Xeon Gold 6238 vs Core Ultra 9 185H
Xeon Gold 6238
Core Ultra 9 185H
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 6238
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 9 185H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6238 | Core Ultra 9 185H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-H (2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6238 | Core Ultra 9 185H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 6238 and Core Ultra 9 185H
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.
Core Ultra 9 185H
The Core Ultra 9 185H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 22 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 29,360 points. Launch price was $640.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6238 packs 22 cores / 44 threads, while the Core Ultra 9 185H offers 16 cores / 22 threads — the Xeon Gold 6238 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6238 versus 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 185H — a 31.8% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 9 185H (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6238 uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 9 185H uses Meteor Lake-H (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6238 scores 29,118 against the Core Ultra 9 185H's 29,360 — a 0.8% lead for the Core Ultra 9 185H. L3 cache: 30.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 6238 vs 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 185H.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6238 | Core Ultra 9 185H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 22 / 44+38% | 16 / 22 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 5.1 GHz+38% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.9 GHz+86% |
| L3 Cache | 30.25 MB+26% | 24 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 22 MB+1000% | 2 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Meteor Lake-H (2023) |
| PassMark | 29,118 | 29,360 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 18,030 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,700 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 17,000 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6238 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 9 185H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 2933 on the Xeon Gold 6238 versus LPDDR5x-7467, DDR5-5600 on the Core Ultra 9 185H — the Xeon Gold 6238 supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6238 supports up to 1024 of RAM compared to 96 GB — 165.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon Gold 6238) vs 2 (Core Ultra 9 185H). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon Gold 6238) vs 28 (Core Ultra 9 185H) — the Xeon Gold 6238 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621 (Xeon Gold 6238) and Meteor Lake SoC (Core Ultra 9 185H).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6238 | Core Ultra 9 185H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | 2933+58560% | LPDDR5x-7467, DDR5-5600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1024 | 96 GB+9830300% |
| RAM Channels | 6+200% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 48+71% | 28 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Gold 6238 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6238) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core Ultra 9 185H). The Core Ultra 9 185H includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe-cores)), while the Xeon Gold 6238 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 9 185H targets Mainstream Performance / AI Workloads. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6238 rivals EPYC 7402; Core Ultra 9 185H rivals Ryzen 9 8945HS.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6238 | Core Ultra 9 185H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe-cores) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Mainstream Performance / AI Workloads |
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