EPYC 7282 vs Xeon Gold 6246R

CPU

GPU

EPYC 7282

16 Cores32 Thrd120 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2019

EPYC family

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Xeon Gold 6246R

16 Cores32 Thrd205 WWMax: 4.1 GHz2020

Similar parts

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EPYC 7282 vs Xeon Gold 6246R Performance Spectrum

EPYC 7282

16 / 32

30,201

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

Xeon Gold 6246R

16 / 32

30,468

+0.9%

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 7282 vs Xeon Gold 6246R 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 7282 vs Xeon Gold 6246R: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

EPYC 7282

2019

Why buy it

✅+79% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Draws 120W instead of 205W, a 85W reduction.
✅166.7% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 48) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6246R across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (13,500 vs 16,000).
❌Launch MSRP is still $650 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6246R mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon Gold 6246R

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +20.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).
❌70.8% higher power demand at 205W vs 120W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6246R better than EPYC 7282?

Yes. Xeon Gold 6246R is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 20.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 18.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 0.9% higher 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, Xeon Gold 6246R is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 20.4% 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 6246R is the stronger fit. You are getting 18.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon Gold 6246R is still the faster CPU overall, but EPYC 7282 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon Gold 6246R comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $650 MSRP, and it still gives you a 20.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. EPYC 7282 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (46.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon Gold 6246R makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019), more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 16/32, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

EPYC 7282 vs Xeon Gold 6246R Technical Specifications

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

EPYC 7282

The EPYC 7282 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 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 30,201 points. Launch price was $650.

Xeon Gold 6246R

The Xeon Gold 6246R is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 30,468 points. Launch price was $3,286.

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Processing Power

Both the EPYC 7282 and Xeon Gold 6246R share an identical 16-core/32-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the EPYC 7282 versus 4.1 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6246R — a 24.7% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6246R (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The EPYC 7282 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (7 nm, 14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6246R uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7282 scores 30,201 against the Xeon Gold 6246R's 30,468 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon Gold 6246R. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 13,500 vs 16,000 (16.9% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6246R). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,086 vs 1,293, a 17.4% lead for the Xeon Gold 6246R that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 7,638 vs 9,848 (25.3% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6246R). L3 cache: 64 MB on the EPYC 7282 vs 35.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6246R.

Feature	EPYC 7282	Xeon Gold 6246R
Cores / Threads	16 / 32	16 / 32
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz	4.1 GHz+28%
Base Clock	2.8 GHz	3.4 GHz+21%
L3 Cache	64 MB+79%	35.75 MB
L2 Cache	8 MB	16 MB+100%
Process	7 nm, 14 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Zen 2 (2017−2020)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	30,201	30,468
Cinebench R23 Multi	13,500	16,000+19%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,086	1,293+19%
Geekbench 6 Multi	7,638	9,848+29%

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Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7282 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6246R uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the EPYC 7282 versus DDR4-2933 on the Xeon Gold 6246R — the EPYC 7282 supports 9.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7282 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 1024 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7282) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6246R). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7282) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6246R) — the EPYC 7282 offers 80 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3,Rome (EPYC 7282) and Lewisburg (Xeon Gold 6246R).

Feature	EPYC 7282	Xeon Gold 6246R
Socket	SP3	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200+9%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	4096 GB+300%	1024 GB
RAM Channels	8+33%	6
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+167%	48

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Gold 6246R supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV (EPYC 7282) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Gold 6246R). Primary use case: EPYC 7282 targets Edge Server / Entry Server, Xeon Gold 6246R targets High-frequency Server / Financial. Direct competitor: EPYC 7282 rivals Xeon Silver 4216; Xeon Gold 6246R rivals EPYC 7302.

Feature	EPYC 7282	Xeon Gold 6246R
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V, SEV	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Edge Server / Entry Server	High-frequency Server / Financial