Xeon Gold 6346 vs Xeon Platinum 8280M
Xeon Gold 6346
Xeon Platinum 8280M
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 6346
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Platinum 8280M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6346 | Xeon Platinum 8280M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($2,195) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($6,223) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Ice Lake-SP (2021) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake-SP (2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6346 | Xeon Platinum 8280M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+184%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($2,195) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($6,223) |
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 6346 and Xeon Platinum 8280M
Xeon Gold 6346
The Xeon Gold 6346 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 37,739 points. Launch price was $800.
Xeon Platinum 8280M
The Xeon Platinum 8280M 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 28 cores and 56 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 38.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 37,665 points. Launch price was $13,012.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6346 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Platinum 8280M offers 28 cores / 56 threads — the Xeon Platinum 8280M has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6346 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8280M — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Xeon Platinum 8280M (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6346 uses the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Xeon Platinum 8280M uses Cascade Lake-SP (2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6346 scores 37,739 against the Xeon Platinum 8280M's 37,665 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon Gold 6346. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 6346 vs 38.5 MB (total) on the Xeon Platinum 8280M.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6346 | Xeon Platinum 8280M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32 | 28 / 56+75% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+15% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 36 MB (total) | 38.5 MB (total)+7% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm-29% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Ice Lake-SP (2021) | Cascade Lake-SP (2018) |
| PassMark | 37,739 | 37,665 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 35,400 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,214 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 11,500 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6346 uses the LGA4189 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Platinum 8280M uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the Xeon Gold 6346 versus DDR4-2933 on the Xeon Platinum 8280M — the Xeon Gold 6346 supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6346 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 2048 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (Xeon Gold 6346) vs 6 (Xeon Platinum 8280M). PCIe lanes: 64 (Xeon Gold 6346) vs 48 (Xeon Platinum 8280M) — the Xeon Gold 6346 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621A (Xeon Gold 6346) and C621,C622,C624,C627,C628 (Xeon Platinum 8280M).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6346 | Xeon Platinum 8280M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA4189 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 3200+79900% | DDR4-2933 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 6144 | 2048 GB+34952433% |
| RAM Channels | 8+33% | 6 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 64+33% | 48 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6346) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Platinum 8280M). Primary use case: Xeon Platinum 8280M targets High-end Server. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6346 rivals EPYC 73F3; Xeon Platinum 8280M rivals EPYC 7742.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6346 | Xeon Platinum 8280M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | High-end Server |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Gold 6346 launched at $2708 MSRP, while the Xeon Platinum 8280M debuted at $10009. At current prices ($2195 vs $6223), the Xeon Gold 6346 is $4028 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Gold 6346 delivers 17.2 pts/$ vs 6.1 pts/$ for the Xeon Platinum 8280M — making the Xeon Gold 6346 the 95.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6346 | Xeon Platinum 8280M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2708-73% | $10009 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $2195-65% | $6223 |
| Performance per Dollar | 17.2+182% | 6.1 |
| Release Date | 2021 | 2019 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon Gold 6346 and Xeon Platinum 8280M
