Xeon Gold 6246R vs Xeon Platinum 8260
Xeon Gold 6246R
Xeon Platinum 8260
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 6246R
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Platinum 8260
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6246R | Xeon Platinum 8260 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake-SP (2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6246R | Xeon Platinum 8260 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) |
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 6246R and Xeon Platinum 8260
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.
Xeon Platinum 8260
The Xeon Platinum 8260 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 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 30,720 points. Launch price was $4,702.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6246R packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Platinum 8260 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon Platinum 8260 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6246R versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8260 — a 5% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6246R (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6246R uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Platinum 8260 uses Cascade Lake-SP (2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6246R scores 30,468 against the Xeon Platinum 8260's 30,720 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon Platinum 8260. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,000 vs 18,500 (14.5% advantage for the Xeon Platinum 8260). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,293 vs 1,190, a 8.3% lead for the Xeon Gold 6246R that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 9,848 vs 6,946 (34.6% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6246R). L3 cache: 35.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6246R vs 35.75 MB (total) on the Xeon Platinum 8260.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6246R | Xeon Platinum 8260 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32 | 24 / 48+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+5% | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+42% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 35.75 MB | 35.75 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 16 MB+1500% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Cascade Lake-SP (2018) |
| PassMark | 30,468 | 30,720 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 16,000 | 18,500+16% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,293+9% | 1,190 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 9,848+42% | 6,946 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA3647 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR4-2933 memory speed. Both support up to 1024 GB of RAM. Both feature 6-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 48 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Lewisburg (Xeon Gold 6246R) and C621,Lewisburg (Xeon Platinum 8260).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6246R | Xeon Platinum 8260 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | DDR4-2933 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1024 GB | 1024 GB |
| RAM Channels | 6 | 6 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 48 | 48 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. Primary use case: Xeon Gold 6246R targets High-frequency Server / Financial, Xeon Platinum 8260 targets Server / Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6246R rivals EPYC 7302; Xeon Platinum 8260 rivals Xeon Gold 6248R.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6246R | Xeon Platinum 8260 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | High-frequency Server / Financial | Server / Workstation |
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