EPYC 7542 vs Xeon Gold 6336Y
EPYC 7542
Xeon Gold 6336Y
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 7542
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6336Y
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 7542 | Xeon Gold 6336Y |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($899) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($3,245) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen 2 (2017−2020) / 7 nm, 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Ice Lake-SP (2021) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 7542 | Xeon Gold 6336Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+260%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($899) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($3,245) |
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 7542 and Xeon Gold 6336Y
EPYC 7542
The EPYC 7542 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 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 225 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 45,359 points. Launch price was $3,400.
Xeon Gold 6336Y
The Xeon Gold 6336Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 185 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 45,517 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The EPYC 7542 packs 32 cores / 64 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6336Y offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the EPYC 7542 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7542 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6336Y — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6336Y (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The EPYC 7542 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (7 nm, 14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6336Y uses Ice Lake-SP (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7542 scores 45,359 against the Xeon Gold 6336Y's 45,517 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon Gold 6336Y. L3 cache: 128 MB (total) on the EPYC 7542 vs 36 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 6336Y.
| Feature | EPYC 7542 | Xeon Gold 6336Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 32 / 64+33% | 24 / 48 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.6 GHz+6% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+21% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 128 MB (total)+256% | 36 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 7 nm, 14 nm-30% | 10 nm |
| Architecture | Zen 2 (2017−2020) | Ice Lake-SP (2021) |
| PassMark | 45,359 | 45,517 |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 7542 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6336Y uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to 3200 memory speed. Both support up to 4096 of RAM. Both feature 8-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7542) vs 64 (Xeon Gold 6336Y) — the EPYC 7542 offers 64 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7542) and C621A (Xeon Gold 6336Y).
| Feature | EPYC 7542 | Xeon Gold 6336Y |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP3 | LGA4189 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 3200 | 3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4096 | 4096 |
| RAM Channels | 8 | 8 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 128+100% | 64 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (EPYC 7542) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6336Y). Direct competitor: EPYC 7542 rivals Xeon Gold 6248R; Xeon Gold 6336Y rivals EPYC 7543.
| Feature | EPYC 7542 | Xeon Gold 6336Y |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
Value Analysis
The EPYC 7542 launched at $3400 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6336Y debuted at $3245.
| Feature | EPYC 7542 | Xeon Gold 6336Y |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $3400 | $3245-5% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $899 | — |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2021 |
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