Intel Xeon Platinum 8256 vs AMD EPYC 7501

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon Platinum 8256 and AMD EPYC 7501 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.

Intel Xeon Platinum 8256

AMD EPYC 7501

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon Platinum 8256

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 6 month(s) later
Around 30% higher clock speed: 3.90 GHz vs 3 GHz
Around 62% lower typical power consumption: 105 Watt vs 155/170 Watt
Around 21% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2336 vs 1925

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	11 Dec 2018 vs June 2017
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz vs 3 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	105 Watt vs 155/170 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2336 vs 1925

Reasons to consider the AMD EPYC 7501

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
28 more cores, run more applications at once: 32 vs 4
56 more threads: 64 vs 8
12x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
4x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
3.9x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 48% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 24925 vs 16787

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	32 vs 4
Number of threads	64 vs 8
L1 cache	96 KB (per core) vs 256 KB
L2 cache	512 KB (per core) vs 4 MB
L3 cache	64 MB vs 16.5 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	24925 vs 16787

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon Platinum 8256
CPU 2: AMD EPYC 7501

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2336

1925

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

16787

24925

Name	Intel Xeon Platinum 8256	AMD EPYC 7501
PassMark - Single thread mark	2336	1925
PassMark - CPU mark	16787	24925

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon Platinum 8256	AMD EPYC 7501
Essentials
Architecture codename	Cascade Lake	Zen
Launch date	11 Dec 2018	June 2017
Launch price (MSRP)	$8030
Place in performance rating	917	984
Processor Number	8256
Series	2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processors	AMD EPYC 7000 Series
Vertical segment	Server	Server
Family		AMD EPYC
Price now		$4,389.87
Value for money (0-100)		1.27
Performance
Base frequency	3.80 GHz	2 GHz
L1 cache	256 KB	96 KB (per core)
L2 cache	4 MB	512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	16.5 MB	64 MB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	72°C
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz	3 GHz
Number of cores	4	32
Number of threads	8	64
64 bit support
Die size		192 mm
Transistor count		4800 million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	6	8
Maximum memory size	1 TB
Supported memory frequency	2933 MHz	2400/2666 MHz
Supported memory types	DDR4-2933	DDR4
Maximum memory bandwidth		307/341 GB/s
Compatibility
Package Size	76.0mm x 56.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA3647	TR4
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	105 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	S8S
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Run Sure Technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
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® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD)
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™)