Xeon Platinum 8260 vs EPYC 9015
Xeon Platinum 8260
EPYC 9015
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 Platinum 8260
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 9015
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Platinum 8260 | EPYC 9015 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake-SP (2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Turin (2024) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Platinum 8260 | EPYC 9015 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Platinum 8260 and EPYC 9015
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.
EPYC 9015
The EPYC 9015 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 30,505 points. Launch price was $527.
Processing Power
The Xeon Platinum 8260 packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the EPYC 9015 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Platinum 8260 has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8260 versus 4.1 GHz on the EPYC 9015 — a 5% clock advantage for the EPYC 9015 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon Platinum 8260 uses the Cascade Lake-SP (2018) architecture (14 nm), while the EPYC 9015 uses Turin (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Platinum 8260 scores 30,720 against the EPYC 9015's 30,505 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon Platinum 8260. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 18,500 vs 15,000 (20.9% advantage for the Xeon Platinum 8260). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,190 vs 1,400, a 16.2% lead for the EPYC 9015 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 6,946 vs 11,000 (45.2% advantage for the EPYC 9015). L3 cache: 35.75 MB (total) on the Xeon Platinum 8260 vs 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 9015.
| Feature | Xeon Platinum 8260 | EPYC 9015 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 24 / 48+200% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 4.1 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.6 GHz+50% |
| L3 Cache | 35.75 MB (total) | 64 MB (total)+79% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 4 nm-71% |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake-SP (2018) | Turin (2024) |
| PassMark | 30,720 | 30,505 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 18,500+23% | 15,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,190 | 1,400+18% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 6,946 | 11,000+58% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Platinum 8260 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 9015 uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2933 on the Xeon Platinum 8260 versus DDR5-6000 on the EPYC 9015 — the EPYC 9015 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9015 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 1024 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon Platinum 8260) vs 12 (EPYC 9015). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon Platinum 8260) vs 128 (EPYC 9015) — the EPYC 9015 offers 80 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621,Lewisburg (Xeon Platinum 8260) and SP5 platform (EPYC 9015).
| Feature | Xeon Platinum 8260 | EPYC 9015 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | SP5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | DDR5-6000+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1024 GB | 4096 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 6 | 12+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 48 | 128+167% |
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, EPT (Xeon Platinum 8260) vs AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9015). Primary use case: Xeon Platinum 8260 targets Server / Workstation, EPYC 9015 targets Next-gen Data Center / AI Workloads. Direct competitor: Xeon Platinum 8260 rivals Xeon Gold 6248R; EPYC 9015 rivals Xeon 6.
| Feature | Xeon Platinum 8260 | EPYC 9015 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V, SEV-SNP |
| Target Use | Server / Workstation | Next-gen Data Center / AI Workloads |
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