Xeon Gold 6242 vs Xeon Gold 6256
Xeon Gold 6242
Xeon Gold 6256
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 6242
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6256
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6242 | Xeon Gold 6256 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6242 | Xeon Gold 6256 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 6242 and Xeon Gold 6256
Xeon Gold 6242
The Xeon Gold 6242 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 24,994 points. Launch price was $2,529.
Xeon Gold 6256
The Xeon Gold 6256 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 33 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 25,334 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6242 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6256 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon Gold 6242 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6242 versus 4.5 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6256 — a 14.3% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6256 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6242 is built on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6242 scores 24,994 against the Xeon Gold 6256's 25,334 — a 1.4% lead for the Xeon Gold 6256. L3 cache: 22 MB on the Xeon Gold 6242 vs 33 MB on the Xeon Gold 6256.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6242 | Xeon Gold 6256 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32+33% | 12 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 4.5 GHz+15% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.6 GHz+29% |
| L3 Cache | 22 MB | 33 MB+50% |
| L2 Cache | 16 MB | — |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | — |
| PassMark | 24,994 | 25,334+1% |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA3647 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6242 | Xeon Gold 6256 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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