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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

2018

Why buy it

✅+81.5% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+79% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 48) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6246R across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,299 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6246R mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌22% higher power demand at 250W vs 205W.

Xeon Gold 6246R

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 205W instead of 250W, a 45W reduction.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,000 vs 29,045).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

2018

Xeon Gold 6246R

2020

Why buy it

✅+81.5% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+79% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 48) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 205W instead of 250W, a 45W reduction.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6246R across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,299 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6246R mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌22% higher power demand at 250W vs 205W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,000 vs 29,045).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6246R better than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Xeon Gold 6246R is ahead with a 21.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX pulls ahead with 81.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX also has the bigger cache pool with 79% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is the better fit. You are getting 81.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries 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?

Xeon Gold 6246R is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon Gold 6246R is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,299 MSRP, and it gives you a 21.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 81.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (23.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Xeon Gold 6246R is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2018) and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6246R Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX	Xeon Gold 6246R
1080p
low	198 FPS	198 FPS
medium	177 FPS	156 FPS
high	143 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	115 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	160 FPS	162 FPS
medium	134 FPS	124 FPS
high	104 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	73 FPS	74 FPS
medium	64 FPS	60 FPS
high	50 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	38 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX Open Xeon Gold 6246R

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX	Xeon Gold 6246R
1080p
low	536 FPS	505 FPS
medium	483 FPS	442 FPS
high	404 FPS	366 FPS
ultra	354 FPS	326 FPS
1440p
low	473 FPS	446 FPS
medium	424 FPS	391 FPS
high	360 FPS	328 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	275 FPS
4K
low	295 FPS	282 FPS
medium	265 FPS	248 FPS
high	242 FPS	226 FPS
ultra	213 FPS	201 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX Open Xeon Gold 6246R

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX	Xeon Gold 6246R
1080p
low	768 FPS	762 FPS
medium	640 FPS	762 FPS
high	577 FPS	762 FPS
ultra	504 FPS	762 FPS
1440p
low	640 FPS	762 FPS
medium	533 FPS	720 FPS
high	465 FPS	665 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	596 FPS
4K
low	469 FPS	516 FPS
medium	377 FPS	423 FPS
high	336 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	280 FPS	306 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX Open Xeon Gold 6246R

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX	Xeon Gold 6246R
1080p
low	774 FPS	762 FPS
medium	774 FPS	762 FPS
high	704 FPS	762 FPS
ultra	616 FPS	739 FPS
1440p
low	730 FPS	762 FPS
medium	644 FPS	762 FPS
high	549 FPS	673 FPS
ultra	474 FPS	568 FPS
4K
low	523 FPS	677 FPS
medium	473 FPS	592 FPS
high	419 FPS	511 FPS
ultra	362 FPS	428 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX Open Xeon Gold 6246R

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX and Xeon Gold 6246R

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

The Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 30,954 points. Launch price was $1,299.

Xeon Gold 6246R

The Xeon Gold 6246R 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 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 30,468 points. Launch price was $3,286.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6246R offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX versus 4.1 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6246R — a 2.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX (base: 3 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (12 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6246R uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX scores 30,954 against the Xeon Gold 6246R's 30,468 — a 1.6% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 29,045 vs 16,000 (57.9% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,240 vs 1,293, a 4.2% lead for the Xeon Gold 6246R that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 7,241 vs 9,848 (30.5% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6246R). L3 cache: 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX vs 35.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6246R.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX	Xeon Gold 6246R
Cores / Threads	24 / 48+50%	16 / 32
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz+2%	4.1 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.4 GHz+13%
L3 Cache	64 MB+79%	35.75 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	16 MB+3100%
Process	12 nm-14%	14 nm
Architecture	Zen+ (2018−2019)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	30,954+2%	30,468
Cinebench R23 Multi	29,045+82%	16,000
Geekbench 6 Single	1,240	1,293+4%
Geekbench 6 Multi	7,241	9,848+36%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX uses the TR4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6246R uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2933 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 1024 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6246R). PCIe lanes: 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6246R) — the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X399 (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX) and Lewisburg (Xeon Gold 6246R).

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX	Xeon Gold 6246R
Socket	TR4	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2933	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	2048 GB+100%	1024 GB
RAM Channels	4	6+50%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	64+33%	48

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 6246R supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Gold 6246R). Primary use case: Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX targets Extreme Multi-threaded Workstation, Xeon Gold 6246R targets High-frequency Server / Financial. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX rivals Core i9-7940X; Xeon Gold 6246R rivals EPYC 7302.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX	Xeon Gold 6246R
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Extreme Multi-threaded Workstation	High-frequency Server / Financial