EPYC 7501 vs Xeon Gold 6242
EPYC 7501
Xeon Gold 6242
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 7501
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6242
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 7501 | Xeon Gold 6242 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Naples (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 7501 | Xeon Gold 6242 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 7501 and Xeon Gold 6242
EPYC 7501
The EPYC 7501 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 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 24,925 points. Launch price was $3,400.
Xeon Gold 6242
The Xeon Gold 6242 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 24,994 points. Launch price was $2,529.
Processing Power
The EPYC 7501 packs 32 cores / 64 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6242 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the EPYC 7501 has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the EPYC 7501 versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6242 — a 26.1% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6242 (base: 2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The EPYC 7501 uses the Naples (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6242 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7501 scores 24,925 against the Xeon Gold 6242's 24,994 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon Gold 6242. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7501 vs 22 MB on the Xeon Gold 6242.
| Feature | EPYC 7501 | Xeon Gold 6242 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 32 / 64+100% | 16 / 32 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.9 GHz+30% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.8 GHz+40% |
| L3 Cache | 64 MB (total)+191% | 22 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 16 MB+3100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Naples (2017−2018) | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 24,925 | 24,994 |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 7501 uses the TR4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6242 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | EPYC 7501 | Xeon Gold 6242 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | TR4 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
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