Xeon Gold 6148 vs Xeon Gold 6238

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.

Xeon Gold 6148 vs Xeon Gold 6238 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Xeon Gold 6148 vs Xeon Gold 6238: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Xeon Gold 6148

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (29,021 vs 29,118).
❌Launch MSRP is still $3,072 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6238 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon Gold 6238

2019

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 140W instead of 150W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6148 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6238 better than Xeon Gold 6148?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon Gold 6148 is ahead with a 4.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6238 pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6238 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 22 cores and 44 threads.

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

Xeon Gold 6238 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Gold 6148 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon Gold 6238 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $3,072 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.3% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon Gold 6148 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 4.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon Gold 6148 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (9.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon Gold 6238 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2017) and more multi-core headroom with 22 cores / 44 threads instead of 20/40. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Xeon Gold 6148 vs Xeon Gold 6238 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Xeon Gold 6148

The Xeon Gold 6148 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 2.4 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): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 29,021 points. Launch price was $3,072.

Xeon Gold 6238

The Xeon Gold 6238 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 22 cores and 44 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 30.25 MB. L2 cache: 22 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 29,118 points. Launch price was $2,612.

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Processing Power

The Xeon Gold 6148 packs 20 cores / 40 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6238 offers 22 cores / 44 threads — the Xeon Gold 6238 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6148 versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6238 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6148 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6238 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6148 scores 29,021 against the Xeon Gold 6238's 29,118 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon Gold 6238. L3 cache: 27.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 6148 vs 30.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 6238.

Feature	Xeon Gold 6148	Xeon Gold 6238
Cores / Threads	20 / 40	22 / 44+10%
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz+14%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	27.5 MB	30.25 MB+10%
L2 Cache	20 MB	22 MB+10%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	29,021	29,118
Cinebench R23 Multi	18,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,254	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	9,445	—

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA3647 socket with PCIe 3.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Xeon Gold 6148 versus 2933 on the Xeon Gold 6238 — the Xeon Gold 6238 supports 10% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6238 supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 768 GB — 33.3% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 6-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 48 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: C620 (Xeon Gold 6148) and C621 (Xeon Gold 6238).

Feature	Xeon Gold 6148	Xeon Gold 6238
Socket	LGA3647	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	2933+10%
Max RAM Capacity	768 GB	1024 GB+33%
RAM Channels	6	6
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	48	48

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Gold 6148) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6238). Primary use case: Xeon Gold 6148 targets Legacy Enterprise Workloads. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6148 rivals EPYC 7401; Xeon Gold 6238 rivals EPYC 7402.