EPYC 7261 vs Xeon E5-2640 v3
EPYC 7261
Xeon E5-2640 v3
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. The EPYC 7261 is positioned at rank 592 and the Xeon E5-2640 v3 is on rank 819, so the EPYC 7261 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 7261
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2640 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 7261 | Xeon E5-2640 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($8) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($189) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Naples (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 7261 | Xeon E5-2640 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+2283%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($8) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($189) |
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 7261 and Xeon E5-2640 v3
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.
Xeon E5-2640 v3
The Xeon E5-2640 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 90 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 11,055 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the EPYC 7261 and Xeon E5-2640 v3 share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the EPYC 7261 versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E5-2640 v3 — a 15.9% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2640 v3 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The EPYC 7261 uses the Naples (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2640 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7261 scores 11,149 against the Xeon E5-2640 v3's 11,055 — a 0.8% lead for the EPYC 7261. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7261 vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2640 v3.
| Feature | EPYC 7261 | Xeon E5-2640 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz | 3.4 GHz+17% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.6 GHz+4% |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB (total)+60% | 20 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Naples (2017−2018) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 11,149 | 11,055 |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 7261 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-2640 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | EPYC 7261 | Xeon E5-2640 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP3 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0+25% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 768 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (EPYC 7261) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2640 v3). Primary use case: Xeon E5-2640 v3 targets Server.
| Feature | EPYC 7261 | Xeon E5-2640 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Server |
Value Analysis
The EPYC 7261 launched at $501 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2640 v3 debuted at $939. At current prices ($8 vs $189), the EPYC 7261 is $181 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7261 delivers 1393.6 pts/$ vs 58.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2640 v3 — making the EPYC 7261 the 183.9% better value option.
| Feature | EPYC 7261 | Xeon E5-2640 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $501-47% | $939 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $8-96% | $189 |
| Performance per Dollar | 1393.6+2282% | 58.5 |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2014 |
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