INTEL Xeon 6438N 2.00GHz CPU
The Intel Xeon Gold 6438N is a 32-core, 64-thread processor from the 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable family (Sapphire Rapids microarchitecture), aimed at B2B buyers building or refreshing dual-socket servers for virtualization, compute clusters, and storage-controller workloads. Its high core count, 80 lanes of PCIe 5.0, and 8-channel DDR5-4800 memory subsystem make it well suited to dense VM hosting and accelerated deployments where I/O expansion matters. The 205 W TDP fits the upper range of the Gold tier, so confirm chassis power delivery and cooling provisioning alongside the CPU order. As a practical dependency, the FCLGA4677 socket restricts it to compatible Sapphire Rapids platforms only — verify motherboard and BIOS support before committing.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor Model | Intel Xeon Gold 6438N |
| Product Family | 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable (Gold tier) |
| Microarchitecture | Sapphire Rapids |
| Total Cores | 32 Cores |
| Total Threads | 64 Threads (via Hyper-Threading) |
| Base Clock Speed | 2.00 GHz |
| Max Turbo Frequency | 3.60 GHz (workload dependent) |
| Cache (L3) | 60 MB Intel Smart Cache |
| Thermal Design Power (TDP) | 205 W (verify server cooling provisioning) |
| Socket Compatibility | FCLGA4677 (platform dependent) |
| Memory Type | DDR5 |
| Memory Channels | 8-Channel |
| Max Memory Speed Supported | Up to DDR5-4800 MT/s |
| Max Memory Capacity | Up to 4 TB (server platform dependent) |
| PCI Express Version | PCIe Gen 5.0 |
| PCIe Lanes | 80 Lanes |
| Intel UPI Speed | 16 GT/s (relevant for multi-socket configurations) |
| Launch Year | 2023 |
| Advanced Technologies | Hyper-Threading, Turbo Boost, Virtualization Technologies, Speed Select |
How it compares within the family
| Model | Positioning vs. this unit | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Intel Xeon Gold 6438M | 28 cores / 56 threads with a higher 2.60 GHz base clock but fewer cores, 42 MB L3, and 64 PCIe lanes versus this unit’s 32 cores, 60 MB, and 80 lanes | Memory-bandwidth-driven workloads such as databases and in-memory analytics with fewer VMs per host |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6438Y+ | Same 32-core / 64-thread count, 60 MB L3, and 205 W TDP, but a higher 2.50 GHz base and 3.80 GHz turbo versus this unit’s 2.00 / 3.60 GHz | General compute and virtualization where higher sustained clocks matter more than price positioning |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6434 | Lower density at 24 cores / 48 threads and 36 MB L3, with a higher 2.30 GHz base and 3.70 GHz turbo; 64 PCIe lanes vs. 80 | Compute-heavy roles that prioritize per-core responsiveness over maximum core count |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6434H | Entry point of this comparison at 20 cores / 40 threads, 30 MB L3, and 2.50 GHz base; same 205 W TDP but only 64 PCIe lanes | Budget-conscious dual-socket builds for general-purpose compute and storage/controller duty |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6430 | Matches this unit’s 32 cores / 64 threads and 60 MB L3, but runs a higher 270 W TDP with slower DDR5-4400 support versus DDR5-4800 | Core-count-driven clusters where chassis cooling can absorb the higher thermal envelope |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6548Y | Previous-generation (3rd Gen, LGA 4189) 32-core part with DDR4/DDR5 platform-dependent memory, 1 TB max memory, and PCIe 4.0 with 64 lanes versus this unit’s PCIe 5.0 with 80 lanes and up to 4 TB DDR5 | Refreshing existing Ice Lake-SP (LGA 4189) platforms rather than building new Sapphire Rapids systems |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6548N | 3rd Gen 32-core / 64-thread part with a much higher 2.90 GHz base and 4.00 GHz turbo, but 48 MB L3, PCIe 4.0, and a 1 TB memory ceiling on the LGA 4189 platform | Dense virtualization consolidation where existing LGA 4189 boards and higher clocks are the priority |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6544Y | Previous-generation 28-core / 56-thread part with a lower 165 W TDP and 38 MB L3, on the LGA 4189 socket with PCIe 4.0 and 1 TB max memory | 2-socket refreshes on LGA 4189 platforms needing lower thermals with strong turbo (4.00 GHz max) |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6542Y | 3rd Gen 24-core / 48-thread part with a 150 W TDP and 36 MB L3 on LGA 4189, versus this unit’s 32 cores, 60 MB, and PCIe 5.0 on FCLGA4677 | Lower-power consolidation on existing 3rd Gen platforms with moderate core-count needs |
Typical workloads
- Dense virtualization hosts consolidating large multi-VM estates, leveraging 32 cores / 64 threads and up to 4 TB of 8-channel DDR5-4800 memory.
