Xeon Gold 6338T vs Ryzen 9 5900X
Xeon Gold 6338T
Ryzen 9 5900X
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 6338T
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 5900X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6338T | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,795) | ✅ More affordable ($350) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Ice Lake-SP (2021) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6338T | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+458%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,795) | ✅ More affordable ($350) |
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 6338T and Ryzen 9 5900X
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.
Ryzen 9 5900X
The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6338T packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon Gold 6338T has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6338T versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 34.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6338T uses the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6338T scores 35,801 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 8.4% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 6338T vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6338T | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 24 / 48+100% | 12 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 4.8 GHz+41% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.7 GHz+76% |
| L3 Cache | 36 MB (total) | 64 MB+78% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+100% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-30% |
| Architecture | Ice Lake-SP (2021) | Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 35,801 | 38,955+9% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 21,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,174 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 11,888 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6338T uses the LGA4189 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the Xeon Gold 6338T versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 5900X — the Xeon Gold 6338T supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6338T supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 191.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (Xeon Gold 6338T) vs 2 (Ryzen 9 5900X). PCIe lanes: 64 (Xeon Gold 6338T) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5900X) — the Xeon Gold 6338T offers 40 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621A (Xeon Gold 6338T) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6338T | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA4189 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 3200+79900% | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 6144 | 128 GB+2184433% |
| RAM Channels | 8+300% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 64+167% | 24 |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 9 5900X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 6338T supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6338T) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6338T rivals EPYC 7443P; Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6338T | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Gold 6338T launched at $3139 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5900X debuted at $549. At current prices ($1795 vs $350), the Ryzen 9 5900X is $1445 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Gold 6338T delivers 19.9 pts/$ vs 111.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5900X — making the Ryzen 9 5900X the 139.2% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6338T | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $3139 | $549-83% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $1795 | $350-81% |
| Performance per Dollar | 19.9 | 111.3+459% |
| Release Date | 2021 | 2020 |
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