Xeon Max 9480 vs Xeon 6780E
Xeon Max 9480
Xeon 6780E
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 Max 9480
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 6780E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Max 9480 | Xeon 6780E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($12,980) | ✅ More affordable ($8,513) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Sierra Forest (2024) / Intel 3 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Max 9480 | Xeon 6780E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+59%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($12,980) | ✅ More affordable ($8,513) |
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 Max 9480 and Xeon 6780E
Xeon Max 9480
The Xeon Max 9480 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) architecture. It features 56 cores and 112 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 112.5 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 82,913 points. Launch price was $12,980.
Xeon 6780E
The Xeon 6780E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Sierra Forest (2024) architecture. It features 144 cores and 144 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 108 MB (total). L2 cache: 4 MB (per module). Built on Intel 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4710. Thermal design power (TDP): 330 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 86,734 points. Launch price was $11,350.
Processing Power
The Xeon Max 9480 packs 56 cores / 112 threads, while the Xeon 6780E offers 144 cores / 144 threads — the Xeon 6780E has 88 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon Max 9480 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon 6780E — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Xeon Max 9480 (base: 1.9 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Xeon Max 9480 uses the Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) architecture (10 nm), while the Xeon 6780E uses Sierra Forest (2024) (Intel 3 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Max 9480 scores 82,913 against the Xeon 6780E's 86,734 — a 4.5% lead for the Xeon 6780E. L3 cache: 112.5 MB on the Xeon Max 9480 vs 108 MB (total) on the Xeon 6780E.
| Feature | Xeon Max 9480 | Xeon 6780E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 56 / 112 | 144 / 144+157% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+17% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.9 GHz | 2.2 GHz+16% |
| L3 Cache | 112.5 MB+4% | 108 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 4 MB (per module)+100% |
| Process | 10 nm | Intel 3 nm-70% |
| Architecture | Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) | Sierra Forest (2024) |
| PassMark | 82,913 | 86,734+5% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,900 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 55,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Max 9480 uses the LGA4677 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon 6780E uses LGA4710 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Xeon Max 9480 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 4 TB — 199.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 8-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 80 (Xeon Max 9480) vs 88 (Xeon 6780E) — the Xeon 6780E offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Xeon Max 9480 | Xeon 6780E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA4677 | LGA4710 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800 | DDR5-6400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4096 GB | 4 TB |
| RAM Channels | 8 | 8 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 80 | 88+10% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Max 9480) vs VT-x, VT-d, VT-x EPT (Xeon 6780E). Primary use case: Xeon Max 9480 targets HPC Server, Xeon 6780E targets Cloud Native Compute. Direct competitor: Xeon Max 9480 rivals EPYC 9684X; Xeon 6780E rivals EPYC 9754.
| Feature | Xeon Max 9480 | Xeon 6780E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d, VT-x EPT |
| Target Use | HPC Server | Cloud Native Compute |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Max 9480 launched at $12980 MSRP, while the Xeon 6780E debuted at $11350. At current prices ($12980 vs $8513), the Xeon 6780E is $4467 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Max 9480 delivers 6.4 pts/$ vs 10.2 pts/$ for the Xeon 6780E — making the Xeon 6780E the 45.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Max 9480 | Xeon 6780E |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $12980 | $11350-13% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $12980 | $8513-34% |
| Performance per Dollar | 6.4 | 10.2+59% |
| Release Date | 2023 | 2024 |
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