Xeon Gold 6538N vs Ryzen 9 3900

Aggregate performance score

Ryzen 9 3900
2019
12 cores / 24 threads, 65 Watt
19.39
Xeon Gold 6538N
2023
32 cores / 64 threads, 205 Watt
28.26
+45.7%

Xeon Gold 6538N outperforms Ryzen 9 3900 by a considerable 46% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Ryzen 9 3900 and Xeon Gold 6538N processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking289164
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation19.9821.90
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
SeriesAMD Matisse (Ryzen 3000 Desktop)no data
Power efficiency28.2313.05
Architecture codenameMatisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)Emerald Rapids (2023)
Release date24 September 2019 (5 years ago)14 December 2023 (less than a year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$499$3,351

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Xeon Gold 6538N has 10% better value for money than Ryzen 9 3900.

Detailed specifications

Ryzen 9 3900 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 cores12 (Dodeca-Core)32 (Dotriaconta-Core)
Threads2464
Base clock speed3.1 GHz2.1 GHz
Boost clock speed4.3 GHz4.1 GHz
L1 cache64 KB (per core)80 KB (per core)
L2 cache512 KB (per core)2 MB (per core)
L3 cache64 MB60 MB (shared)
Chip lithography7 nm, 12 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size2x 74 mm22x 763 mm2
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data85 °C
Number of transistors7,600 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-no data
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Ryzen 9 3900 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 configuration12
SocketAM4FCLGA4677
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt205 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Ryzen 9 3900 and Xeon Gold 6538N. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions86x MMX(+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSE4A,-64, AMD-V, AES, AVX, AVX2, FMA3, SHA, Precision Boost 2Intel® AMX, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
AES-NI++
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
TSX-+
Precision Boost 2+no data
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Ryzen 9 3900 and Xeon Gold 6538N technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
SGXno dataYes with Intel® SPS
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Ryzen 9 3900 and Xeon Gold 6538N are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Ryzen 9 3900 and Xeon Gold 6538N. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4-3200DDR5-5200
Maximum memory size128 GB4 TB
Max memory channels28
Maximum memory bandwidth51.196 GB/sno data
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardN/AN/A

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Ryzen 9 3900 and Xeon Gold 6538N.

PCIe version4.05.0
PCI Express lanes2480

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.

Ryzen 9 3900 19.39
Xeon Gold 6538N 28.26
+45.7%

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.

Ryzen 9 3900 30802
Xeon Gold 6538N 44895
+45.8%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 19.39 28.26
Recency 24 September 2019 14 December 2023
Physical cores 12 32
Threads 24 64
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 205 Watt

Ryzen 9 3900 has 215.4% lower power consumption.

Xeon Gold 6538N, on the other hand, has a 45.7% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, and 166.7% more physical cores and 166.7% more threads.

The Xeon Gold 6538N is our recommended choice as it beats the Ryzen 9 3900 in performance tests.

Note that Ryzen 9 3900 is a desktop processor while Xeon Gold 6538N is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Ryzen 9 3900 and Xeon Gold 6538N, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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AMD Ryzen 9 3900
Ryzen 9 3900
Intel Xeon Gold 6538N
Xeon Gold 6538N

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