Xeon Gold 5220R vs Xeon Gold 6246R

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.

Xeon Gold 5220R vs Xeon Gold 6246R 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.

Xeon Gold 5220R vs Xeon Gold 6246R: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Xeon Gold 5220R

2020

Why buy it

✅Draws 150W instead of 205W, a 55W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6246R across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (30,372 vs 30,468).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,780 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6246R mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon Gold 6246R

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌36.7% higher power demand at 205W vs 150W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6246R better than Xeon Gold 5220R?

Yes. Xeon Gold 6246R is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 13.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.3% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon Gold 6246R is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 13.5% 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, Xeon Gold 6246R is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads.

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

Xeon Gold 6246R is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Gold 5220R is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon Gold 6246R comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,780 MSRP, and it still gives you a 13.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon Gold 5220R is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (17.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Xeon Gold 6246R is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

Xeon Gold 5220R vs Xeon Gold 6246R Technical Specifications

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

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.

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.

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Processing Power

The Xeon Gold 5220R packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6246R offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Xeon Gold 5220R has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5220R versus 4.1 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6246R — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6246R (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). Both are built on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture using a 14 nm process. In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5220R scores 30,372 against the Xeon Gold 6246R's 30,468 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon Gold 6246R. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,327 vs 1,293, a 2.6% lead for the Xeon Gold 5220R that directly translates to higher frame rates. Both processors carry 35.75 MB of L3 cache.

Feature	Xeon Gold 5220R	Xeon Gold 6246R
Cores / Threads	24 / 48+50%	16 / 32
Boost Clock	4 GHz	4.1 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	3.4 GHz+55%
L3 Cache	35.75 MB	35.75 MB
L2 Cache	24 MB+50%	16 MB
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	30,372	30,468
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	16,000
Geekbench 6 Single	1,327+3%	1,293
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	9,848

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA3647 socket with PCIe 3.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2667 on the Xeon Gold 5220R versus DDR4-2933 on the Xeon Gold 6246R — the Xeon Gold 6246R supports 10% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 1024 GB of RAM. Both feature 6-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 48 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: C620 (Xeon Gold 5220R) and Lewisburg (Xeon Gold 6246R).

Feature	Xeon Gold 5220R	Xeon Gold 6246R
Socket	LGA3647	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2667	DDR4-2933+10%
Max RAM Capacity	1024 GB	1024 GB
RAM Channels	6	6
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	48	48

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Advanced Features

Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: Yes (Xeon Gold 5220R) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Gold 6246R). Primary use case: Xeon Gold 6246R targets High-frequency Server / Financial. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6246R rivals EPYC 7302.