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.

Xeon 6737P

2025

Why buy it

✅+5.3% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+28% larger total L3 cache (144 MB vs 113 MB).
✅Costs $7,985 less on MSRP ($4,995 MSRP vs $12,980 MSRP).
✅Delivers 149.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 15.9 vs 6.4 PassMark/$ ($4,995 MSRP vs $12,980 MSRP).
✅Draws 270W instead of 350W, a 80W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (45,000 vs 55,000).

Xeon Max 9480

2023

Why buy it

✅+22.2% higher Geekbench multi-core.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,900 vs 2,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (113 MB vs 144 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.4 vs 15.9 PassMark/$ ($12,980 MSRP vs $4,995 MSRP).
❌29.6% higher power demand at 350W vs 270W.

Xeon 6737P

2025

Xeon Max 9480

2023

Why buy it

✅+5.3% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+28% larger total L3 cache (144 MB vs 113 MB).
✅Costs $7,985 less on MSRP ($4,995 MSRP vs $12,980 MSRP).
✅Delivers 149.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 15.9 vs 6.4 PassMark/$ ($4,995 MSRP vs $12,980 MSRP).
✅Draws 270W instead of 350W, a 80W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+22.2% higher Geekbench multi-core.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (45,000 vs 55,000).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,900 vs 2,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (113 MB vs 144 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.4 vs 15.9 PassMark/$ ($12,980 MSRP vs $4,995 MSRP).
❌29.6% higher power demand at 350W vs 270W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon 6737P better than Xeon Max 9480?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Xeon 6737P is ahead with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Max 9480 pulls ahead with 22.2% better Geekbench multi-core. Xeon 6737P also has the bigger cache pool with 28% larger total L3 cache (144 MB vs 113 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Max 9480 is the better fit. You are getting 22.2% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 56 cores and 112 threads.

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

Xeon 6737P is the smarter buy today. Xeon 6737P is $7,985 cheaper on MSRP at $4,995 MSRP versus $12,980 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon Max 9480 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 22.2% better Geekbench multi-core. It is also 149.6% better value on MSRP (15.9 vs 6.4 PassMark/$), 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 6737P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2023) and 28% larger total L3 cache (144 MB vs 113 MB). 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.

Xeon 6737P Benchmark Check

Xeon Max 9480 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Xeon 6737P	Xeon Max 9480
1080p
low	190 FPS	186 FPS
medium	166 FPS	168 FPS
high	132 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	109 FPS
1440p
low	156 FPS	153 FPS
medium	132 FPS	129 FPS
high	101 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	71 FPS	71 FPS
medium	63 FPS	63 FPS
high	49 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	40 FPS	40 FPS

Open Xeon 6737P Open Xeon Max 9480

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Xeon 6737P	Xeon Max 9480
1080p
low	520 FPS	246 FPS
medium	460 FPS	221 FPS
high	376 FPS	184 FPS
ultra	309 FPS	146 FPS
1440p
low	425 FPS	205 FPS
medium	383 FPS	187 FPS
high	321 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	256 FPS	124 FPS
4K
low	262 FPS	128 FPS
medium	239 FPS	119 FPS
high	212 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	83 FPS

Open Xeon 6737P Open Xeon Max 9480

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Xeon 6737P	Xeon Max 9480
1080p
low	883 FPS	815 FPS
medium	813 FPS	738 FPS
high	768 FPS	704 FPS
ultra	677 FPS	624 FPS
1440p
low	756 FPS	725 FPS
medium	692 FPS	652 FPS
high	650 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	581 FPS	548 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	487 FPS
medium	429 FPS	398 FPS
high	383 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	294 FPS

Open Xeon 6737P Open Xeon Max 9480

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Xeon 6737P	Xeon Max 9480
1080p
low	985 FPS	1066 FPS
medium	886 FPS	953 FPS
high	766 FPS	813 FPS
ultra	665 FPS	670 FPS
1440p
low	806 FPS	885 FPS
medium	701 FPS	761 FPS
high	604 FPS	646 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	532 FPS
4K
low	582 FPS	644 FPS
medium	521 FPS	565 FPS
high	462 FPS	494 FPS
ultra	397 FPS	413 FPS

Open Xeon 6737P Open Xeon Max 9480

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Xeon 6737P and Xeon Max 9480

Xeon 6737P

The Xeon 6737P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 144 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4710. Thermal design power (TDP): 270 Watt. Memory support: DDR5(6400MT/s). Passmark benchmark score: 79,634 points. Launch price was $4,995.

Xeon Max 9480

The Xeon Max 9480 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) architecture. It features 56 cores and 112 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 112.5 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 82,913 points. Launch price was $12,980.

⚡

Processing Power

The Xeon 6737P packs 32 cores / 64 threads, while the Xeon Max 9480 offers 56 cores / 112 threads — the Xeon Max 9480 has 24 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Xeon 6737P versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon Max 9480 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Xeon 6737P (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Xeon 6737P uses the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture (Intel 3 nm), while the Xeon Max 9480 uses Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon 6737P scores 79,634 against the Xeon Max 9480's 82,913 — a 4% lead for the Xeon Max 9480. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,000 vs 1,900, a 5.1% lead for the Xeon 6737P that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 45,000 vs 55,000 (20% advantage for the Xeon Max 9480). L3 cache: 144 MB (total) on the Xeon 6737P vs 112.5 MB on the Xeon Max 9480.

Feature	Xeon 6737P	Xeon Max 9480
Cores / Threads	32 / 64	56 / 112+75%
Boost Clock	4 GHz+14%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+53%	1.9 GHz
L3 Cache	144 MB (total)+28%	112.5 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 3 nm-70%	10 nm
Architecture	Granite Rapids (2024−2025)	Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023)
PassMark	79,634	82,913+4%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,000+5%	1,900
Geekbench 6 Multi	45,000	55,000+22%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Xeon 6737P uses the LGA4710 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Max 9480 uses LGA4677 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-6400 memory speed. Both support up to 4096 GB of RAM. Both feature 8-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 88 (Xeon 6737P) vs 80 (Xeon Max 9480) — the Xeon 6737P offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C741 (Xeon 6737P) and C741 (Xeon Max 9480).

Feature	Xeon 6737P	Xeon Max 9480
Socket	LGA4710	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6400	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	4096 GB	4096 GB
RAM Channels	8	8
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	88+10%	80

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Xeon 6737P targets High Performance Server, Xeon Max 9480 targets HPC Server. Direct competitor: Xeon 6737P rivals EPYC 9005; Xeon Max 9480 rivals EPYC 9684X.

Feature	Xeon 6737P	Xeon Max 9480
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	High Performance Server	HPC Server

💰

Value Analysis

The Xeon 6737P launched at $4995 MSRP, while the Xeon Max 9480 debuted at $12980. On MSRP ($4995 vs $12980), the Xeon 6737P is $7985 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon 6737P delivers 15.9 pts/$ vs 6.4 pts/$ for the Xeon Max 9480 — making the Xeon 6737P the 85.6% better value option.