Xeon Gold 5120 vs Core Ultra 5 238V
Xeon Gold 5120
Core Ultra 5 238V
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 Gold 5120
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 5 238V
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5120 | Core Ultra 5 238V |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($454) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Lunar Lake (2024) / 3 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5120 | Core Ultra 5 238V |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($454) |
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 Gold 5120 and Core Ultra 5 238V
Xeon Gold 5120
The Xeon Gold 5120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB. L2 cache: 14 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 18,132 points. Launch price was $1,555.
Core Ultra 5 238V
The Core Ultra 5 238V is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 September 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2.5 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2833. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,219 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5120 packs 14 cores / 28 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 238V offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon Gold 5120 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5120 versus 4.7 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 238V — a 38% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5120 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 238V uses Lunar Lake (2024) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5120 scores 18,132 against the Core Ultra 5 238V's 18,219 — a 0.5% lead for the Core Ultra 5 238V. L3 cache: 19.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 5120 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 238V.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5120 | Core Ultra 5 238V |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 14 / 28+75% | 8 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 4.7 GHz+47% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz+5% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 19.25 MB+141% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 14 MB+460% | 2.5 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 3 nm-79% |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Lunar Lake (2024) |
| PassMark | 18,132 | 18,219 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 10,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,683 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 10,130 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5120 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 5 238V uses FCBGA2833 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5120 | Core Ultra 5 238V |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | FCBGA2833 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | LPDDR5x-8533 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon Gold 5120) / VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 238V). The Core Ultra 5 238V includes integrated graphics (Arc Graphics 130V), while the Xeon Gold 5120 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 238V targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 238V rivals Ryzen 5 8640U.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5120 | Core Ultra 5 238V |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Arc Graphics 130V |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Productivity |
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