Xeon Gold 6538N vs Pentium G6960

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Aggregate performance score

Pentium G6960
2011
2 cores / 2 threads, 73 Watt
0.90
Xeon Gold 6538N
2023
32 cores / 64 threads, 205 Watt
28.26
+3040%

Xeon Gold 6538N outperforms Pentium G6960 by a whopping 3040% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Pentium G6960 and Xeon Gold 6538N processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking2546165
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data21.85
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
Power efficiency1.1713.04
Architecture codenameClarkdale (2010−2011)Emerald Rapids (2023)
Release date9 January 2011 (13 years ago)14 December 2023 (1 year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$3,351

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Pentium G6960 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 cores2 (Dual-core)32 (Dotriaconta-Core)
Threads264
Base clock speed2.93 GHz2.1 GHz
Boost clock speed0.93 GHz4.1 GHz
L1 cache64 KB (per core)80 KB (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)2 MB (per core)
L3 cache3072 KB (shared)60 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size81 mm22x 763 mm2
Maximum core temperature73 °Cno data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data85 °C
Number of transistors382 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-no data

Compatibility

Information on Pentium G6960 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
SocketFCLGA1156FCLGA4677
Power consumption (TDP)73 Watt205 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Pentium G6960 and Xeon Gold 6538N. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® AMX, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology-2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
TSX-+
Idle States+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
PAE36 Bitno data
FDI+no data
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Pentium G6960 and Xeon Gold 6538N technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-+
EDB++
SGXno dataYes with Intel® SPS
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Pentium G6960 and Xeon Gold 6538N are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Pentium G6960 and Xeon Gold 6538N. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR5-5200
Maximum memory size16.38 GB4 TB
Max memory channels28
Maximum memory bandwidth17 GB/sno data
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HDN/A

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Pentium G6960 and Xeon Gold 6538N integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported2no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Pentium G6960 and Xeon Gold 6538N.

PCIe version2.05.0
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.

Pentium G6960 0.90
Xeon Gold 6538N 28.26
+3040%

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.

Pentium G6960 1433
Xeon Gold 6538N 44895
+3033%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 0.90 28.26
Recency 9 January 2011 14 December 2023
Physical cores 2 32
Threads 2 64
Power consumption (TDP) 73 Watt 205 Watt

Pentium G6960 has 180.8% lower power consumption.

Xeon Gold 6538N, on the other hand, has a 3040% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 12 years, and 1500% more physical cores and 3100% more threads.

The Xeon Gold 6538N is our recommended choice as it beats the Pentium G6960 in performance tests.

Note that Pentium G6960 is a desktop processor while Xeon Gold 6538N is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Pentium G6960 and Xeon Gold 6538N, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Pentium G6960
Pentium G6960
Intel Xeon Gold 6538N
Xeon Gold 6538N

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