AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X vs Intel Xeon Gold 6338N Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X wins every single Cinebench comparison in this head-to-head, and it wins by a nearly identical margin across the board. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Threadripper 3970X scores 5405 against the Xeon Gold 6338N’s 3605, a 33.3% advantage. The single-core R15 result tells the same story: 762 versus 509, also a 33.2% gap. This consistency is striking — it suggests the performance difference is structural, not workload-dependent.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds exactly. The Threadripper’s multi-core score of 22524 beats the Xeon’s 15024 by 33.3%. Single-core R20: 3179 versus 2121, again 33.3%. The most modern test in the set, Cinebench R23, repeats the same margin: multi-core 53630 versus 35773, and single-core 7571 versus 5050. Every single deltaPct in the head-to-head is -33.3% (or -33.2% in one case), meaning the AMD part is one-third faster in every measured scenario. There is no test here where the Intel Xeon Gold 6338N pulls ahead.

The average benchmark score also favors AMD, though less dramatically. The Threadripper 3970X averages 10841 across all its benchmarks, while the Xeon Gold 6338N averages 10347 — a difference of roughly 4.8%. That narrower gap reflects the fact that the Threadripper’s benchmark suite includes 3DMark tests and Geekbench, where its advantage varies, whereas the head-to-head is purely Cinebench. Both processors sit at the 66th percentile among all CPUs, so in the broader context of the entire CPU landscape, they occupy a similar tier. But in direct competition, the Threadripper is the clear winner.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X wins every benchmark in the direct comparison. That includes all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23) and both single-core and multi-core variants within each. If a workload is measured by Cinebench — which typically reflects rendering, 3D modeling, and heavily multi-threaded content creation — the Threadripper 3970X is the choice. Its single-core wins are just as decisive as its multi-core wins, which matters for applications that are lightly threaded or that rely on per-core performance.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N, by contrast, wins nothing in this head-to-head. However, the data does show areas where the Xeon is not directly tested but where its specifications suggest a different role. The Xeon supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 170.7 GB/s, versus the Threadripper’s quad-channel 102.4 GB/s. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the Threadripper does not. For memory-intensive server workloads, error-correcting memory and higher memory bandwidth are often critical — but the benchmark data does not quantify those advantages. The Xeon also offers 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), which is a high lane count for expansion-heavy systems.

The Threadripper 3970X has a higher base clock (3.70 GHz versus 2.20 GHz) and a higher boost clock (4.50 GHz versus 3.50 GHz). Higher clocks directly explain the single-core benchmark wins. The Threadripper also has an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon is locked. For users who overclock, that is a meaningful difference — the Threadripper can be pushed beyond its stock boost, while the Xeon cannot. The Threadripper’s TDP is 280 W versus the Xeon’s 185 W, so it consumes more power, but it also delivers more performance per benchmark point in this comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different architectural lineages entirely. The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N is built on Ice Lake-SP, using Intel’s 10 nm process. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is Zen 2, codenamed Castle Peak, built on TSMC’s 7 nm node. The process node difference (10 nm versus 7 nm) partially explains why AMD can run higher clocks at a higher TDP — the 7 nm process is denser and more power-efficient per transistor.

Both CPUs have 32 cores and 64 threads, so the core count is identical. The cache layouts, however, differ substantially. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 48 MB of shared L3. The Threadripper also has 64 KB of L1 per core, but only 512 KB of L2 per core — half the Intel part — and a much larger 128 MB of L3. That is 2.67 times more L3 cache on the AMD side. The larger L3 cache is a hallmark of AMD’s chiplet design, where multiple dies each contribute cache to a shared pool. The Threadripper’s die is listed as 4x 74 mm², indicating a multi-die design, with 15,200 million transistors total. The Xeon’s transistor count and die size are not listed, so no direct comparison is possible there.

Memory architecture also diverges. The Xeon uses an eight-channel memory bus, while the Threadripper uses quad-channel. The Xeon’s memory bandwidth is 170.7 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s for the Threadripper — a 66.7% advantage for Intel. The Xeon supports ECC memory; the Threadripper does not. The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 4189 versus AMD Socket TRX4. The Threadripper is a desktop part, while the Xeon is a server/workstation part. The Threadripper was released in November 2019, the Xeon in April 2021. Both are still in active production, according to the data.

The Threadripper’s PCIe implementation is listed simply as "Gen 4" without a lane count, while the Xeon specifies "Gen 4, 64 Lanes (CPU only)." That lane count is notable for anyone planning a system with multiple GPUs or NVMe drives. The Threadripper’s launch MSRP is $1999; the Xeon has no launch MSRP listed.

The Verdict

The data is one-sided. If you are choosing purely on benchmark performance, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is the faster processor in every measured test. It leads by 33.3% in multi-core Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, and by the same margin in single-core. Its average benchmark score is higher (10841 versus 10347). It has higher base and boost clocks, an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and double the L3 cache (128 MB versus 48 MB). For rendering, content creation, and any workload measured by Cinebench, the Threadripper 3970X is the clear pick.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N is not without its reasons to exist, but those reasons are not in the benchmark data. It offers eight-channel memory with 170.7 GB/s bandwidth, ECC support, and 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. If your workload depends on memory bandwidth, error correction, or massive expansion capability, the Xeon has architectural advantages that the benchmarks here do not capture. The Xeon also has a lower TDP (185 W versus 280 W), which may matter in dense server environments where power and cooling are constrained.

Who should pick which? Strictly from the data: pick the Threadripper 3970X for speed. It wins every benchmark, and the margin is large. Pick the Xeon Gold 6338N if you need ECC memory, eight-channel bandwidth, or the specific server platform features — but understand that you are giving up roughly a third of the Cinebench performance. For a workstation user running rendering or simulation software, the Threadripper is the obvious choice. For a server administrator whose priority is memory capacity, ECC reliability, and PCIe lane count, the Xeon’s feature set may justify its lower raw scores.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X scores 53630, while the Intel Xeon Gold 6338N scores 35773. The Threadripper is 33.3% faster.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes. Both have 32 cores and 64 threads.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N has 48 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon Gold 6338N support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon Gold 6338N supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each CPU?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N has a memory bandwidth of 170.7 GB/s via an eight-channel bus. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has 102.4 GB/s via a quad-channel bus.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N has a boost clock of 3.50 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon Gold 6338N | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X |

|---|---|---|

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 185 W | 280 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 4189 | AMD Socket TRX4 |

| Architecture | Ice Lake (Ice Lake-SP) | Zen 2 (Castle Peak) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 15,200 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 4x 74 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 48 MB (shared) | 128 MB |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 170.7 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 64 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2021-04-05 | 2019-11-24 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $1999 |