Xeon E5-2679 v4 vs Xeon Gold 6138
Xeon E5-2679 v4
Xeon Gold 6138
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 Xeon E5-2679 v4
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6138
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2679 v4 | Xeon Gold 6138 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) | ✅ More affordable ($300) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2679 v4 | Xeon Gold 6138 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+67%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) | ✅ More affordable ($300) |
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 Xeon E5-2679 v4 and Xeon Gold 6138
Xeon E5-2679 v4
The Xeon E5-2679 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 50 MB. L2 cache: 5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 24,131 points. Launch price was $800.
Xeon Gold 6138
The Xeon Gold 6138 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: 24,108 points. Launch price was $2,612.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5-2679 v4 and Xeon Gold 6138 share an identical 20-core/40-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2679 v4 versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6138 — a 11.4% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6138 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Xeon E5-2679 v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6138 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2679 v4 scores 24,131 against the Xeon Gold 6138's 24,108 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5-2679 v4. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,000 vs 1,261, a 23.1% lead for the Xeon Gold 6138 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,000 vs 15,439 (25.1% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6138). L3 cache: 50 MB on the Xeon E5-2679 v4 vs 27.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 6138.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2679 v4 | Xeon Gold 6138 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 20 / 40 | 20 / 40 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.7 GHz+12% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+25% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 50 MB+82% | 27.5 MB |
| L2 Cache | 5 MB | 20 MB+300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 24,131 | 24,108 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,000 | 1,261+26% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 12,000 | 15,439+29% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2679 v4 uses the LGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 6138 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2679 v4 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 768 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-2679 v4) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6138). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-2679 v4) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6138) — the Xeon Gold 6138 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2679 v4) and C621 (Xeon Gold 6138).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2679 v4 | Xeon Gold 6138 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011-3 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1536 GB+100% | 768 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4 | 6+50% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | 48+20% |
Advanced Features
Only the Xeon Gold 6138 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: Yes (Xeon E5-2679 v4) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6138). Primary use case: Xeon Gold 6138 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2679 v4 | Xeon Gold 6138 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Server |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2679 v4 launched at $2702 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6138 debuted at $2612. At current prices ($500 vs $300), the Xeon Gold 6138 is $200 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2679 v4 delivers 48.3 pts/$ vs 80.4 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6138 — making the Xeon Gold 6138 the 49.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2679 v4 | Xeon Gold 6138 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2702 | $2612-3% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $500 | $300-40% |
| Performance per Dollar | 48.3 | 80.4+66% |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2017 |
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