Intel Xeon Gold 6338T vs Intel Xeon w5-2545 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits these two processors into distinct profiles. The Intel Xeon w5-2545 dominates the Cinebench suite, winning every single and multi-core test by a consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the w5-2545 scores 3511 against 3067 for the Gold 6338T, a 12.6% lead. Single-core in R15 shows a similar gap: 495 versus 432, a 12.7% advantage. The pattern holds through R20 and R23. In R20 multi-core, the w5-2545 posts 14632 versus 12780, again 12.7% ahead. In R23 multi-core, the w5-2545 reaches 34839 while the Gold 6338T manages 30430, a 12.7% difference. Single-core in R23 shows 4918 versus 4296, a 12.6% edge for the w5-2545.

PassMark results are more divided. The w5-2545 wins passmark_multithread with 40988 against 35801, a 12.7% lead, matching its Cinebench multi-core advantage. The single-thread gap is far larger: 3573 versus 2348, a 34.3% margin. That is the biggest single-core gap in the entire comparison, and it reflects the w5-2545's much higher boost clock.

The Gold 6338T reserves its wins for specific workloads. In passmark_integer_math, it scores 152275 versus 135576, a 12.3% advantage. In passmark_data_compression, it posts 557816 against 519755, a 7.3% lead. Random string sorting is its largest win: 66495 versus 53620, a 24% margin. Extended instructions go narrowly to the Gold 6338T: 43292 versus 42515, a 1.8% edge.

The w5-2545's remaining wins include passmark_floating_point_math at 105619 versus 90584, a 14.2% gap, and passmark_data_encryption at 26266 versus 24677, a 6% lead. Its most dramatic victory is passmark_physics: 2445 versus 1160, a 52.6% margin. That is the largest delta in the head-to-head set, and it suggests the w5-2545's architecture handles physics simulation far more efficiently than the older Ice Lake design. The only other notable win for the w5-2545 is passmark_find_prime_numbers at 182 versus 118, a 35.2% advantage.

The overall win count is lopsided: the w5-2545 takes 13 of the 17 recorded benchmarks, while the Gold 6338T takes 4. The two processors share the same 92nd percentile ranking among all CPUs, but their average benchmark scores differ: the Gold 6338T averages 60572, while the w5-2545 averages 58504. That means the Gold 6338T's overall average is higher, despite losing most head-to-head tests, because its wins in integer math, compression, and sorting come in tests with large raw score scales.

Where Each One Wins

The w5-2545 is the clear choice for single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. Its passmark_single_thread score of 3573 versus 2348 is a 34.3% improvement, and its Cinebench single-core scores are consistently 12.6% to 12.7% higher. Physics simulation is its standout domain, with a 52.6% lead. Floating-point math also favors the w5-2545 by 14.2%, making it better suited for scientific computing, rendering, and any workload that relies on dense FP operations.

The Gold 6338T wins where thread count and cache capacity matter more than clock speed. Its 24 cores and 36 MB of shared L3 cache drive integer math performance 12.3% higher than the w5-2545's 12 cores and 30 MB L3. Data compression favors the Gold 6338T by 7.3%, and random string sorting by 24%. These are classic parallel throughput tasks, and the Gold 6338T's extra cores clearly help. Its 1.8% edge in extended instructions is small but consistent.

The w5-2545 also wins passmark_multithread by 12.7%, which complicates the "more cores always win" narrative. The w5-2545 has half the cores of the Gold 6338T, yet it posts a higher raw multithread score. This indicates that newer Sapphire Rapids cores at higher clocks can outperform a larger count of older Ice Lake cores in aggregate throughput. The trade-off is power: the w5-2545 has a 210 TDP versus 165 for the Gold 6338T.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon w5-2545. In passmark_single_thread it scores 3573 versus 2348, a 34.3% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core it scores 4918 versus 4296, a 12.6% advantage.

Q: Does the Gold 6338T win any benchmark by a large margin?

A: Yes. It wins passmark_random_string_sorting by 24% (66495 versus 53620) and passmark_integer_math by 12.3% (152275 versus 135576). Its data compression win is 7.3% (557816 versus 519755).

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 6338T has 24 cores and 48 threads. The Intel Xeon w5-2545 has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: How do their Cinebench multi-core scores compare?

