EPYC 7272 vs Xeon Gold 6142

AMD

EPYC 7272

12 Cores24 Thrd120 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2019
EPYC family
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VS
Intel

Xeon Gold 6142

16 Cores32 Thrd150 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2017
Similar parts
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EPYC 7272 vs Xeon Gold 6142 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 7272 vs Xeon Gold 6142 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 7272 vs Xeon Gold 6142: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

EPYC 7272

2019

Why buy it

  • +45.5% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 22 MB).
  • Draws 120W instead of 150W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6142 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (25,161 vs 25,490).
  • No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon Gold 6142

2017

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +6.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (22 MB vs 32 MB).
  • 25% higher power demand at 150W vs 120W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6142 better than EPYC 7272?
Yes. Xeon Gold 6142 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 6.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.3% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Xeon Gold 6142 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 6.3% 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, Xeon Gold 6142 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Xeon Gold 6142 still makes the most sense overall. Xeon Gold 6142 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
EPYC 7272 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2017) and 45.5% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 22 MB). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

EPYC 7272 vs Xeon Gold 6142 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

EPYC 7272

The EPYC 7272 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 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 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: 25,161 points. Launch price was $625.

Intel

Xeon Gold 6142

The Xeon Gold 6142 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 25 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 25,490 points. Launch price was $2,946.

Processing Power

The EPYC 7272 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6142 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Xeon Gold 6142 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the EPYC 7272 versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6142 — a 14.5% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6142 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The EPYC 7272 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (7 nm, 14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6142 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7272 scores 25,161 against the Xeon Gold 6142's 25,490 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon Gold 6142. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7272 vs 22 MB on the Xeon Gold 6142.

FeatureEPYC 7272Xeon Gold 6142
Cores / Threads
12 / 24
16 / 32+33%
Boost Clock
3.2 GHz
3.7 GHz+16%
Base Clock
2.9 GHz+12%
2.6 GHz
L3 Cache
32 MB (total)+45%
22 MB
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)
16 MB+3100%
Process
7 nm, 14 nm-50%
14 nm
Architecture
Zen 2 (2017−2020)
Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark
25,161
25,490+1%
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Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7272 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6142 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureEPYC 7272Xeon Gold 6142
Socket
SP3
LGA3647
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0+33%
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
2666
Max RAM Capacity
768
RAM Channels
6
ECC Support
Yes
PCIe Lanes
48
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (EPYC 7272) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6142). Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6142 rivals EPYC 7451.

FeatureEPYC 7272Xeon Gold 6142
Integrated GPU
No
IGPU Model
None
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d