Intel Xeon Platinum 8260 vs AMD EPYC 7301

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon Platinum 8260 and AMD EPYC 7301 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 Platinum 8260

AMD EPYC 7301

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 6 month(s) later
8 more cores, run more applications at once: 24 vs 16
16 more threads: 48 vs 32
Around 44% higher clock speed: 3.90 GHz vs 2.7 GHz
3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 3% lower typical power consumption: 165 Watt vs 155/170 Watt
Around 25% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2065 vs 1654
Around 52% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 52066 vs 34148

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	11 Dec 2018 vs June 2017
Number of cores	24 vs 16
Number of threads	48 vs 32
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz vs 2.7 GHz
L2 cache	24 MB vs 512 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	165 Watt vs 155/170 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2065 vs 1654
PassMark - CPU mark	52066 vs 34148

Reasons to consider the AMD EPYC 7301

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 79% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later

Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
L3 cache	64 MB vs 35.75 MB

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon Platinum 8260
CPU 2: AMD EPYC 7301

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2065

1654

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

52066

34148

Name	Intel Xeon Platinum 8260	AMD EPYC 7301
PassMark - Single thread mark	2065	1654
PassMark - CPU mark	52066	34148
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		2802
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		15384

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon Platinum 8260	AMD EPYC 7301
Essentials
Architecture codename	Cascade Lake	Zen
Launch date	11 Dec 2018	June 2017
Launch price (MSRP)	$5383
Place in performance rating	460	486
Processor Number	8260
Series	2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processors	AMD EPYC 7000 Series
Vertical segment	Server	Server
Family		AMD EPYC
Performance
Base frequency	2.40 GHz	2.2 GHz
L1 cache	1.5 MB	96 KB (per core)
L2 cache	24 MB	512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	35.75 MB	64 MB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	90°C
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz	2.7 GHz
Number of cores	24	16
Number of threads	48	32
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)	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	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™)