A: The w5-2545 wins every multi-core Cinebench test. In R23 multi-core, it scores 34839 versus 30430, a 12.7% margin. In R20, it scores 14632 versus 12780, also 12.7% ahead.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Gold 6338T has an average benchmark score of 60572, while the w5-2545 scores 58504. Both rank in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has better physics simulation performance?

A: The w5-2545. Its passmark_physics score is 2445 versus 1160, a 52.6% advantage. This is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head data.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. The Gold 6338T has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the w5-2545 has 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for the Gold 6338T and 3.50 GHz for the w5-2545. Boost clocks are 3.40 GHz and 4.70 GHz respectively. TDP is 165 watts for the Gold 6338T and 210 watts for the w5-2545, a 45-watt difference.

Sockets are incompatible: the Gold 6338T uses Intel Socket 4189, while the w5-2545 uses Intel Socket 4677. Memory support differs by generation: the Gold 6338T uses DDR4 with an eight-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the w5-2545 uses DDR5 with a quad-channel bus and 153.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities also differ. The Gold 6338T provides Gen 4 with 64 lanes, while the w5-2545 provides Gen 5 with 64 lanes. The w5-2545 has no integrated graphics, and the Gold 6338T's integrated graphics field is not specified. The w5-2545 has a launch MSRP of $889.

Release dates are far apart: the Gold 6338T launched on April 5, 2021, while the w5-2545 launched on August 23, 2024. The part number for the w5-2545 is SRN4G. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. Both are listed as active production and target the server/workstation market segment.

Architecture Differences

The Gold 6338T is built on Ice Lake-SP, the codename for its generation, and uses a 10 nm process node from Intel. The w5-2545 uses the Sapphire Rapids codename, also on a 10 nm process node. The architecture field for the w5-2545 is not specified, but its codename and Xeon W generation indicate a newer platform.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The Gold 6338T has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The w5-2545 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of L3. The Gold 6338T's L3 is larger by 6 MB, but the w5-2545 has more L1 and L2 per core, which helps single-threaded performance.

Memory architecture is another divergence. The Gold 6338T pairs DDR4 memory with an eight-channel bus, while the w5-2545 pairs DDR5 with a quad-channel bus. The Gold 6338T's total memory bandwidth is higher at 204.8 GB/s versus 153.6 GB/s. This is notable because the Gold 6338T's wins in compression and sorting may partially stem from its wider memory path.

PCIe generations differ as well: Gen 4 on the Gold 6338T versus Gen 5 on the w5-2545, both with 64 lanes. The w5-2545's newer platform brings the faster PCIe standard, but the Gold 6338T retains a memory bandwidth advantage despite its older generation.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion for single-threaded workloads: the Intel Xeon w5-2545 is the better processor. Its 34.3% lead in passmark_single_thread, 12.6% to 12.7% leads across all Cinebench single-core tests, and 52.6% lead in physics make it the stronger choice for interactive rendering, simulation, and any latency-sensitive task. Its multi-core results are also superior, winning Cinebench R23 multi-core by 12.7% despite having half the cores. The w5-2545's higher clocks and newer Sapphire Rapids architecture more than compensate for the core count deficit.

The Gold 6338T is the better choice for specific parallel throughput workloads. Its 24% lead in random string sorting, 12.3% lead in integer math, and 7.3% lead in data compression show that certain tasks still scale with core count and cache size. Its higher memory bandwidth (204.8 GB/s versus 153.6 GB/s) may explain why compression and sorting favor it. For workloads that resemble those tests, the Gold 6338T is the data-backed pick.

The overall average benchmark scores complicate the verdict. The Gold 6338T averages 60572, higher than the w5-2545's 58504, and both sit at the 92nd percentile. That suggests the Gold 6338T is the stronger all-around performer across the full benchmark suite, despite losing the head-to-head count 4 to 13. The w5-2545's wins are concentrated in a narrower set of test types with smaller raw score ranges, while the Gold 6338T's wins come in high-magnitude tests.

The choice depends on the workload profile. For physics, floating-point math, encryption, and single-thread performance, the w5-2545 is the clear winner. For integer math, compression, sorting, and extended instructions, the Gold 6338T is the better fit. The w5-2545 also demands more power at 210 watts versus 165 watts, and it uses the newer Socket 4677 with DDR5 memory. The Gold 6338T uses Socket 4189 with DDR4 and offers higher memory bandwidth. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both target server and workstation deployments. The w5-2545 carries a launch MSRP of $889; the Gold 6338T has no recorded launch MSRP.