- Accelerated compute nodes pairing the 80 PCIe 5.0 lanes with GPUs or NVMe storage fabrics in dual-socket servers linked via 16 GT/s UPI.
- Storage-controller and software-defined-storage appliances where the high lane count and memory bandwidth support heavy I/O fan-out.
- Compute clusters and HPC-style deployments that need the upper-Gold-tier balance of 32 cores at a 205 W thermal envelope.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Which motherboards support the Xeon Gold 6438N?
A: It requires an FCLGA4677 socket motherboard designed for 4th Gen Xeon Scalable (Sapphire Rapids) processors, with matching BIOS support. It will not drop into older Xeon Scalable platforms, so confirm board and firmware compatibility before ordering.
Q: What memory should I pair with this CPU?
A: The processor supports 8 channels of DDR5 at up to 4800 MT/s, with a maximum capacity of 4 TB on the server platform. To fully exploit the memory subsystem for virtualization or database workloads, budget for DDR5 modules rated to run at DDR5-4800 and populate all eight channels.
Q: How does the 205 W TDP affect my build?
A: The 205 W envelope sits in the upper range of the Gold tier, so chassis airflow, heatsinks, and power delivery must be provisioned accordingly. Confirm that your server platform’s cooling and PSU headroom cover sustained all-core operation before deployment.
The Intel Xeon Gold 6438N is a 32-core, 64-thread processor from the 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable family (Sapphire Rapids microarchitecture), aimed at B2B buyers building or refreshing dual-socket servers for virtualization, compute clusters, and storage-controller workloads. Its high core count, 80 lanes of PCIe 5.0, and 8-channel DDR5-4800 memory subsystem make it well suited to dense VM hosting and accelerated deployments where I/O expansion matters. The 205 W TDP fits the upper range of the Gold tier, so confirm chassis power delivery and cooling provisioning alongside the CPU order. As a practical dependency, the FCLGA4677 socket restricts it to compatible Sapphire Rapids platforms only — verify motherboard and BIOS support before committing.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor Model | Intel Xeon Gold 6438N |
| Product Family | 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable (Gold tier) |
| Microarchitecture | Sapphire Rapids |
| Total Cores | 32 Cores |
| Total Threads | 64 Threads (via Hyper-Threading) |
| Base Clock Speed | 2.00 GHz |
| Max Turbo Frequency | 3.60 GHz (workload dependent) |
| Cache (L3) | 60 MB Intel Smart Cache |
| Thermal Design Power (TDP) | 205 W (verify server cooling provisioning) |
| Socket Compatibility | FCLGA4677 (platform dependent) |
| Memory Type | DDR5 |
| Memory Channels | 8-Channel |
| Max Memory Speed Supported | Up to DDR5-4800 MT/s |
| Max Memory Capacity | Up to 4 TB (server platform dependent) |
| PCI Express Version | PCIe Gen 5.0 |
| PCIe Lanes | 80 Lanes |
| Intel UPI Speed | 16 GT/s (relevant for multi-socket configurations) |
| Launch Year | 2023 |
| Advanced Technologies | Hyper-Threading, Turbo Boost, Virtualization Technologies, Speed Select |
How it compares within the family
