Xeon Gold 6438Y+ vs Xeon Platinum 8380

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 6438Y+ vs Xeon Platinum 8380 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 6438Y+ vs Xeon Platinum 8380: 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 6438Y+

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 205W instead of 270W, a 65W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (80 vs 64) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 24.0 vs 31.0 PassMark/$ ($2,607 MSRP vs $2,010 MSRP).

Xeon Platinum 8380

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $597 less on MSRP ($2,010 MSRP vs $2,607 MSRP).
✅Delivers 29.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 31.0 vs 24.0 PassMark/$ ($2,010 MSRP vs $2,607 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6438Y+ across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (62,318 vs 62,660).
❌31.7% higher power demand at 270W vs 205W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 with DDR4, while Xeon Gold 6438Y+ moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6438Y+ better than Xeon Platinum 8380?

Yes. Xeon Gold 6438Y+ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.5% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon Gold 6438Y+ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6438Y+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads.

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

Xeon Gold 6438Y+ is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Platinum 8380 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon Gold 6438Y+ comes in 29.7% more expensive on MSRP at $2,607 MSRP versus $2,010 MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon Platinum 8380 is also 29.0% better value on MSRP (31.0 vs 24.0 PassMark/$), 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 6438Y+ makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021), a healthier platform with LGA4677 and DDR5 instead of LGA4189, and more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 40/80. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Xeon Gold 6438Y+ vs Xeon Platinum 8380 Technical Specifications

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

Xeon Gold 6438Y+

The Xeon Gold 6438Y+ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 60 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 62,660 points. Launch price was $3,141.

Xeon Platinum 8380

The Xeon Platinum 8380 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2021-04-06. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 40 cores and 80 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 60 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 270 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 62,318 points. Launch price was $5,846.

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Processing Power

The Xeon Gold 6438Y+ packs 32 cores / 64 threads, while the Xeon Platinum 8380 offers 40 cores / 80 threads — the Xeon Platinum 8380 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8380 — a 16.2% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ (base: 2 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6438Y+ uses the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Xeon Platinum 8380 uses Ice Lake-SP (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ scores 62,660 against the Xeon Platinum 8380's 62,318 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon Gold 6438Y+. L3 cache: 60 MB on the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ vs 60 MB (total) on the Xeon Platinum 8380.

Feature	Xeon Gold 6438Y+	Xeon Platinum 8380
Cores / Threads	32 / 64	40 / 80+25%
Boost Clock	4 GHz+18%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	2 GHz	2.3 GHz+15%
L3 Cache	60 MB	60 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	10 nm
Architecture	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)	Ice Lake-SP (2021)
PassMark	62,660	62,318
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,300
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	40,000

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon Gold 6438Y+ uses the LGA4677 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Platinum 8380 uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ versus DDR4-3200 on the Xeon Platinum 8380 — the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Platinum 8380 supports up to 6144 GB of RAM compared to 4096 GB — 50% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 8-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 80 (Xeon Gold 6438Y+) vs 64 (Xeon Platinum 8380) — the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C741 (Xeon Gold 6438Y+) and C621A (Xeon Platinum 8380).

Feature	Xeon Gold 6438Y+	Xeon Platinum 8380
Socket	LGA4677	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+50%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	4096 GB	6144 GB+50%
RAM Channels	8	8
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	80+25%	64

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Xeon Platinum 8380 targets Datacenter. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6438Y+ rivals EPYC 9354; Xeon Platinum 8380 rivals EPYC 7543.

Feature	Xeon Gold 6438Y+	Xeon Platinum 8380
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Datacenter

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ was priced at $2607, while the Xeon Platinum 8380 came in at $2010. On launch pricing ($2607 vs $2010), Xeon Platinum 8380 was $597 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ delivers 24.0 pts/$ vs 31.0 pts/$ for the Xeon Platinum 8380 — making the Xeon Platinum 8380 the 25.3% better value option.

Feature	Xeon Gold 6438Y+	Xeon Platinum 8380
MSRP	$2607	$2010-23%
Performance per Dollar	24.0	31.0+29%
Release Date	2023	2021

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