Ryzen 7 260 vs EPYC 7303
Ryzen 7 260
EPYC 7303
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 Ryzen 7 260
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 7303
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 7 260 | EPYC 7303 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Hawk Point (2024−2025) / 4 nm) | ✨ Modern (Milan (2021−2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 7 260 | EPYC 7303 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Ryzen 7 260 and EPYC 7303
Ryzen 7 260
The Ryzen 7 260 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 28,339 points. Launch price was $299.
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.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 7 260 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the EPYC 7303 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the EPYC 7303 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 260 versus 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7303 — a 40% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 260 (base: 3.8 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Ryzen 7 260 uses the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture (4 nm), while the EPYC 7303 uses Milan (2021−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 260 scores 28,339 against the EPYC 7303's 28,572 — a 0.8% lead for the EPYC 7303. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 260 vs 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7303.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 260 | EPYC 7303 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 16 / 32+100% |
| Boost Clock | 5.1 GHz+50% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+58% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 64 MB (total)+300% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 4 nm-43% | 7 nm |
| Architecture | Hawk Point (2024−2025) | Milan (2021−2023) |
| PassMark | 28,339 | 28,572 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 18,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,960 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 11,000 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 7 260 uses the FP8 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the EPYC 7303 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 7 260 versus DDR4-3200 on the EPYC 7303 — the Ryzen 7 260 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7303 supports up to 204 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 104.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 7 260) vs 8 (EPYC 7303). PCIe lanes: 20 (Ryzen 7 260) vs 128 (EPYC 7303) — the EPYC 7303 offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 260 | EPYC 7303 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP8 | SP3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-5600+25% | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 204 GB+219% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 8+300% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 128+540% |
Advanced Features
Only the EPYC 7303 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 260 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 7 260) vs AMD-V, SVM (EPYC 7303). The Ryzen 7 260 includes integrated graphics (Radeon 780M), while the EPYC 7303 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 260 targets Mobile, EPYC 7303 targets High-frequency Server Workloads. Direct competitor: EPYC 7303 rivals Xeon Gold 6334.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 260 | EPYC 7303 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon 780M | — |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V, SVM |
| Target Use | Mobile | High-frequency Server Workloads |
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