EPYC 7272 vs Xeon Gold 6256
EPYC 7272
Xeon Gold 6256
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 7272
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6256
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 7272 | Xeon Gold 6256 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen 2 (2017−2020) / 7 nm, 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 7272 | Xeon Gold 6256 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 7272 and Xeon Gold 6256
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.
Xeon Gold 6256
The Xeon Gold 6256 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 33 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 25,334 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the EPYC 7272 and Xeon Gold 6256 share an identical 12-core/24-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the EPYC 7272 versus 4.5 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6256 — a 33.8% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6256 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The EPYC 7272 is built on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. In PassMark, the EPYC 7272 scores 25,161 against the Xeon Gold 6256's 25,334 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon Gold 6256. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7272 vs 33 MB on the Xeon Gold 6256.
| Feature | EPYC 7272 | Xeon Gold 6256 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 24 | 12 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 4.5 GHz+41% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz | 3.6 GHz+24% |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB (total) | 33 MB+3% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 7 nm, 14 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Zen 2 (2017−2020) | — |
| PassMark | 25,161 | 25,334 |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 7272 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6256 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | EPYC 7272 | Xeon Gold 6256 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP3 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on EPYC 7272 and Xeon Gold 6256