| Model | Positioning vs. this unit | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Intel Xeon Gold 6438M | 28 cores / 56 threads with a higher 2.60 GHz base clock but fewer cores, 42 MB L3, and 64 PCIe lanes versus this unit’s 32 cores, 60 MB, and 80 lanes | Memory-bandwidth-driven workloads such as databases and in-memory analytics with fewer VMs per host |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6438Y+ | Same 32-core / 64-thread count, 60 MB L3, and 205 W TDP, but a higher 2.50 GHz base and 3.80 GHz turbo versus this unit’s 2.00 / 3.60 GHz | General compute and virtualization where higher sustained clocks matter more than price positioning |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6434 | Lower density at 24 cores / 48 threads and 36 MB L3, with a higher 2.30 GHz base and 3.70 GHz turbo; 64 PCIe lanes vs. 80 | Compute-heavy roles that prioritize per-core responsiveness over maximum core count |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6434H | Entry point of this comparison at 20 cores / 40 threads, 30 MB L3, and 2.50 GHz base; same 205 W TDP but only 64 PCIe lanes | Budget-conscious dual-socket builds for general-purpose compute and storage/controller duty |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6430 | Matches this unit’s 32 cores / 64 threads and 60 MB L3, but runs a higher 270 W TDP with slower DDR5-4400 support versus DDR5-4800 | Core-count-driven clusters where chassis cooling can absorb the higher thermal envelope |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6548Y | Previous-generation (3rd Gen, LGA 4189) 32-core part with DDR4/DDR5 platform-dependent memory, 1 TB max memory, and PCIe 4.0 with 64 lanes versus this unit’s PCIe 5.0 with 80 lanes and up to 4 TB DDR5 | Refreshing existing Ice Lake-SP (LGA 4189) platforms rather than building new Sapphire Rapids systems |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6548N | 3rd Gen 32-core / 64-thread part with a much higher 2.90 GHz base and 4.00 GHz turbo, but 48 MB L3, PCIe 4.0, and a 1 TB memory ceiling on the LGA 4189 platform | Dense virtualization consolidation where existing LGA 4189 boards and higher clocks are the priority |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6544Y | Previous-generation 28-core / 56-thread part with a lower 165 W TDP and 38 MB L3, on the LGA 4189 socket with PCIe 4.0 and 1 TB max memory | 2-socket refreshes on LGA 4189 platforms needing lower thermals with strong turbo (4.00 GHz max) |
| Intel Xeon Gold 6542Y | 3rd Gen 24-core / 48-thread part with a 150 W TDP and 36 MB L3 on LGA 4189, versus this unit’s 32 cores, 60 MB, and PCIe 5.0 on FCLGA4677 | Lower-power consolidation on existing 3rd Gen platforms with moderate core-count needs |
Typical workloads
- Dense virtualization hosts consolidating large multi-VM estates, leveraging 32 cores / 64 threads and up to 4 TB of 8-channel DDR5-4800 memory.
- Accelerated compute nodes pairing the 80 PCIe 5.0 lanes with GPUs or NVMe storage fabrics in dual-socket servers linked via 16 GT/s UPI.
- Storage-controller and software-defined-storage appliances where the high lane count and memory bandwidth support heavy I/O fan-out.
- Compute clusters and HPC-style deployments that need the upper-Gold-tier balance of 32 cores at a 205 W thermal envelope.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Which motherboards support the Xeon Gold 6438N?
A: It requires an FCLGA4677 socket motherboard designed for 4th Gen Xeon Scalable (Sapphire Rapids) processors, with matching BIOS support. It will not drop into older Xeon Scalable platforms, so confirm board and firmware compatibility before ordering.
Q: What memory should I pair with this CPU?
A: The processor supports 8 channels of DDR5 at up to 4800 MT/s, with a maximum capacity of 4 TB on the server platform. To fully exploit the memory subsystem for virtualization or database workloads, budget for DDR5 modules rated to run at DDR5-4800 and populate all eight channels.
Q: How does the 205 W TDP affect my build?
A: The 205 W envelope sits in the upper range of the Gold tier, so chassis airflow, heatsinks, and power delivery must be provisioned accordingly. Confirm that your server platform’s cooling and PSU headroom cover sustained all-core operation before deployment.
