CPU Comparison
Intel Xeon 6732P vs Intel Xeon 6738P
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Xeon 6732P is a 32-core, 64-thread server processor based on the Granite Rapids-SP architecture, featuring a 3.8 GHz base clock, up to 4.3 GHz turbo, 144 MB of L3 cache per socket, and 8-channel DDR5-6400 support, targeted at virtualized, database, AI inference, and general-purpose enterprise workloads in dual-socket platforms.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Intel AMX (BF16/INT8) and AVX-512 accelerate CPU-based inference.
- Well suited for small to medium LLMs, embedding models, and classic ML.
- Not a replacement for dedicated accelerators for large-scale training.
- Intel AMX accelerates matrix operations for inference and some training workloads.
- Integrated DSA, IAA, DLB, and QAT offload data movement and crypto tasks common in AI pipelines.
Content Creation
Gaming
- No integrated graphics; requires discrete GPU.
- High single-thread clocks help some game servers, but platform is not optimized for gaming.
- GPU-bound game servers may still run well depending on title and configuration.
- Xeon 6738P is a server/workstation processor without integrated graphics.
- Single-core performance is respectable but gaming workloads are not the target use case.
- Consumer platforms typically offer better price/performance for gaming.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- 32 high-frequency P-cores with strong per-core performance.
- 8-channel DDR5-6400 with MRDIMM support for high bandwidth.
- 144 MB L3 cache per socket improves working-set performance.
- Intel AMX and AVX-512 accelerate AI and HPC on CPU.
- 88 PCIe 5.0 lanes for flexible I/O in dual-socket servers.
- Mature RAS and security features (TDX, SGX, total memory encryption).
Cons
- 350 W TDP requires robust cooling and raises power costs.
- Dual-socket NUMA topology needs OS and application tuning.
- Higher platform cost compared to previous-gen Xeons.
- No integrated graphics; not suitable for headless or light graphics workloads.
- Core count lags higher-tier SKUs like 6740P/6760P for highly parallel tasks.
Pros
- 32 cores and 64 threads for high parallelism
- Large 144 MB L3 cache reduces memory latency
- Eight DDR5-6400 memory channels
- 88 PCIe 5.0 lanes for extensive I/O
- Integrated accelerators: AMX, DSA, IAA, DLB, QAT
- Multi-socket scalability up to 8 sockets
Cons
- High 270 W TDP requires robust cooling
- No integrated graphics
- Not intended for consumer desktop or gaming
- Xeon platforms incur higher total cost of ownership
- Limited upgrade path beyond the Xeon 6 series
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Xeon 6732P
- AMD EPYC 9354Rival
Server (32-core, Genoa)
- Compare head-to-headIntel Xeon 6745PRival
Server (32-core, Granite Rapids-SP)
- Compare head-to-headIntel Xeon 6737PRival
Server (32-core, Granite Rapids-SP)
- Compare head-to-headIntel Xeon 6740PRival
Server (48-core, Granite Rapids-SP)
- AMD EPYC 9174FRival
Server (16-core, high-frequency Genoa)
64 cores for workloads that benefit more from raw core count than per-core frequency.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Xeon 6738P
- AMD EPYC 8324PRival
Server
- AMD EPYC 9354PRival
Server
- AMD EPYC 9454PRival
Server
- AMD EPYC 9554Rival
Server
- AMD EPYC 9684XRival
Server
Slightly lower core count and TDP for smaller scale deployments.
Compare head-to-headMore balanced core count and power for moderate workloads.
Compare head-to-head- AMD EPYC 9254Alt
24-core option for lower-power requirements.
Our Verdict on Each
A strong 32-core server CPU with excellent memory bandwidth and built-in AI acceleration, best suited for dual-socket enterprise and AI inference platforms where per-core performance matters more than raw core count.
Best for: Dual-socket enterprise servers running virtualization, databases, or CPU-based AI inference where per-core performance and memory bandwidth are critical.
Read the full reviewA strong data center processor with high core count, large L3 cache, and accelerators for AI and analytics, provided you can accommodate its 270 W TDP and platform requirements.
Best for: Enterprise servers, multi-socket workstations, and cloud infrastructure requiring high memory bandwidth, I/O expansion, and built-in accelerators.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Xeon 6732P or Intel Xeon 6738P?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Xeon 6732P comes out ahead with a score of 8.7/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Xeon 6732P or Intel Xeon 6738P?
For gaming, the Intel Xeon 6732P leads with a gaming performance score of 55/100 among Intel Xeon 6732P and Intel Xeon 6738P.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Xeon 6738P has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Xeon 6732P (350 W), Intel Xeon 6738P (270 W).
Do Intel Xeon 6732P and Intel Xeon 6738P use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the FCLGA4710 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Xeon 6732P posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Xeon 6732P (74,849). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.