
Xeon Gold 6238 vs Xeon Gold 5318H

Xeon Gold 6238

Xeon Gold 5318H
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 Xeon Gold 5318H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6238 | Xeon Gold 5318H |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Cooper Lake-SP (2021) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6238 | Xeon Gold 5318H |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Xeon Gold 5318H

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.

Xeon Gold 5318H
The Xeon Gold 5318H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Cooper Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 RDIMM. Passmark benchmark score: 29,301 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6238 packs 22 cores / 44 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5318H offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon Gold 6238 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6238 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5318H — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 5318H (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6238 uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5318H uses Cooper Lake-SP (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6238 scores 29,118 against the Xeon Gold 5318H's 29,301 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon Gold 5318H. L3 cache: 30.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 6238 vs 24.75 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 5318H.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6238 | Xeon Gold 5318H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 22 / 44+22% | 18 / 36 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.8 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.5 GHz+19% |
| L3 Cache | 30.25 MB+22% | 24.75 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 22 MB+2100% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Cooper Lake-SP (2021) |
| PassMark | 29,118 | 29,301 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 18,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,063 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 15,000 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6238 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 5318H uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 2933 on the Xeon Gold 6238 versus DDR4-2667 on the Xeon Gold 5318H — the Xeon Gold 6238 supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 5318H supports up to 1152 GB of RAM compared to 1024 — 11.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 6-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 48 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: C621 (Xeon Gold 6238) and C620 Series (Xeon Gold 5318H).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6238 | Xeon Gold 5318H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA4189 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | 2933+73225% | DDR4-2667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1024 | 1152 GB+117964700% |
| RAM Channels | 6 | 6 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 48 | 48 |
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 (Xeon Gold 6238) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Gold 5318H). Primary use case: Xeon Gold 5318H targets Cloud Infrastructure / Virtualization. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6238 rivals EPYC 7402; Xeon Gold 5318H rivals EPYC 7352.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6238 | Xeon Gold 5318H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Cloud Infrastructure / Virtualization |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.















