Xeon Gold 6256 vs EPYC 7272
Xeon Gold 6256
EPYC 7272
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 6256
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 7272
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6256 | EPYC 7272 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen 2 (2017−2020) / 7 nm, 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6256 | EPYC 7272 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 6256 and EPYC 7272
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.
EPYC 7272
The EPYC 7272 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 25,161 points. Launch price was $625.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon Gold 6256 and EPYC 7272 share an identical 12-core/24-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6256 versus 3.2 GHz on the EPYC 7272 — a 33.8% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6256 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The EPYC 7272 is built on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6256 scores 25,334 against the EPYC 7272's 25,161 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon Gold 6256. L3 cache: 33 MB on the Xeon Gold 6256 vs 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7272.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6256 | EPYC 7272 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 24 | 12 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 4.5 GHz+41% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+24% | 2.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 33 MB+3% | 32 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | — | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 14 nm-50% |
| Architecture | — | Zen 2 (2017−2020) |
| PassMark | 25,334 | 25,161 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6256 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 7272 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6256 | EPYC 7272 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | SP3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
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