Xeon Gold 6138T vs Ryzen 5 3600
Xeon Gold 6138T
Ryzen 5 3600
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 6138T
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 3600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6138T | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6138T | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+334%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
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 6138T and Ryzen 5 3600
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.
Ryzen 5 3600
The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). 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: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6138T packs 20 cores / 40 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon Gold 6138T has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6138T versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 12.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6138T uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6138T scores 20,356 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 14% lead for the Xeon Gold 6138T. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,030 vs 1,295, a 22.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,988 vs 1,898 (145.3% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6138T). L3 cache: 27.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 6138T vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138T | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 20 / 40+233% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4.2 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+80% |
| L3 Cache | 27.5 MB | 32 MB (total)+16% |
| L2 Cache | 20 MB+3900% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Matisse (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 20,356+15% | 17,685 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 9,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,030 | 1,295+26% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 11,988+532% | 1,898 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6138T uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Xeon Gold 6138T supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon Gold 6138T) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 3600). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon Gold 6138T) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Xeon Gold 6138T offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C620 (Xeon Gold 6138T) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138T | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Only the Xeon Gold 6138T supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support Yes virtualization. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138T | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | Yes |
| Target Use | — | Gaming/Budget Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Gold 6138T launched at $2742 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 3600 debuted at $199. At current prices ($400 vs $80), the Ryzen 5 3600 is $320 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Gold 6138T delivers 50.9 pts/$ vs 221.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 125.1% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138T | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2742 | $199-93% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $400 | $80-80% |
| Performance per Dollar | 50.9 | 221.1+334% |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2019 |
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