Intel Xeon Gold 6348H

The Intel Xeon Gold 6348H is a 24-core, 48-thread server processor built on the Cooper Lake-SP architecture. It operates on the Intel Socket 4189 platform, with a 2.30 GHz base clock and a 4.20 GHz boost clock. The database places it at the 50th percentile among all CPUs, indicating a mid-pack standing in the broader market, though no direct rival comparisons are provided in the fact pack.

How It Compares

The fact pack does not list any nearest rivals, so a direct per-rival comparison is impossible. However, the 50th percentile ranking against all CPUs in the database gives a general reference point: this processor sits exactly in the middle of the performance distribution. That suggests it is neither a top-tier flagship nor an entry-level part, but rather a balanced server/workstation chip. Its 24 cores and 48 threads put it in the upper range of core counts for the Xeon Gold family, while the 4.20 GHz boost clock is competitive for its generation. Without rival scores or delta percentages, the only quantitative comparison available is the percentile figure, which places it at the median of the database's CPU population.

Platform and Compatibility

The Xeon Gold 6348H uses the Intel Socket 4189, a platform designed for Cooper Lake-SP processors. The architecture is Cooper Lake, specifically the Cooper Lake-SP variant, built on Intel's 14 nm process node. Memory support is DDR4, with a six-channel memory bus and a theoretical bandwidth of 140.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported, which is expected for a server/workstation part. For expansion, the processor provides 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only). This lane count is typical for a dual-socket capable Xeon, allowing multiple high-speed devices such as GPUs, NVMe drives, and network adapters. The platform is not multiplier-unlocked, so overclocking is not supported; clock speeds are fixed by the processor's design. The production status is listed as Active, and the release date is April 5, 2021, though the fact pack does not include a launch MSRP.

Benchmark Performance

The fact pack contains no benchmark scores for the Xeon Gold 6348H, so exact performance deltas against rivals cannot be reported. The average benchmark score is listed as 0, which may indicate no data has been collected or the score is not yet normalized. What can be inferred from the specifications is a strong multi-threaded capability: 24 physical cores and 48 threads, combined with a 33 MB shared L3 cache. The per-core L1 cache is 64 KB and L2 is 1 MB per core, providing a substantial amount of fast memory for each core. The 2.30 GHz base clock is moderate, but the 4.20 GHz boost clock allows single-threaded tasks to run at a higher frequency when thermal and power headroom permit. In the absence of measured scores, the performance profile is best understood through the core/thread count and clock speeds, which suggest a processor optimized for parallel workloads such as virtualization, database processing, and scientific computing.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the Intel Xeon Gold 6348H use?

A: It uses the Intel Socket 4189.

Q: How much L3 cache does the processor have?

A: It has 33 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What type of memory is supported?

A: DDR4 memory is supported, with a six-channel memory bus and a theoretical bandwidth of 140.8 GB/s. ECC memory is also supported.

Q: How many PCIe lanes are available?

A: The processor provides 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, counting only the CPU's own lanes.

Q: Is the processor overclockable?

A: No, the multiplier is locked; the base and boost clocks are fixed.

Q: What is the thermal design power (TDP) of this processor?

A: The TDP is 165 watts.

Power and Thermals

The Xeon Gold 6348H has a TDP of 165 W. This is a high-power part, reflecting its 24 cores and high boost clock. The 14 nm process node, while mature, is not as power-efficient as newer nodes, so cooling requirements are significant. For a server or workstation environment, a robust cooling solution is necessary—typically a high-end air cooler or a liquid cooling system designed for socket 4189. The 165 W TDP class means that the processor will generate substantial heat under full load, especially when all cores are active at boost frequencies. In multi-socket configurations, the thermal load is compounded, so chassis airflow and heatsink selection must be planned accordingly. The fact pack does not specify a maximum operating temperature or a recommended cooler, but the TDP figure alone indicates that a stock Intel cooler would be insufficient; aftermarket or server-grade cooling is mandatory.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The Xeon Gold 6348H exhibits a clear split between single-thread and multi-thread performance characteristics. With a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, the processor can reach a high frequency on one or a few cores, which benefits lightly threaded workloads such as web serving, scripting, or some database queries. However, the boost clock is not the sustained all-core frequency; the 2.30 GHz base clock is the guaranteed minimum under full-core load. In multi-threaded scenarios, the 24 cores and 48 threads dominate, allowing the processor to handle heavy parallel tasks like video rendering, scientific simulations, and large-scale virtualization. The 33 MB L3 cache helps reduce memory latency when multiple threads access shared data, while the six-channel DDR4 memory interface provides high bandwidth to feed the many cores. For workloads that are purely single-threaded, the 4.20 GHz boost is respectable, but the processor's true strength lies in its ability to scale across many threads. The 50th percentile ranking suggests that while it is not the fastest single-threaded part, it offers a balanced mix of high core count and decent per-core speed, making it suitable for mixed workloads where both parallelism and responsive single-thread performance are required.