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.

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,661 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 406.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 13.5 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 205W, a 140W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (22,430 vs 40,225).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6338, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Gold 6338

2021

Why buy it

✅+79.3% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅166.7% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.5 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($2,990 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌215.4% higher power demand at 205W vs 65W.

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Xeon Gold 6338

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,661 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 406.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 13.5 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 205W, a 140W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+79.3% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅166.7% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (22,430 vs 40,225).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6338, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.5 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($2,990 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌215.4% higher power demand at 205W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Xeon Gold 6338?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 6338 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 7 3700X is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6338 is the better fit. You are getting 79.3% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 32 MB).

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

Ryzen 7 3700X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 3700X is $2,661 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $2,990 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon Gold 6338 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 79.3% better PassMark. It is also 406.8% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 13.5 PassMark/$), 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?

Xeon Gold 6338 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2019), 50% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 32 MB), more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 8/16, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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.

Ryzen 7 3700X Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6338 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 7 3700X	Xeon Gold 6338
1080p
low	200 FPS	186 FPS
medium	163 FPS	149 FPS
high	137 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	110 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	156 FPS	152 FPS
medium	121 FPS	118 FPS
high	100 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	84 FPS	71 FPS
medium	71 FPS	59 FPS
high	56 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	37 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 3700X Open Xeon Gold 6338

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 7 3700X	Xeon Gold 6338
1080p
low	561 FPS	233 FPS
medium	525 FPS	208 FPS
high	428 FPS	173 FPS
ultra	383 FPS	139 FPS
1440p
low	545 FPS	199 FPS
medium	471 FPS	181 FPS
high	394 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	337 FPS	119 FPS
4K
low	350 FPS	124 FPS
medium	304 FPS	115 FPS
high	274 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	82 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 3700X Open Xeon Gold 6338

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 7 3700X	Xeon Gold 6338
1080p
low	561 FPS	969 FPS
medium	561 FPS	848 FPS
high	561 FPS	802 FPS
ultra	561 FPS	712 FPS
1440p
low	561 FPS	775 FPS
medium	561 FPS	669 FPS
high	538 FPS	632 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	561 FPS
4K
low	499 FPS	498 FPS
medium	394 FPS	393 FPS
high	343 FPS	350 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	285 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 3700X Open Xeon Gold 6338

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 7 3700X	Xeon Gold 6338
1080p
low	561 FPS	884 FPS
medium	561 FPS	800 FPS
high	561 FPS	687 FPS
ultra	561 FPS	587 FPS
1440p
low	561 FPS	691 FPS
medium	561 FPS	606 FPS
high	561 FPS	518 FPS
ultra	555 FPS	440 FPS
4K
low	561 FPS	499 FPS
medium	501 FPS	446 FPS
high	447 FPS	390 FPS
ultra	396 FPS	336 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 3700X Open Xeon Gold 6338

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 7 3700X and Xeon Gold 6338

Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.

Xeon Gold 6338

The Xeon Gold 6338 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 48 MB. Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 40,225 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 7 3700X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6338 offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Xeon Gold 6338 has 24 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6338 — a 31.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Ryzen 7 3700X is built on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 3700X scores 22,430 against the Xeon Gold 6338's 40,225 — a 56.8% lead for the Xeon Gold 6338. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X vs 48 MB on the Xeon Gold 6338.

Feature	Ryzen 7 3700X	Xeon Gold 6338
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	32 / 64+300%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+38%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+80%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB	48 MB+50%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	—
Process	7 nm, 12 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)	—
PassMark	22,430	40,225+79%

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 7 3700X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6338 uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 3700X versus 3200 on the Xeon Gold 6338 — the Xeon Gold 6338 supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6338 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 191.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 7 3700X) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 6338). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) vs 64 (Xeon Gold 6338) — the Xeon Gold 6338 offers 40 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X) and C621A (Xeon Gold 6338).

Feature	Ryzen 7 3700X	Xeon Gold 6338
Socket	AM4	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	3200+79900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+2184433%	6144
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	64+167%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6338). Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6338 rivals EPYC 7543.

Feature	Ryzen 7 3700X	Xeon Gold 6338
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 7 3700X launched at $329 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6338 debuted at $2990. On MSRP ($329 vs $2990), the Ryzen 7 3700X is $2661 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 7 3700X delivers 68.2 pts/$ vs 13.5 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6338 — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 134.1% better value option.