Xeon W-3245 vs Xeon Platinum 8260
Xeon W-3245
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 W-3245
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Platinum 8260
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W-3245 | Xeon Platinum 8260 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,200) | ✅ More affordable ($400) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake-SP (2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W-3245 | Xeon Platinum 8260 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+196%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,200) | ✅ More affordable ($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 W-3245 and Xeon Platinum 8260
Xeon W-3245
The Xeon W-3245 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 22 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: 31,089 points. Launch price was $1,999.
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 W-3245 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 4.6 GHz on the Xeon W-3245 versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8260 — a 16.5% clock advantage for the Xeon W-3245 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon W-3245 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 W-3245 scores 31,089 against the Xeon Platinum 8260's 30,720 — a 1.2% lead for the Xeon W-3245. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 18,000 vs 18,500 (2.7% advantage for the Xeon Platinum 8260). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,353 vs 1,190, a 12.8% lead for the Xeon W-3245 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,698 vs 6,946 (51% advantage for the Xeon W-3245). L3 cache: 22 MB on the Xeon W-3245 vs 35.75 MB (total) on the Xeon Platinum 8260.
| Feature | Xeon W-3245 | Xeon Platinum 8260 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32 | 24 / 48+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+18% | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+33% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 22 MB | 35.75 MB (total)+63% |
| L2 Cache | 16 MB+1500% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Cascade Lake-SP (2018) |
| PassMark | 31,089+1% | 30,720 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 18,000 | 18,500+3% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,353+14% | 1,190 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 11,698+68% | 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. PCIe lanes: 64 (Xeon W-3245) vs 48 (Xeon Platinum 8260) — the Xeon W-3245 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621 (Xeon W-3245) and C621,Lewisburg (Xeon Platinum 8260).
| Feature | Xeon W-3245 | 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 | 64+33% | 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 W-3245 targets Professional Workstation, Xeon Platinum 8260 targets Server / Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon W-3245 rivals Threadripper 2950X; Xeon Platinum 8260 rivals Xeon Gold 6248R.
| Feature | Xeon W-3245 | 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 | Professional Workstation | Server / Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Xeon W-3245 launched at $2199 MSRP, while the Xeon Platinum 8260 debuted at $400. At current prices ($1200 vs $400), the Xeon Platinum 8260 is $800 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon W-3245 delivers 25.9 pts/$ vs 76.8 pts/$ for the Xeon Platinum 8260 — making the Xeon Platinum 8260 the 99.1% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon W-3245 | Xeon Platinum 8260 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2199 | $400-82% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $1200 | $400-67% |
| Performance per Dollar | 25.9 | 76.8+197% |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2019 |
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