Xeon Gold 6154 vs Xeon Gold 6252

Intel

Xeon Gold 6154

18 Cores36 Thrd200 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2017

Popular choices:

VS
Intel

Xeon Gold 6252

24 Cores48 Thrd150 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2019

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

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.

Xeon Gold 6154

2017

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +5.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 36 MB).
  • 33.3% higher power demand at 200W vs 150W.

Xeon Gold 6252

2019

Why buy it

  • +44.4% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 25 MB).
  • Draws 150W instead of 200W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6154 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (27,148 vs 27,457).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6154 better than Xeon Gold 6252?
Yes. Xeon Gold 6154 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 5.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.1% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Xeon Gold 6154 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 5.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6154 is the better fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 18 cores and 36 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Xeon Gold 6154 still looks like the safer overall buy. Xeon Gold 6154 is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 5.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Xeon Gold 6252 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2017) and 44.4% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 25 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetXeon Gold 6154Xeon Gold 6252
1080p
low181 FPS195 FPS
medium145 FPS158 FPS
high119 FPS128 FPS
ultra92 FPS100 FPS
1440p
low147 FPS157 FPS
medium115 FPS123 FPS
high93 FPS96 FPS
ultra72 FPS76 FPS
4K
low68 FPS72 FPS
medium57 FPS60 FPS
high45 FPS47 FPS
ultra36 FPS38 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetXeon Gold 6154Xeon Gold 6252
1080p
low398 FPS233 FPS
medium345 FPS207 FPS
high290 FPS174 FPS
ultra242 FPS145 FPS
1440p
low345 FPS200 FPS
medium306 FPS180 FPS
high258 FPS153 FPS
ultra214 FPS123 FPS
4K
low223 FPS125 FPS
medium198 FPS114 FPS
high178 FPS104 FPS
ultra146 FPS86 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetXeon Gold 6154Xeon Gold 6252
1080p
low686 FPS679 FPS
medium686 FPS679 FPS
high686 FPS679 FPS
ultra686 FPS657 FPS
1440p
low686 FPS679 FPS
medium624 FPS614 FPS
high594 FPS580 FPS
ultra529 FPS515 FPS
4K
low465 FPS459 FPS
medium363 FPS363 FPS
high325 FPS322 FPS
ultra265 FPS263 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetXeon Gold 6154Xeon Gold 6252
1080p
low686 FPS679 FPS
medium686 FPS679 FPS
high678 FPS679 FPS
ultra590 FPS609 FPS
1440p
low686 FPS679 FPS
medium609 FPS625 FPS
high526 FPS536 FPS
ultra452 FPS458 FPS
4K
low481 FPS514 FPS
medium429 FPS459 FPS
high384 FPS402 FPS
ultra334 FPS348 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Xeon Gold 6154 and Xeon Gold 6252

Intel

Xeon Gold 6154

The Xeon Gold 6154 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 27,457 points. Launch price was $3,543.

Intel

Xeon Gold 6252

The Xeon Gold 6252 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB. L2 cache: 24 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 27,148 points. Launch price was $3,655.

Processing Power

The Xeon Gold 6154 packs 18 cores / 36 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6252 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon Gold 6252 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6154 versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6252 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6154 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6252 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6154 scores 27,457 against the Xeon Gold 6252's 27,148 — a 1.1% lead for the Xeon Gold 6154. L3 cache: 24.75 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 6154 vs 35.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6252.

FeatureXeon Gold 6154Xeon Gold 6252
Cores / Threads
18 / 36
24 / 48+33%
Boost Clock
3.7 GHz
3.7 GHz
Base Clock
3 GHz+43%
2.1 GHz
L3 Cache
24.75 MB (total)
35.75 MB+44%
L2 Cache
1 MB (per core)
24 MB+2300%
Process
14 nm
14 nm
Architecture
Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark
27,457+1%
27,148
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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA3647 socket with PCIe 3.0.

FeatureXeon Gold 6154Xeon Gold 6252
Socket
LGA3647
LGA3647
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0