Xeon Gold 6238R vs Xeon Gold 6338T

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 6238R vs Xeon Gold 6338T 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 6238R vs Xeon Gold 6338T: 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 6238R

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $527 less on MSRP ($2,612 MSRP vs $3,139 MSRP).
✅Delivers 16.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 13.3 vs 11.4 PassMark/$ ($2,612 MSRP vs $3,139 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (34,751 vs 35,801).

Xeon Gold 6338T

2021

Why buy it

✅+3% higher PassMark.
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 48) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 11.4 vs 13.3 PassMark/$ ($3,139 MSRP vs $2,612 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6338T better than Xeon Gold 6238R?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon Gold 6238R is ahead with a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6338T pulls ahead with 3% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6338T is the stronger fit. You are getting 3% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads.

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

Xeon Gold 6338T is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Gold 6238R is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon Gold 6338T comes in 20.2% more expensive on MSRP at $3,139 MSRP versus $2,612 MSRP, and it still gives you 3% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon Gold 6238R is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon Gold 6238R is also 16.7% better value on MSRP (13.3 vs 11.4 PassMark/$), 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 6338T makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020) and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 48 threads instead of 28/56. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Xeon Gold 6238R vs Xeon Gold 6338T Technical Specifications

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

Xeon Gold 6238R

The Xeon Gold 6238R is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 28 cores and 56 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 38.5 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 34,751 points. Launch price was $2,612.

Xeon Gold 6338T

The Xeon Gold 6338T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 35,801 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Xeon Gold 6238R packs 28 cores / 56 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6338T offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon Gold 6238R has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6238R versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6338T — a 16.2% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6238R (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6238R uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6338T uses Ice Lake-SP (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6238R scores 34,751 against the Xeon Gold 6338T's 35,801 — a 3% lead for the Xeon Gold 6338T. L3 cache: 38.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 6238R vs 36 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 6338T.

Feature	Xeon Gold 6238R	Xeon Gold 6338T
Cores / Threads	28 / 56+17%	24 / 48
Boost Clock	4 GHz+18%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.2 GHz+5%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	38.5 MB+7%	36 MB (total)
L2 Cache	28 MB+2700%	1 MB (per core)
Process	14 nm	10 nm-29%
Architecture	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)	Ice Lake-SP (2021)
PassMark	34,751	35,801+3%
Geekbench 6 Multi	21,433	—

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon Gold 6238R uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 6338T uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2933 on the Xeon Gold 6238R versus 3200 on the Xeon Gold 6338T — the Xeon Gold 6338T supports 9.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6338T supports up to 6144 TB of RAM compared to 1 TB — 614300% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon Gold 6238R) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 6338T). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon Gold 6238R) vs 64 (Xeon Gold 6338T) — the Xeon Gold 6338T offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621,C622,C624,C627,C628 (Xeon Gold 6238R) and C621A (Xeon Gold 6338T).

Feature	Xeon Gold 6238R	Xeon Gold 6338T
Socket	LGA3647	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2933	3200+9%
Max RAM Capacity	1 TB	6144 TB+614300%
RAM Channels	6	8+33%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	48	64+33%

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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 6238R) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6338T). Primary use case: Xeon Gold 6238R targets Server. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6238R rivals Xeon Gold 6248R; Xeon Gold 6338T rivals EPYC 7443P.

Feature	Xeon Gold 6238R	Xeon Gold 6338T
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Server	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Xeon Gold 6238R was priced at $2612, while the Xeon Gold 6338T came in at $3139. On launch pricing ($2612 vs $3139), Xeon Gold 6238R was $527 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Gold 6238R delivers 13.3 pts/$ vs 11.4 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6338T — making the Xeon Gold 6238R the 15.4% better value option.

Feature	Xeon Gold 6238R	Xeon Gold 6338T
MSRP	$2612-17%	$3139
Performance per Dollar	13.3+17%	11.4
Release Date	2020	2021

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