Xeon Gold 6538N vs i7-8700K

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-8700K
2017
6 cores / 12 threads, 95 Watt
8.90
Xeon Gold 6538N
2023
32 cores / 64 threads, 205 Watt
29.34
+230%

Xeon Gold 6538N outperforms Core i7-8700K by a whopping 230% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-8700K and Xeon Gold 6538N processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking872162
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation4.8021.61
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
SeriesIntel Core i7no data
Power efficiency8.5413.05
Architecture codenameCoffee Lake-S (2017−2018)Emerald Rapids (2023)
Release date5 October 2017 (7 years ago)14 December 2023 (less than a year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$359$3,351

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Xeon Gold 6538N has 350% better value for money than i7-8700K.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-8700K 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)
Threads1264
Base clock speed3.7 GHz2.1 GHz
Boost clock speed4.7 GHz4.1 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0no data
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/sno data
Multiplier37no data
L1 cache64K (per core)80 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)2 MB (per core)
L3 cache12288 KB60 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
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-8700K 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)95 Watt205 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-8700K 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++
vPro++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX++
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
SIPP+-
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i7-8700K 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 i7-8700K and Xeon Gold 6538N are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-8700K and Xeon Gold 6538N. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3, DDR4DDR5-5200
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 frequency1.2 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-8700K and Xeon Gold 6538N integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported3no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-8700K 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 i7-8700K 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 i7-8700K 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.

i7-8700K 8.90
Xeon Gold 6538N 29.34
+230%

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.

i7-8700K 13622
Xeon Gold 6538N 44895
+230%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 8.90 29.34
Recency 5 October 2017 14 December 2023
Physical cores 6 32
Threads 12 64
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 205 Watt

i7-8700K has 115.8% lower power consumption.

Xeon Gold 6538N, on the other hand, has a 229.7% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 6 years, and 433.3% more physical cores and 433.3% more threads.

The Xeon Gold 6538N is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-8700K in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-8700K is a desktop processor while Xeon Gold 6538N is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-8700K and Xeon Gold 6538N, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-8700K
Core i7-8700K
Intel Xeon Gold 6538N
Xeon Gold 6538N

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.7 2609 votes

Rate Core i7-8700K on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

No user ratings yet.

Rate Xeon Gold 6538N on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-8700K or Xeon Gold 6538N, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.