Xeon 6780E vs Xeon Max 9480
Xeon 6780E
Xeon Max 9480
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 Xeon 6780E
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Max 9480
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon 6780E | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($8,513) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($12,980) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Sierra Forest (2024) / Intel 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon 6780E | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+59%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($8,513) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($12,980) |
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 Xeon 6780E and Xeon Max 9480
Xeon 6780E
The Xeon 6780E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Sierra Forest (2024) architecture. It features 144 cores and 144 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 108 MB (total). L2 cache: 4 MB (per module). Built on Intel 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4710. Thermal design power (TDP): 330 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 86,734 points. Launch price was $11,350.
Xeon Max 9480
The Xeon Max 9480 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) architecture. It features 56 cores and 112 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 112.5 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 82,913 points. Launch price was $12,980.
Processing Power
The Xeon 6780E packs 144 cores / 144 threads, while the Xeon Max 9480 offers 56 cores / 112 threads — the Xeon 6780E has 88 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon 6780E versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon Max 9480 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Xeon Max 9480 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Xeon 6780E uses the Sierra Forest (2024) architecture (Intel 3 nm), while the Xeon Max 9480 uses Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon 6780E scores 86,734 against the Xeon Max 9480's 82,913 — a 4.5% lead for the Xeon 6780E. L3 cache: 108 MB (total) on the Xeon 6780E vs 112.5 MB on the Xeon Max 9480.
| Feature | Xeon 6780E | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 144 / 144+157% | 56 / 112 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.5 GHz+17% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz+16% | 1.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 108 MB (total) | 112.5 MB+4% |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (per module)+100% | 2 MB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 3 nm-70% | 10 nm |
| Architecture | Sierra Forest (2024) | Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) |
| PassMark | 86,734+5% | 82,913 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,900 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 55,000 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon 6780E uses the LGA4710 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Max 9480 uses LGA4677 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-6400 memory speed. The Xeon Max 9480 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 4 TB — 199.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 8-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 88 (Xeon 6780E) vs 80 (Xeon Max 9480) — the Xeon 6780E offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Xeon 6780E | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA4710 | LGA4677 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-6400 | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 TB | 4096 GB |
| RAM Channels | 8 | 8 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 88+10% | 80 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, VT-x EPT (Xeon 6780E) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Max 9480). Primary use case: Xeon 6780E targets Cloud Native Compute, Xeon Max 9480 targets HPC Server. Direct competitor: Xeon 6780E rivals EPYC 9754; Xeon Max 9480 rivals EPYC 9684X.
| Feature | Xeon 6780E | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, VT-x EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Cloud Native Compute | HPC Server |
Value Analysis
The Xeon 6780E launched at $11350 MSRP, while the Xeon Max 9480 debuted at $12980. At current prices ($8513 vs $12980), the Xeon 6780E is $4467 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon 6780E delivers 10.2 pts/$ vs 6.4 pts/$ for the Xeon Max 9480 — making the Xeon 6780E the 45.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon 6780E | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $11350-13% | $12980 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $8513-34% | $12980 |
| Performance per Dollar | 10.2+59% | 6.4 |
| Release Date | 2024 | 2023 |
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