EPYC 7303 vs Xeon Platinum 8160
EPYC 7303
Xeon Platinum 8160
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 7303
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Platinum 8160
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 7303 | Xeon Platinum 8160 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Milan (2021−2023) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 7303 | Xeon Platinum 8160 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 7303 and Xeon Platinum 8160
EPYC 7303
The EPYC 7303 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 September 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 28,572 points. Launch price was $604.
Xeon Platinum 8160
The Xeon Platinum 8160 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 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 33 MB. L2 cache: 24 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 28,989 points. Launch price was $4,702.
Processing Power
The EPYC 7303 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Platinum 8160 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon Platinum 8160 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7303 versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8160 — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Xeon Platinum 8160 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The EPYC 7303 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon Platinum 8160 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7303 scores 28,572 against the Xeon Platinum 8160's 28,989 — a 1.4% lead for the Xeon Platinum 8160. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7303 vs 33 MB on the Xeon Platinum 8160.
| Feature | EPYC 7303 | Xeon Platinum 8160 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32 | 24 / 48+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.7 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+14% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 64 MB (total)+94% | 33 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 24 MB+4700% |
| Process | 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Milan (2021−2023) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 28,572 | 28,989+1% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 18,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,960 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 11,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 7303 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Platinum 8160 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the EPYC 7303 versus 2666 on the Xeon Platinum 8160 — the Xeon Platinum 8160 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Platinum 8160 supports up to 768 of RAM compared to 204 GB — 116% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7303) vs 6 (Xeon Platinum 8160). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7303) vs 48 (Xeon Platinum 8160) — the EPYC 7303 offers 80 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 platform (EPYC 7303) and C621 (Xeon Platinum 8160).
| Feature | EPYC 7303 | Xeon Platinum 8160 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP3 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | 2666+66550% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 204 GB+27852700% | 768 |
| RAM Channels | 8+33% | 6 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 128+167% | 48 |
Advanced Features
Only the EPYC 7303 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Platinum 8160 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V, SVM (EPYC 7303) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Platinum 8160). Primary use case: EPYC 7303 targets High-frequency Server Workloads. Direct competitor: EPYC 7303 rivals Xeon Gold 6334; Xeon Platinum 8160 rivals EPYC 7451.
| Feature | EPYC 7303 | Xeon Platinum 8160 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | AMD-V, SVM | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | High-frequency Server Workloads | — |
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