EPYC 7642 vs Xeon Gold 5520+

CPU

GPU

EPYC 7642

48 Cores96 Thrd225 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2019

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Xeon Gold 5520+

28 Cores56 Thrd205 WWMax: 4 GHz2023

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

EPYC 7642

48 / 96

59,333

0.0%

Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370

Ryzen 9 5900X

Ryzen 9 5950X

Ryzen 9 9850HX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

Xeon Gold 5520+

28 / 56

61,227

+3.2%

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

EPYC 7642

2019

Why buy it

✅+387.6% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 53 MB).
✅60% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 5520+ across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (59,333 vs 61,227).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.4 vs 56.5 PassMark/$ ($4,775 MSRP vs $1,083 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Xeon Gold 5520+ moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.

Xeon Gold 5520+

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $3,692 less on MSRP ($1,083 MSRP vs $4,775 MSRP).
✅Delivers 355.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 56.5 vs 12.4 PassMark/$ ($1,083 MSRP vs $4,775 MSRP).
✅Draws 205W instead of 225W, a 20W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (53 MB vs 256 MB).

EPYC 7642

2019

Xeon Gold 5520+

2023

Why buy it

✅+387.6% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 53 MB).
✅60% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $3,692 less on MSRP ($1,083 MSRP vs $4,775 MSRP).
✅Delivers 355.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 56.5 vs 12.4 PassMark/$ ($1,083 MSRP vs $4,775 MSRP).
✅Draws 205W instead of 225W, a 20W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 5520+ across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (59,333 vs 61,227).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.4 vs 56.5 PassMark/$ ($4,775 MSRP vs $1,083 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Xeon Gold 5520+ moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (53 MB vs 256 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 5520+ better than EPYC 7642?

Yes. Xeon Gold 5520+ is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 11.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 3.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon Gold 5520+ is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 11.8% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 5520+ is the better fit. You are getting 3.2% better PassMark, backed by 28 cores and 56 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon Gold 5520+ is the smarter buy today. Xeon Gold 5520+ is $3,692 cheaper on MSRP at $1,083 MSRP versus $4,775 MSRP, and it gives you a 11.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 355.0% better value on MSRP (56.5 vs 12.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon Gold 5520+ is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2019), a healthier platform with LGA4677 and DDR5 instead of TR4, more multi-core headroom with 28 cores / 56 threads instead of 48/96, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

EPYC 7642 Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 5520+ Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7642	Xeon Gold 5520+
1080p
low	192 FPS	185 FPS
medium	172 FPS	162 FPS
high	138 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	110 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	157 FPS	153 FPS
medium	132 FPS	129 FPS
high	101 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	72 FPS	70 FPS
medium	65 FPS	62 FPS
high	50 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	40 FPS	39 FPS

Open EPYC 7642 Open Xeon Gold 5520+

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7642	Xeon Gold 5520+
1080p
low	427 FPS	266 FPS
medium	381 FPS	238 FPS
high	312 FPS	197 FPS
ultra	249 FPS	164 FPS
1440p
low	351 FPS	227 FPS
medium	321 FPS	205 FPS
high	271 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	210 FPS	140 FPS
4K
low	216 FPS	141 FPS
medium	202 FPS	130 FPS
high	171 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	98 FPS

Open EPYC 7642 Open Xeon Gold 5520+

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7642	Xeon Gold 5520+
1080p
low	629 FPS	875 FPS
medium	536 FPS	792 FPS
high	486 FPS	748 FPS
ultra	415 FPS	658 FPS
1440p
low	524 FPS	749 FPS
medium	446 FPS	674 FPS
high	394 FPS	633 FPS
ultra	338 FPS	564 FPS
4K
low	389 FPS	506 FPS
medium	312 FPS	425 FPS
high	274 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	224 FPS	316 FPS

Open EPYC 7642 Open Xeon Gold 5520+

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7642	Xeon Gold 5520+
1080p
low	907 FPS	933 FPS
medium	829 FPS	842 FPS
high	715 FPS	728 FPS
ultra	619 FPS	632 FPS
1440p
low	713 FPS	767 FPS
medium	624 FPS	674 FPS
high	535 FPS	579 FPS
ultra	455 FPS	498 FPS
4K
low	504 FPS	560 FPS
medium	455 FPS	504 FPS
high	401 FPS	445 FPS
ultra	346 FPS	383 FPS

Open EPYC 7642 Open Xeon Gold 5520+

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7642 and Xeon Gold 5520+

EPYC 7642

The EPYC 7642 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 48 cores and 96 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 225 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 59,333 points. Launch price was $4,775.

Xeon Gold 5520+

The Xeon Gold 5520+ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Emerald Rapids (2023) architecture. It features 28 cores and 56 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 52.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 61,227 points. Launch price was $1,640.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 7642 packs 48 cores / 96 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5520+ offers 28 cores / 56 threads — the EPYC 7642 has 20 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7642 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5520+ — a 16.2% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 5520+ (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The EPYC 7642 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (7 nm, 14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5520+ uses Emerald Rapids (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7642 scores 59,333 against the Xeon Gold 5520+'s 61,227 — a 3.1% lead for the Xeon Gold 5520+. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 7642 vs 52.5 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 5520+.

Feature	EPYC 7642	Xeon Gold 5520+
Cores / Threads	48 / 96+71%	28 / 56
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	4 GHz+18%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz+9%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)+388%	52.5 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	2 MB (per core)+300%
Process	7 nm, 14 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Zen 2 (2017−2020)	Emerald Rapids (2023)
PassMark	59,333	61,227+3%
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,600
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	25,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7642 uses the TR4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 5520+ uses LGA4677 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the EPYC 7642 versus DDR5-4800 on the Xeon Gold 5520+ — the EPYC 7642 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 4096 of RAM. Both feature 8-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7642) vs 80 (Xeon Gold 5520+) — the EPYC 7642 offers 48 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7642) and C741 (Xeon Gold 5520+).

Feature	EPYC 7642	Xeon Gold 5520+
Socket	TR4	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	3200+63900%	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	4096	4096 GB+104857500%
RAM Channels	8	8
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+60%	80

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Gold 5520+ supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Xeon Gold 5520+ targets Enterprise Server. Direct competitor: EPYC 7642 rivals Xeon Platinum 8380; Xeon Gold 5520+ rivals EPYC 9354.

Feature	EPYC 7642	Xeon Gold 5520+
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Enterprise Server

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7642 launched at $4775 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 5520+ debuted at $1083. On MSRP ($4775 vs $1083), the Xeon Gold 5520+ is $3692 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7642 delivers 12.4 pts/$ vs 56.5 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 5520+ — making the Xeon Gold 5520+ the 127.9% better value option.