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.

Xeon Gold 5520+

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,524 less on MSRP ($1,083 MSRP vs $2,607 MSRP).
✅Delivers 135.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 56.5 vs 24.0 PassMark/$ ($1,083 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 (61,227 vs 62,660).

Xeon Gold 6438Y+

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 24.0 vs 56.5 PassMark/$ ($2,607 MSRP vs $1,083 MSRP).

Xeon Gold 5520+

2023

Xeon Gold 6438Y+

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,524 less on MSRP ($1,083 MSRP vs $2,607 MSRP).
✅Delivers 135.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 56.5 vs 24.0 PassMark/$ ($1,083 MSRP vs $2,607 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6438Y+ across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (61,227 vs 62,660).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 24.0 vs 56.5 PassMark/$ ($2,607 MSRP vs $1,083 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6438Y+ better than Xeon Gold 5520+?

Yes. Xeon Gold 6438Y+ is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 11.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 2.3% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon Gold 6438Y+ is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 11.0% 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 better fit. You are getting 2.3% 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 Gold 5520+ makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon Gold 6438Y+ is 140.7% more expensive on MSRP at $2,607 MSRP versus $1,083 MSRP, and it gives you a 11.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon Gold 5520+ is also 135.2% better value on MSRP (56.5 vs 24.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Xeon Gold 6438Y+ is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 28/56. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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.

Xeon Gold 5520+ Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6438Y+ Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Xeon Gold 5520+	Xeon Gold 6438Y+
1080p
low	185 FPS	200 FPS
medium	162 FPS	165 FPS
high	129 FPS	137 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	159 FPS
medium	129 FPS	124 FPS
high	99 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	73 FPS
medium	62 FPS	61 FPS
high	48 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	39 FPS

Open Xeon Gold 5520+Open Xeon Gold 6438Y+

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Xeon Gold 5520+	Xeon Gold 6438Y+
1080p
low	266 FPS	263 FPS
medium	238 FPS	233 FPS
high	197 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	164 FPS	161 FPS
1440p
low	227 FPS	225 FPS
medium	205 FPS	203 FPS
high	175 FPS	173 FPS
ultra	140 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	141 FPS	140 FPS
medium	130 FPS	128 FPS
high	118 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	98 FPS

Open Xeon Gold 5520+Open Xeon Gold 6438Y+

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Xeon Gold 5520+	Xeon Gold 6438Y+
1080p
low	875 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	792 FPS	961 FPS
high	748 FPS	906 FPS
ultra	658 FPS	822 FPS
1440p
low	749 FPS	831 FPS
medium	674 FPS	739 FPS
high	633 FPS	685 FPS
ultra	564 FPS	615 FPS
4K
low	506 FPS	531 FPS
medium	425 FPS	437 FPS
high	379 FPS	378 FPS
ultra	316 FPS	310 FPS

Open Xeon Gold 5520+Open Xeon Gold 6438Y+

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Xeon Gold 5520+	Xeon Gold 6438Y+
1080p
low	935 FPS	916 FPS
medium	842 FPS	832 FPS
high	728 FPS	717 FPS
ultra	632 FPS	621 FPS
1440p
low	768 FPS	721 FPS
medium	674 FPS	634 FPS
high	579 FPS	543 FPS
ultra	498 FPS	470 FPS
4K
low	561 FPS	525 FPS
medium	504 FPS	469 FPS
high	445 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	383 FPS	354 FPS

Open Xeon Gold 5520+Open Xeon Gold 6438Y+

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Xeon Gold 5520+ and Xeon Gold 6438Y+

Xeon Gold 5520+

The Xeon Gold 5520+ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Emerald Rapids (2023) architecture. It features 28 cores and 56 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 52.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 61,227 points. Launch price was $1,640.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

The Xeon Gold 5520+ packs 28 cores / 56 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5520+ versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5520+ uses the Emerald Rapids (2023) architecture (10 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5520+ scores 61,227 against the Xeon Gold 6438Y+'s 62,660 — a 2.3% lead for the Xeon Gold 6438Y+. L3 cache: 52.5 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 5520+ vs 60 MB on the Xeon Gold 6438Y+.

Feature	Xeon Gold 5520+	Xeon Gold 6438Y+
Cores / Threads	28 / 56	32 / 64+14%
Boost Clock	4 GHz	4 GHz
Base Clock	2.2 GHz+10%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	52.5 MB (total)	60 MB+14%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	10 nm
Architecture	Emerald Rapids (2023)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	61,227	62,660+2%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,600	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	25,000	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA4677 socket with PCIe 4.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Xeon Gold 5520+ versus 4800 on the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ — the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 4096 GB of RAM. Both feature 8-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 80 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: C741 (Xeon Gold 5520+) and C741 (Xeon Gold 6438Y+).

Feature	Xeon Gold 5520+	Xeon Gold 6438Y+
Socket	LGA4677	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	4800+95900%
Max RAM Capacity	4096 GB+104857500%	4096
RAM Channels	8	8
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	80	80

🔧

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 Gold 5520+ targets Enterprise Server. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 5520+ rivals EPYC 9354; Xeon Gold 6438Y+ rivals EPYC 9354.

Feature	Xeon Gold 5520+	Xeon Gold 6438Y+
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	Enterprise Server	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Xeon Gold 5520+ launched at $1083 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ debuted at $2607. On MSRP ($1083 vs $2607), the Xeon Gold 5520+ is $1524 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Gold 5520+ delivers 56.5 pts/$ vs 24.0 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6438Y+ — making the Xeon Gold 5520+ the 80.7% better value option.