EPYC 9015 vs Xeon Gold 5220R

EPYC 9015 vs Xeon Gold 5220R Performance Spectrum

EPYC 9015

8 / 16

30,505

+0.4%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

Xeon Gold 5220R

24 / 48

30,372

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 9015 vs Xeon Gold 5220R 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 9015 vs Xeon Gold 5220R: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

EPYC 9015

2024

Why buy it

✅+5.5% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+79% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Draws 125W instead of 150W, a 25W reduction.
✅Newer platform on SP5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.
✅166.7% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 48) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Xeon Gold 5220R

2020

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,327 vs 1,400).
❌Lower PassMark (30,372 vs 30,505).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,780 MSRP, while EPYC 9015 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌20% higher power demand at 150W vs 125W.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9015 better than Xeon Gold 5220R?

Yes. EPYC 9015 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.4% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 9015 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9015 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 79% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).

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

EPYC 9015 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Gold 5220R is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. EPYC 9015 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,780 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon Gold 5220R is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (17.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 9015 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2020), a healthier platform with SP5 and DDR5 instead of LGA3647, 79% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 24/48. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

EPYC 9015 vs Xeon Gold 5220R Technical Specifications

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

EPYC 9015

The EPYC 9015 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 30,505 points. Launch price was $527.

Xeon Gold 5220R

The Xeon Gold 5220R is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB. L2 cache: 24 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 30,372 points. Launch price was $1,555.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 9015 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5220R offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon Gold 5220R has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the EPYC 9015 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5220R — a 2.5% clock advantage for the EPYC 9015 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The EPYC 9015 uses the Turin (2024) architecture (4 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5220R uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9015 scores 30,505 against the Xeon Gold 5220R's 30,372 — a 0.4% lead for the EPYC 9015. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,400 vs 1,327, a 5.4% lead for the EPYC 9015 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 9015 vs 35.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 5220R.

Feature	EPYC 9015	Xeon Gold 5220R
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	24 / 48+200%
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz+2%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+64%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)+79%	35.75 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	24 MB+2300%
Process	4 nm-71%	14 nm
Architecture	Turin (2024)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	30,505	30,372
Cinebench R23 Multi	15,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,400+6%	1,327
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,000	—

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Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9015 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 5220R uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6000 on the EPYC 9015 versus DDR4-2667 on the Xeon Gold 5220R — the EPYC 9015 supports 125% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9015 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 1024 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9015) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 5220R). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9015) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 5220R) — the EPYC 9015 offers 80 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 platform (EPYC 9015) and C620 (Xeon Gold 5220R).

Feature	EPYC 9015	Xeon Gold 5220R
Socket	SP5	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6000+125%	DDR4-2667
Max RAM Capacity	4096 GB+300%	1024 GB
RAM Channels	12+100%	6
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+167%	48

🔧

Advanced Features

Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9015) vs Yes (Xeon Gold 5220R). Primary use case: EPYC 9015 targets Next-gen Data Center / AI Workloads. Direct competitor: EPYC 9015 rivals Xeon 6.