Core i5-13400F vs Xeon Gold 6438N
Core i5-13400F
Xeon Gold 6438N
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 i5-13400F
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6438N
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-13400F | Xeon Gold 6438N |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($180) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($3,351) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-13400F | Xeon Gold 6438N |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+783%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($180) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($3,351) |
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 i5-13400F and Xeon Gold 6438N
Core i5-13400F
The Core i5-13400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 25,029 points. Launch price was $196.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6438N offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Xeon Gold 6438N has 22 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6438N — a 24.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6438N uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Xeon Gold 6438N's 52,789 — a 71.3% lead for the Xeon Gold 6438N. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,407 vs 1,500, a 46.4% lead for the Core i5-13400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,408 vs 20,000 (54.7% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6438N). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 60 MB on the Xeon Gold 6438N.
| Feature | Core i5-13400F | Xeon Gold 6438N |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 16 | 32 / 64+220% |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+28% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+25% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total) | 60 MB+200% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+60% |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | Intel 7 nm |
| Architecture | Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) | Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) |
| PassMark | 25,029 | 52,789+111% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 16,211 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,407+60% | 1,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 11,408 | 20,000+75% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6438N uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Xeon Gold 6438N supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13400F) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 6438N). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13400F) vs 80 (Xeon Gold 6438N) — the Xeon Gold 6438N offers 60 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-13400F) and C741 (Xeon Gold 6438N).
| Feature | Core i5-13400F | Xeon Gold 6438N |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | LGA4677 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 192 GB | 4096 GB+2033% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 8+300% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 80+300% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Gold 6438N supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming, Xeon Gold 6438N targets Server. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600; Xeon Gold 6438N rivals EPYC 9354.
| Feature | Core i5-13400F | Xeon Gold 6438N |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Gaming | Server |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6438N debuted at $3351. At current prices ($180 vs $3351), the Core i5-13400F is $3171 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 139.1 pts/$ vs 15.8 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6438N — making the Core i5-13400F the 159.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-13400F | Xeon Gold 6438N |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $196-94% | $3351 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $180-95% | $3351 |
| Performance per Dollar | 139.1+780% | 15.8 |
| Release Date | 2023 | 2023 |
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