EPYC 7301 vs Xeon Silver 4116

AMD

EPYC 7301

16 Cores32 Thrd170 WWMax: 2.7 GHz2017
VS
Intel

Xeon Silver 4116

12 Cores24 Thrd85 WWMax: 3 GHz2017
Similar parts
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EPYC 7301 vs Xeon Silver 4116 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 7301 vs Xeon Silver 4116 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 7301 vs Xeon Silver 4116: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

EPYC 7301

2017

Why buy it

  • +0.5% higher PassMark.
  • +287.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 17 MB).

Trade-offs

  • 100% higher power demand at 170W vs 85W.

Xeon Silver 4116

2017

Why buy it

  • Draws 85W instead of 170W, a 85W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (14,918 vs 14,991).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (17 MB vs 64 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 7301 better than Xeon Silver 4116?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon Silver 4116 is ahead with a 2.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7301 pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark. EPYC 7301 also has the bigger cache pool with 287.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 17 MB).
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7301 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 287.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 17 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
EPYC 7301 still makes the most sense overall. EPYC 7301 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.5% better PassMark.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
EPYC 7301 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 287.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 17 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 12/24. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

EPYC 7301 vs Xeon Silver 4116 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

EPYC 7301

The EPYC 7301 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 29 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Naples (2017−2018) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 170 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 14,991 points. Launch price was $825.

Intel

Xeon Silver 4116

The Xeon Silver 4116 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 16.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 14,918 points. Launch price was $1,002.

Processing Power

The EPYC 7301 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Silver 4116 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the EPYC 7301 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the EPYC 7301 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4116 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Xeon Silver 4116 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The EPYC 7301 uses the Naples (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Silver 4116 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7301 scores 14,991 against the Xeon Silver 4116's 14,918 — a 0.5% lead for the EPYC 7301. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7301 vs 16.5 MB (total) on the Xeon Silver 4116.

FeatureEPYC 7301Xeon Silver 4116
Cores / Threads
16 / 32+33%
12 / 24
Boost Clock
2.7 GHz
3 GHz+11%
Base Clock
2.2 GHz+5%
2.1 GHz
L3 Cache
64 MB (total)+288%
16.5 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512K (per core)+51100%
1 MB (per core)
Process
14 nm
14 nm
Architecture
Naples (2017−2018)
Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark
14,991
14,918
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Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7301 uses the TR4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Silver 4116 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureEPYC 7301Xeon Silver 4116
Socket
TR4
LGA3647
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0+33%
PCIe 3.0