Xeon Gold 6138 vs Ryzen 7 3700X
Xeon Gold 6138
Ryzen 7 3700X
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 6138
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 3700X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6138 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($140) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6138 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+99%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($140) |
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 6138 and Ryzen 7 3700X
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6138 packs 20 cores / 40 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Gold 6138 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6138 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 17.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6138 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6138 scores 24,108 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 7.2% lead for the Xeon Gold 6138. L3 cache: 27.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 6138 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 20 / 40+150% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4.4 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+80% |
| L3 Cache | 27.5 MB | 32 MB+16% |
| L2 Cache | 20 MB+3900% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 24,108+7% | 22,430 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,261 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 15,439 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6138 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Xeon Gold 6138 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon Gold 6138) vs 2 (Ryzen 7 3700X). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon Gold 6138) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) — the Xeon Gold 6138 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621 (Xeon Gold 6138) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 GB+500% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 6+200% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 48+100% | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6138) / not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X). Primary use case: Xeon Gold 6138 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Server | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Gold 6138 launched at $2612 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 3700X debuted at $329. At current prices ($300 vs $140), the Ryzen 7 3700X is $160 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Gold 6138 delivers 80.4 pts/$ vs 160.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 66.4% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2612 | $329-87% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $300 | $140-53% |
| Performance per Dollar | 80.4 | 160.2+99% |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2019 |
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