Xeon Gold 5118 vs Xeon Platinum 8256
Xeon Gold 5118
Xeon Platinum 8256
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 Gold 5118
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Platinum 8256
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5118 | Xeon Platinum 8256 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake-SP (2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5118 | Xeon Platinum 8256 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Gold 5118 and Xeon Platinum 8256
Xeon Gold 5118
The Xeon Gold 5118 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16.5 MB. L2 cache: 12 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 16,744 points. Launch price was $1,273.
Xeon Platinum 8256
The Xeon Platinum 8256 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 December 2018 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake-SP (2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 16,787 points. Launch price was $7,007.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5118 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Platinum 8256 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon Gold 5118 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5118 versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8256 — a 19.7% clock advantage for the Xeon Platinum 8256 (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5118 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Platinum 8256 uses Cascade Lake-SP (2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5118 scores 16,744 against the Xeon Platinum 8256's 16,787 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon Platinum 8256. L3 cache: 16.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 5118 vs 16.5 MB (total) on the Xeon Platinum 8256.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5118 | Xeon Platinum 8256 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 24+200% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.9 GHz+22% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.8 GHz+65% |
| L3 Cache | 16.5 MB | 16.5 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 12 MB+1100% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Cascade Lake-SP (2018) |
| PassMark | 16,744 | 16,787 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA3647 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5118 | Xeon Platinum 8256 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 | — |
| RAM Channels | 6 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 48 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 5118) / not specified (Xeon Platinum 8256). Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 5118 rivals EPYC 7301.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5118 | Xeon Platinum 8256 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
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