EPYC 7252 vs Core i5-11600K
EPYC 7252
Core i5-11600K
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 EPYC 7252
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-11600K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 7252 | Core i5-11600K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($170) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen 2 (2017−2020) / 7 nm, 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 7252 | Core i5-11600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($170) |
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 EPYC 7252 and Core i5-11600K
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.
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.
Processing Power
The EPYC 7252 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i5-11600K offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the EPYC 7252 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the EPYC 7252 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i5-11600K — a 42% clock advantage for the Core i5-11600K (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The EPYC 7252 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (7 nm, 14 nm), while the Core i5-11600K uses Rocket Lake (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7252 scores 19,411 against the Core i5-11600K's 19,520 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-11600K. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7252 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11600K.
| Feature | EPYC 7252 | Core i5-11600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 4.9 GHz+53% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.9 GHz+26% |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB (total)+167% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm, 14 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Zen 2 (2017−2020) | Rocket Lake (2021) |
| PassMark | 19,411 | 19,520 |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 7252 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-11600K uses LGA1200 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | EPYC 7252 | Core i5-11600K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP3 | LGA1200 |
| 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: not specified (EPYC 7252) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-11600K). 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 | EPYC 7252 | Core i5-11600K |
|---|---|---|
| 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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