Ryzen 9 5950X vs Xeon Gold 6256
Aggregate performance score
Xeon Gold 6256 outperforms Ryzen 9 5950X by a minimal 3% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
Comparing Xeon Gold 6256 and Ryzen 9 5950X processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.
| Place in the ranking | 146 | 159 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | no data | 27.74 |
| Market segment | Server | Desktop processor |
| Series | no data | AMD Ryzen 9 |
| Power efficiency | 13.59 | 25.87 |
| Architecture codename | no data | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) |
| Release date | 1 January 2020 (4 years ago) | 5 November 2020 (4 years ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | no data | $799 |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
Performance per price, higher is better.
Detailed specifications
Xeon Gold 6256 and Ryzen 9 5950X basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.
| Physical cores | 12 (Dodeca-Core) | 16 (Hexadeca-Core) |
| Threads | 24 | 32 |
| Base clock speed | 3.6 GHz | 3.4 GHz |
| Boost clock speed | 4.5 GHz | 4.9 GHz |
| Multiplier | no data | 34 |
| L1 cache | no data | 64K (per core) |
| L2 cache | no data | 512K (per core) |
| L3 cache | 33 MB | 64 MB |
| Chip lithography | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm |
| Die size | no data | CPU cores: 2x 80.7 sq. mm., I/O: 125 mm2 |
| Maximum core temperature | 64 °C | no data |
| Maximum case temperature (TCase) | no data | 95 °C |
| 64 bit support | - | + |
| Windows 11 compatibility | + | + |
| Unlocked multiplier | - | + |
Compatibility
Information on Xeon Gold 6256 and Ryzen 9 5950X compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.
| Number of CPUs in a configuration | no data | 1 |
| Socket | FCLGA3647 | AM4 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 205 Watt | 105 Watt |
Technologies and extensions
Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Xeon Gold 6256 and Ryzen 9 5950X. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.
| Instruction set extensions | Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512 | MMX (+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSE4A, AES, AVX, AVX2, FMA3, SHA |
| AES-NI | + | + |
| AVX | - | + |
| Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST) | + | no data |
| Speed Shift | + | no data |
| Turbo Boost Technology | 2.0 | no data |
| Hyper-Threading Technology | + | no data |
| TSX | + | - |
| Turbo Boost Max 3.0 | - | no data |
| Precision Boost 2 | no data | + |
| Deep Learning Boost | + | - |
Security technologies
Xeon Gold 6256 and Ryzen 9 5950X technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.
| TXT | + | no data |
| EDB | + | no data |
Virtualization technologies
Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Xeon Gold 6256 and Ryzen 9 5950X are enumerated here.
| AMD-V | - | + |
| VT-d | + | no data |
| VT-x | + | no data |
| EPT | + | no data |
Memory specs
Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Xeon Gold 6256 and Ryzen 9 5950X. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.
| Supported memory types | DDR4-2933 | DDR4 |
| Maximum memory size | 1 TB | 128 GB |
| Max memory channels | 6 | 2 |
| Maximum memory bandwidth | no data | 51.196 GB/s |
| ECC memory support | + | - |
Peripherals
Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Xeon Gold 6256 and Ryzen 9 5950X.
| PCIe version | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| PCI Express lanes | 48 | no data |
Synthetic benchmark performance
Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.
Combined synthetic benchmark score
This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.
Passmark
Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 29.44 | 28.70 |
| Recency | 1 January 2020 | 5 November 2020 |
| Physical cores | 12 | 16 |
| Threads | 24 | 32 |
| Chip lithography | 14 nm | 7 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 205 Watt | 105 Watt |
Xeon Gold 6256 has a 2.6% higher aggregate performance score.
Ryzen 9 5950X, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 10 months, 33.3% more physical cores and 33.3% more threads, a 100% more advanced lithography process, and 95.2% lower power consumption.
Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between Xeon Gold 6256 and Ryzen 9 5950X.
Be aware that Xeon Gold 6256 is a server/workstation processor while Ryzen 9 5950X is a desktop one.
Should you still have questions on choice between Xeon Gold 6256 and Ryzen 9 5950X, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
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