EPYC 7261 vs Xeon E5-2628L v4

AMD

EPYC 7261

8 Cores16 Thrd155 WWMax: 2.9 GHz2018
EPYC family
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VS
Intel

Xeon E5-2628L v4

12 Cores24 Thrd75 WWMax: 1.9 GHz2016
Similar parts
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EPYC 7261 vs Xeon E5-2628L v4 Performance Spectrum

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.

EPYC 7261 vs Xeon E5-2628L v4 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

EPYC 7261 vs Xeon E5-2628L v4: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

EPYC 7261

2018

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +8.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $501 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2628L v4 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 106.7% higher power demand at 155W vs 75W.

Xeon E5-2628L v4

2016

Why buy it

  • Draws 75W instead of 155W, a 80W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 7261 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (11,079 vs 11,149).

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 7261 better than Xeon E5-2628L v4?
Yes. EPYC 7261 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 8.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, EPYC 7261 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 8.7% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7261 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
EPYC 7261 is the better buy right now. EPYC 7261 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $501 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 8.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (22.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
EPYC 7261 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 12/24. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

EPYC 7261 vs Xeon E5-2628L v4 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

EPYC 7261

The EPYC 7261 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Naples (2017−2018) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 170 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 11,149 points. Launch price was $800.

Intel

Xeon E5-2628L v4

The Xeon E5-2628L v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 75 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 11,079 points. Launch price was $1,364.

Processing Power

The EPYC 7261 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2628L v4 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-2628L v4 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the EPYC 7261 versus 1.9 GHz on the Xeon E5-2628L v4 — a 41.7% clock advantage for the EPYC 7261. The EPYC 7261 uses the Naples (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2628L v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7261 scores 11,149 against the Xeon E5-2628L v4's 11,079 — a 0.6% lead for the EPYC 7261. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7261 vs 30 MB on the Xeon E5-2628L v4.

FeatureEPYC 7261Xeon E5-2628L v4
Cores / Threads
8 / 16
12 / 24+50%
Boost Clock
2.9 GHz+53%
1.9 GHz
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
L3 Cache
32 MB (total)+7%
30 MB
L2 Cache
512K (per core)+16967%
3 MB
Process
14 nm
14 nm
Architecture
Naples (2017−2018)
Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark
11,149
11,079