EPYC 7303 vs Xeon W-2191B

EPYC 7303 vs Xeon W-2191B Performance Spectrum

EPYC 7303

16 / 32

28,572

+0.7%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX

Xeon W-2191B

18 / 36

28,362

0.0%

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 7303 vs Xeon W-2191B 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 7303 vs Xeon W-2191B: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

EPYC 7303

2023

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅+158.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Draws 130W instead of 140W, a 10W 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 W-2191B across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon W-2191B

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (28,362 vs 28,572).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,333 MSRP, while EPYC 7303 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 7303 better than Xeon W-2191B?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon W-2191B is ahead with a 8.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7303 pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark. EPYC 7303 also has the bigger cache pool with 158.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7303 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 158.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).

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

EPYC 7303 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon W-2191B is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. EPYC 7303 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,333 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon W-2191B is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 8.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon W-2191B is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (21.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

EPYC 7303 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2017), 158.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 18/36. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

EPYC 7303 vs Xeon W-2191B Technical Specifications

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

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 W-2191B

The Xeon W-2191B is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 28,362 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 7303 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon W-2191B offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon W-2191B has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7303 versus 4.3 GHz on the Xeon W-2191B — a 23.4% clock advantage for the Xeon W-2191B (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The EPYC 7303 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon W-2191B uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7303 scores 28,572 against the Xeon W-2191B's 28,362 — a 0.7% lead for the EPYC 7303. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7303 vs 24.75 MB (total) on the Xeon W-2191B.

Feature	EPYC 7303	Xeon W-2191B
Cores / Threads	16 / 32	18 / 36+13%
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	4.3 GHz+26%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz+4%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)+159%	24.75 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Milan (2021−2023)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	28,572	28,362
Cinebench R23 Multi	18,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,960	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,000	—

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Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7303 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon W-2191B uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the EPYC 7303 versus DDR4-2666 on the Xeon W-2191B — the EPYC 7303 supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon W-2191B supports up to 512 GB of RAM compared to 204 GB — 151% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7303) vs 4 (Xeon W-2191B). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7303) vs 48 (Xeon W-2191B) — the EPYC 7303 offers 80 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	EPYC 7303	Xeon W-2191B
Socket	SP3	LGA2066
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200+20%	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	204 GB	512 GB+151%
RAM Channels	8+100%	4
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
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 W-2191B supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V, SVM (EPYC 7303) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon W-2191B). Primary use case: EPYC 7303 targets High-frequency Server Workloads, Xeon W-2191B targets Workstation. Direct competitor: EPYC 7303 rivals Xeon Gold 6334.