Intel Xeon Gold 6246 vs AMD EPYC 7401

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon Gold 6246 and AMD EPYC 7401 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core.

Intel Xeon Gold 6246

AMD EPYC 7401

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon Gold 6246

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 10 month(s) later
Around 40% higher clock speed: 4.20 GHz vs 3 GHz
Around 3% lower typical power consumption: 165 Watt vs 155/170 Watt
Around 35% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2490 vs 1850

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	2 April 2019 vs June 2017
Maximum frequency	4.20 GHz vs 3 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	165 Watt vs 155/170 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2490 vs 1850

Reasons to consider the AMD EPYC 7401

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
12 more cores, run more applications at once: 24 vs 12
24 more threads: 48 vs 24
3x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2.6x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 31% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 55280 vs 42206

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	24 vs 12
Number of threads	48 vs 24
L1 cache	96 KB (per core) vs 768 KB
L3 cache	64 MB vs 24.75 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	55280 vs 42206

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon Gold 6246
CPU 2: AMD EPYC 7401

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2490

1850

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

42206

55280

Name	Intel Xeon Gold 6246	AMD EPYC 7401
PassMark - Single thread mark	2490	1850
PassMark - CPU mark	42206	55280
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		3541
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		24681

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon Gold 6246	AMD EPYC 7401
Essentials
Architecture codename	Cascade Lake	Zen
Launch date	2 April 2019	June 2017
Launch price (MSRP)	$3286
Place in performance rating	413	125
Processor Number	6246
Series	2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processors	AMD EPYC 7000 Series
Status	Launched
Vertical segment	Server	Server
Family		AMD EPYC
Performance
Base frequency	3.30 GHz	2 GHz
L1 cache	768 KB	96 KB (per core)
L2 cache	12 MB	512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	24.75 MB	64 MB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	76°C
Maximum frequency	4.20 GHz	3 GHz
Number of cores	12	24
Number of threads	24	48
Number of Ultra Path Interconnect (UPI) Links	3
64 bit support
Die size		192 mm
Transistor count		4800 million
Unlocked
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	6	8
Maximum memory bandwidth	131.13 GB/s	307/341 GB/s
Maximum memory size	1 TB
Supported memory frequency	2933 MHz	2400/2666 MHz
Supported memory types	DDR4-2933	DDR4
Compatibility
Package Size	76.0mm x 56.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA3647	TR4
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	165 Watt	155/170 Watt
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		2
Socket Count		1P/2P
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	48
PCI Express revision	3.0	x128
Scalability	4S
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Run Sure Technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Mode-based Execute Control (MBE)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Instruction set extensions	Intel SSE4.2, Intel AVX, Intel AVX2, Intel AVX-512
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD)
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Number of AVX-512 FMA Units	2
Speed Shift technology
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)