Ryzen 5 8640U vs Xeon Gold 6138T

CPU

GPU

Ryzen 5 8640U

6 Cores12 Thrd28 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2023

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Xeon Gold 6138T

20 Cores40 Thrd125 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2017

Similar parts

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Ryzen 5 8640U vs Xeon Gold 6138T Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 5 8640U

6 / 12

20,274

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Xeon Gold 6138T

20 / 40

20,356

+0.4%

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.

Ryzen 5 8640U vs Xeon Gold 6138T FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Ryzen 5 8640U vs Xeon Gold 6138T: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Ryzen 5 8640U

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +20.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 28W instead of 125W, a 97W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP8 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 760M, while Xeon Gold 6138T needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (10,308 vs 11,988).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 28 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6138T, which brings 20 cores / 40 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Gold 6138T

2017

Why buy it

✅+16.3% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+71.9% larger total L3 cache (28 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 20 cores / 40 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 8640U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $2,742 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 8640U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌346.4% higher power demand at 125W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on LGA3647 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 8640U moves to FP8 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 8640U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 8640U better than Xeon Gold 6138T?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon Gold 6138T makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 8640U is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6138T is the stronger fit. You are getting 16.3% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 20 cores and 40 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 71.9% larger total L3 cache (28 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 8640U is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Gold 6138T is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 5 8640U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $2,742 MSRP, and it still gives you a 20.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Xeon Gold 6138T is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 16.3% better Geekbench multi-core. Xeon Gold 6138T is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 8640U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2017) and a healthier platform with FP8 and DDR5 instead of LGA3647. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Ryzen 5 8640U vs Xeon Gold 6138T Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Ryzen 5 8640U

The Ryzen 5 8640U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,274 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.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 8640U packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6138T offers 20 cores / 40 threads — the Xeon Gold 6138T has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8640U versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6138T — a 27.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 8640U (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Ryzen 5 8640U uses the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) architecture (4 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6138T uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 8640U scores 20,274 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 2,519 vs 1,030, a 83.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 8640U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,308 vs 11,988 (15.1% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6138T). L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8640U vs 27.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 6138T.

Feature	Ryzen 5 8640U	Xeon Gold 6138T
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	20 / 40+233%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+32%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+75%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	27.5 MB+72%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	20 MB+1900%
Process	4 nm-71%	14 nm
Architecture	Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	20,274	20,356
Cinebench R23 Multi	10,675	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,519+145%	1,030
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,308	11,988+16%

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 8640U uses the FP8 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6138T uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5x-7500 on the Ryzen 5 8640U versus DDR4-2666 on the Xeon Gold 6138T — the Ryzen 5 8640U supports 181.3% 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 256 GB — 200% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 8640U) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6138T). PCIe lanes: 20 (Ryzen 5 8640U) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6138T) — the Xeon Gold 6138T offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Ryzen 5 8640U) and C620 (Xeon Gold 6138T).

Feature	Ryzen 5 8640U	Xeon Gold 6138T
Socket	FP8	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5x-7500+181%	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB	768 GB+200%
RAM Channels	2	6+200%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	48+140%

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Advanced Features

Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 5 8640U) vs Yes (Xeon Gold 6138T). The Ryzen 5 8640U includes integrated graphics (Radeon 760M), while the Xeon Gold 6138T requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 8640U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 8640U rivals Core i5-1335U.