Core i5-11600K vs EPYC 7252
Core i5-11600K
EPYC 7252
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-11600K
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 7252
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-11600K | EPYC 7252 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($170) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen 2 (2017−2020) / 7 nm, 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-11600K | EPYC 7252 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($170) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-11600K and EPYC 7252
Core i5-11600K
The Core i5-11600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,520 points. Launch price was $299.
EPYC 7252
The EPYC 7252 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 19,411 points. Launch price was $475.
Processing Power
The Core i5-11600K packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 7252 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the EPYC 7252 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i5-11600K versus 3.2 GHz on the EPYC 7252 — a 42% clock advantage for the Core i5-11600K (base: 3.9 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i5-11600K uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the EPYC 7252 uses Zen 2 (2017−2020) (7 nm, 14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11600K scores 19,520 against the EPYC 7252's 19,411 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-11600K. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11600K vs 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7252.
| Feature | Core i5-11600K | EPYC 7252 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4.9 GHz+53% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.9 GHz+26% | 3.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 32 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 14 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Rocket Lake (2021) | Zen 2 (2017−2020) |
| PassMark | 19,520 | 19,411 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-11600K uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the EPYC 7252 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-11600K | EPYC 7252 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | SP3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-11600K) / not specified (EPYC 7252). The Core i5-11600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750), while the EPYC 7252 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11600K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-11600K | EPYC 7252 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 750 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
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