for the EPYC 4545P. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 4545P vs 60 MB on the Xeon Gold 6438N.

Feature	EPYC 4545P	Xeon Gold 6438N
Cores / Threads	16 / 32	32 / 64+100%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+50%	3.6 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+50%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)+7%	60 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+100%
Process	4 nm-43%	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Grado (2025)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	54,255+3%	52,789
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,500
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	20,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 4545P uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6438N uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5600 on the EPYC 4545P versus DDR5-4800 on the Xeon Gold 6438N — the EPYC 4545P supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6438N supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 192 — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (EPYC 4545P) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 6438N). PCIe lanes: 28 (EPYC 4545P) vs 80 (Xeon Gold 6438N) — the Xeon Gold 6438N offers 52 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM5 (EPYC 4545P) and C741 (Xeon Gold 6438N).

Feature	EPYC 4545P	Xeon Gold 6438N
Socket	AM5	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	5600+111900%	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	192	4096 GB+2236962033%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	28	80+186%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the EPYC 4545P 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. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (EPYC 4545P) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6438N). The EPYC 4545P includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics), while the Xeon Gold 6438N requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon Gold 6438N targets Server. Direct competitor: EPYC 4545P rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Xeon Gold 6438N rivals EPYC 9354.

Feature	EPYC 4545P	Xeon Gold 6438N
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	AMD Radeon Graphics	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Server

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 4545P launched at $549 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6438N debuted at $3351. On MSRP ($549 vs $3351), the EPYC 4545P is $2802 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 4545P delivers 98.8 pts/$ vs 15.8 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6438N — making the EPYC 4545P the 145% better value option.