Xeon Gold 6538N vs i5-9400

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Aggregate performance score

Core i5-9400
2018
6 cores / 6 threads, 65 Watt
5.90
Xeon Gold 6538N
2023
32 cores / 64 threads, 205 Watt
28.26
+379%

Xeon Gold 6538N outperforms Core i5-9400 by a whopping 379% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-9400 and Xeon Gold 6538N processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1113165
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation8.5621.85
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
SeriesIntel Core i5no data
Power efficiency8.5913.05
Architecture codenameCoffee Lake (2017−2019)Emerald Rapids (2023)
Release date19 October 2018 (6 years ago)14 December 2023 (1 year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$182$3,351

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Xeon Gold 6538N has 155% better value for money than i5-9400.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-9400 and Xeon Gold 6538N basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores6 (Hexa-Core)32 (Dotriaconta-Core)
Threads664
Base clock speed2.9 GHz2.1 GHz
Boost clock speed4.1 GHz4.1 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0no data
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/sno data
Multiplier29no data
L1 cache64K (per core)80 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)2 MB (per core)
L3 cache9 MB (shared)60 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size149 mm22x 763 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °Cno data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °C85 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+no data

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-9400 and Xeon Gold 6538N compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)2
SocketFCLGA1151FCLGA4677
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt205 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-9400 and Xeon Gold 6538N. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® AMX, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
AES-NI++
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
TSX-+
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i5-9400 and Xeon Gold 6538N technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-+
EDB++
Secure Key+no data
MPX+-
Identity Protection+-
SGXYes with Intel® MEYes with Intel® SPS
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-9400 and Xeon Gold 6538N are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-9400 and Xeon Gold 6538N. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4-2666DDR5-5200
Maximum memory size128 GB4 TB
Max memory channels28
Maximum memory bandwidth42.671 GB/sno data
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel UHD Graphics 630N/A
Max video memory64 GBno data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.05 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-9400 and Xeon Gold 6538N integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported3no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-9400 and Xeon Gold 6538N integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096 x 2304@24Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP4096 x 2304@60Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096 x 2304@60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-9400 and Xeon Gold 6538N integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.5no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-9400 and Xeon Gold 6538N.

PCIe version3.05.0
PCI Express lanes1680

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i5-9400 5.90
Xeon Gold 6538N 28.26
+379%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i5-9400 9374
Xeon Gold 6538N 44895
+379%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.90 28.26
Recency 19 October 2018 14 December 2023
Physical cores 6 32
Threads 6 64
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 205 Watt

i5-9400 has 215.4% lower power consumption.

Xeon Gold 6538N, on the other hand, has a 379% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 5 years, and 433.3% more physical cores and 966.7% more threads.

The Xeon Gold 6538N is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-9400 in performance tests.

Note that Core i5-9400 is a desktop processor while Xeon Gold 6538N is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-9400 and Xeon Gold 6538N, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-9400
Core i5-9400
Intel Xeon Gold 6538N
Xeon Gold 6538N

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