Xeon Silver 4108 vs Core i5-8400
Xeon Silver 4108
Core i5-8400
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. The Xeon Silver 4108 is positioned at rank 306 and the Core i5-8400 is on rank 421, so the Xeon Silver 4108 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Silver 4108
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Silver 4108 | Core i5-8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($46) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Silver 4108 | Core i5-8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+105%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($46) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) |
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 Silver 4108 and Core i5-8400
Xeon Silver 4108
The Xeon Silver 4108 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 11 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 9,177 points. Launch price was $417.
Core i5-8400
The Core i5-8400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,229 points. Launch price was $182.
Processing Power
The Xeon Silver 4108 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i5-8400 offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Xeon Silver 4108 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4108 versus 4 GHz on the Core i5-8400 — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-8400 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Xeon Silver 4108 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-8400 uses Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Silver 4108 scores 9,177 against the Core i5-8400's 9,229 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-8400. L3 cache: 11 MB on the Xeon Silver 4108 vs 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8400.
| Feature | Xeon Silver 4108 | Core i5-8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 6 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 4 GHz+33% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.8 GHz+56% |
| L3 Cache | 11 MB+22% | 9 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 8 MB+3100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 9,177 | 9,229 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Silver 4108 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-8400 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Silver 4108 | Core i5-8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon Silver 4108) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-8400). The Core i5-8400 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon Silver 4108 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8400 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon Silver 4108 | Core i5-8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Silver 4108 launched at $417 MSRP, while the Core i5-8400 debuted at $182. At current prices ($46 vs $95), the Xeon Silver 4108 is $49 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Silver 4108 delivers 199.5 pts/$ vs 97.1 pts/$ for the Core i5-8400 — making the Xeon Silver 4108 the 69% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Silver 4108 | Core i5-8400 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $417 | $182-56% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $46-52% | $95 |
| Performance per Dollar | 199.5+105% | 97.1 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2017 |
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