CPU
GPU
EPYC 7261
Xeon Silver 4209T
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 Silver 4209T is on rank 626, 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 Silver 4209T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 7261 | Xeon Silver 4209T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($8) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($649) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Naples (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 7261 | Xeon Silver 4209T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+8063%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($8) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($649) |
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 Silver 4209T
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 Silver 4209T
The Xeon Silver 4209T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 11 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 70 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 11,080 points. Launch price was $501.
Processing Power
Both the EPYC 7261 and Xeon Silver 4209T share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the EPYC 7261 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4209T — a 9.8% clock advantage for the Xeon Silver 4209T (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The EPYC 7261 uses the Naples (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Silver 4209T uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7261 scores 11,149 against the Xeon Silver 4209T's 11,080 — a 0.6% lead for the EPYC 7261. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7261 vs 11 MB on the Xeon Silver 4209T.
| Feature | EPYC 7261 | Xeon Silver 4209T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz | 3.2 GHz+10% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+14% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB (total)+191% | 11 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 8 MB+1500% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Naples (2017−2018) | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 11,149 | 11,080 |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 7261 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Silver 4209T uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | EPYC 7261 | Xeon Silver 4209T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP3 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The EPYC 7261 launched at $501 MSRP, while the Xeon Silver 4209T debuted at $563. At current prices ($8 vs $649), the EPYC 7261 is $641 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7261 delivers 1393.6 pts/$ vs 17.1 pts/$ for the Xeon Silver 4209T — making the EPYC 7261 the 195.2% better value option.
| Feature | EPYC 7261 | Xeon Silver 4209T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $501-11% | $563 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $8-99% | $649 |
| Performance per Dollar | 1393.6+8050% | 17.1 |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2019 |
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