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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Ryzen 7 9800X3D

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +35.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,511 less on MSRP ($479 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 520.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 83.4 vs 13.5 PassMark/$ ($479 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 205W, a 85W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (39,966 vs 40,225).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6338, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Gold 6338

2021

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅128.6% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 9800X3D across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.5 vs 83.4 PassMark/$ ($2,990 MSRP vs $479 MSRP).
❌70.8% higher power demand at 205W vs 120W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 9800X3D

2024

Xeon Gold 6338

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +35.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,511 less on MSRP ($479 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 520.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 83.4 vs 13.5 PassMark/$ ($479 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 205W, a 85W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅128.6% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (39,966 vs 40,225).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6338, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 9800X3D across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.5 vs 83.4 PassMark/$ ($2,990 MSRP vs $479 MSRP).
❌70.8% higher power demand at 205W vs 120W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 9800X3D better than Xeon Gold 6338?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 6338 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6338 is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads.

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

Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 9800X3D is $2,511 cheaper on MSRP at $479 MSRP versus $2,990 MSRP, and it gives you a 35.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon Gold 6338 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.6% better PassMark. It is also 520.2% better value on MSRP (83.4 vs 13.5 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2021), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA4189, and 3D V-Cache and a much larger 96 MB L3 cache instead of 48 MB. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Ryzen 7 9800X3D Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6338 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 7 9800X3D	Xeon Gold 6338
1080p
low	276 FPS	186 FPS
medium	257 FPS	149 FPS
high	219 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	192 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	260 FPS	152 FPS
medium	217 FPS	118 FPS
high	172 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	155 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	179 FPS	71 FPS
medium	149 FPS	59 FPS
high	112 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	37 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D Open Xeon Gold 6338

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 7 9800X3D	Xeon Gold 6338
1080p
low	880 FPS	233 FPS
medium	713 FPS	208 FPS
high	561 FPS	173 FPS
ultra	474 FPS	139 FPS
1440p
low	697 FPS	199 FPS
medium	591 FPS	181 FPS
high	483 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	383 FPS	119 FPS
4K
low	383 FPS	124 FPS
medium	328 FPS	115 FPS
high	305 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	82 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D Open Xeon Gold 6338

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 7 9800X3D	Xeon Gold 6338
1080p
low	944 FPS	969 FPS
medium	772 FPS	848 FPS
high	698 FPS	802 FPS
ultra	604 FPS	712 FPS
1440p
low	731 FPS	775 FPS
medium	598 FPS	669 FPS
high	529 FPS	632 FPS
ultra	452 FPS	561 FPS
4K
low	506 FPS	498 FPS
medium	419 FPS	393 FPS
high	377 FPS	350 FPS
ultra	316 FPS	285 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D Open Xeon Gold 6338

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 7 9800X3D	Xeon Gold 6338
1080p
low	999 FPS	884 FPS
medium	999 FPS	800 FPS
high	907 FPS	687 FPS
ultra	811 FPS	587 FPS
1440p
low	885 FPS	691 FPS
medium	778 FPS	606 FPS
high	685 FPS	518 FPS
ultra	592 FPS	440 FPS
4K
low	639 FPS	499 FPS
medium	568 FPS	446 FPS
high	507 FPS	390 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	336 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D Open Xeon Gold 6338

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Xeon Gold 6338

Ryzen 7 9800X3D

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 November 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 96 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 39,966 points. Launch price was $479.

Xeon Gold 6338

The Xeon Gold 6338 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 48 MB. Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 40,225 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6338 offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Xeon Gold 6338 has 24 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6338 — a 47.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D (base: 4.7 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is built on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D scores 39,966 against the Xeon Gold 6338's 40,225 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon Gold 6338. L3 cache: 96 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs 48 MB on the Xeon Gold 6338.

Feature	Ryzen 7 9800X3D	Xeon Gold 6338
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	32 / 64+300%
Boost Clock	5.2 GHz+63%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	4.7 GHz+135%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	96 MB (total)+100%	48 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	—
Process	4 nm-60%	10 nm
Architecture	Granite Ridge (2024−2025)	—
PassMark	39,966	40,225
Cinebench R23 Multi	23,277	—
Geekbench 6 Single	3,450	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,500	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6338 uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D versus 3200 on the Xeon Gold 6338 — the Xeon Gold 6338 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6338 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 192 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 7 9800X3D) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 6338). PCIe lanes: 28 (Ryzen 7 9800X3D) vs 64 (Xeon Gold 6338) — the Xeon Gold 6338 offers 36 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X670E,B650E,X870E,B850 (Ryzen 7 9800X3D) and C621A (Xeon Gold 6338).

Feature	Ryzen 7 9800X3D	Xeon Gold 6338
Socket	AM5	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	3200+63900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+3276700%	6144
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	28	64+129%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: AMD-V, AMD-Vi (Ryzen 7 9800X3D) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6338). The Ryzen 7 9800X3D includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics), while the Xeon Gold 6338 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 9800X3D targets Extreme Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 9800X3D rivals Core i9-14900K; Xeon Gold 6338 rivals EPYC 7543.

Feature	Ryzen 7 9800X3D	Xeon Gold 6338
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon Graphics	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V, AMD-Vi	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Extreme Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D launched at $479 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6338 debuted at $2990. On MSRP ($479 vs $2990), the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is $2511 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers 83.4 pts/$ vs 13.5 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6338 — making the Ryzen 7 9800X3D the 144.5% better value option.