EPYC 9255 vs Xeon Gold 6548Y+

CPU

GPU

EPYC 9255

24 Cores48 Thrd200 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2024

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Xeon Gold 6548Y+

32 Cores64 Thrd250 WWMax: 4.1 GHz2023

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

EPYC 9255

24 / 48

75,809

+3.3%

Ryzen 7 8840HX

Ryzen 9 7900X3D

Ryzen 9 7945HX3D

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

Xeon Gold 6548Y+

32 / 64

73,387

0.0%

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 9255

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.3% higher average FPS across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,231 less on MSRP ($2,495 MSRP vs $3,726 MSRP).
✅Delivers 54.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 30.4 vs 19.7 PassMark/$ ($2,495 MSRP vs $3,726 MSRP).
✅Draws 200W instead of 250W, a 50W reduction.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Xeon Gold 6548Y+

2023

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9255 across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (73,387 vs 75,809).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.7 vs 30.4 PassMark/$ ($3,726 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
❌25% higher power demand at 250W vs 200W.

EPYC 9255

2024

Xeon Gold 6548Y+

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.3% higher average FPS across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,231 less on MSRP ($2,495 MSRP vs $3,726 MSRP).
✅Delivers 54.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 30.4 vs 19.7 PassMark/$ ($2,495 MSRP vs $3,726 MSRP).
✅Draws 200W instead of 250W, a 50W reduction.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9255 across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (73,387 vs 75,809).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.7 vs 30.4 PassMark/$ ($3,726 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
❌25% higher power demand at 250W vs 200W.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9255 better than Xeon Gold 6548Y+?

Yes. EPYC 9255 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 17.3% average FPS lead across 39 shared CPU game tests in our data, 3.3% 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, EPYC 9255 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 17.3% more average FPS across 39 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 60 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9255 is the better fit. You are getting 3.3% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 113.3% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 60 MB).

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

EPYC 9255 is the smarter buy today. EPYC 9255 is $1,231 cheaper on MSRP at $2,495 MSRP versus $3,726 MSRP, and it gives you a 17.3% average FPS lead across 39 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 54.3% better value on MSRP (30.4 vs 19.7 PassMark/$), 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?

EPYC 9255 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2023), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 128 MB L3 cache instead of 60 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 48 threads instead of 32/64. 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 9255 Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6548Y+ Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9255	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
1080p
low	303 FPS	185 FPS
medium	280 FPS	162 FPS
high	231 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	268 FPS	153 FPS
medium	223 FPS	129 FPS
high	172 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	152 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	186 FPS	70 FPS
medium	154 FPS	62 FPS
high	117 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	39 FPS

Open EPYC 9255 Open Xeon Gold 6548Y+

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9255	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
1080p
low	717 FPS	542 FPS
medium	614 FPS	485 FPS
high	485 FPS	403 FPS
ultra	421 FPS	360 FPS
1440p
low	573 FPS	473 FPS
medium	507 FPS	423 FPS
high	419 FPS	363 FPS
ultra	341 FPS	303 FPS
4K
low	335 FPS	295 FPS
medium	298 FPS	266 FPS
high	270 FPS	245 FPS
ultra	239 FPS	218 FPS

Open EPYC 9255 Open Xeon Gold 6548Y+

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9255	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
1080p
low	850 FPS	892 FPS
medium	691 FPS	807 FPS
high	625 FPS	748 FPS
ultra	530 FPS	659 FPS
1440p
low	677 FPS	764 FPS
medium	548 FPS	687 FPS
high	484 FPS	633 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	564 FPS
4K
low	483 FPS	506 FPS
medium	399 FPS	425 FPS
high	355 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	293 FPS	316 FPS

Open EPYC 9255 Open Xeon Gold 6548Y+

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9255	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
1080p
low	1083 FPS	946 FPS
medium	982 FPS	851 FPS
high	862 FPS	737 FPS
ultra	777 FPS	639 FPS
1440p
low	859 FPS	777 FPS
medium	761 FPS	680 FPS
high	668 FPS	587 FPS
ultra	582 FPS	503 FPS
4K
low	627 FPS	567 FPS
medium	562 FPS	509 FPS
high	500 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	386 FPS

Open EPYC 9255 Open Xeon Gold 6548Y+

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9255 and Xeon Gold 6548Y+

EPYC 9255

The EPYC 9255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3.25 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 75,809 points. Launch price was $2,495.

Xeon Gold 6548Y+

The Xeon Gold 6548Y+ 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 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 60 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 73,387 points. Launch price was $3,726.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 9255 packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the EPYC 9255 versus 4.1 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ — a 15.7% clock advantage for the EPYC 9255 (base: 3.25 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The EPYC 9255 uses the Turin (2024) architecture (4 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ uses Emerald Rapids (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9255 scores 75,809 against the Xeon Gold 6548Y+'s 73,387 — a 3.2% lead for the EPYC 9255. L3 cache: 128 MB (total) on the EPYC 9255 vs 60 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 6548Y+.

Feature	EPYC 9255	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
Cores / Threads	24 / 48	32 / 64+33%
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+17%	4.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.25 GHz+30%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	128 MB (total)+113%	60 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+100%
Process	4 nm-60%	10 nm
Architecture	Turin (2024)	Emerald Rapids (2023)
PassMark	75,809+3%	73,387

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9255 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the EPYC 9255 versus 5200 on the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ — the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ supports 8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9255 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 4096 — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9255) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 6548Y+). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9255) vs 80 (Xeon Gold 6548Y+) — the EPYC 9255 offers 48 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9255) and C741 (Xeon Gold 6548Y+).

Feature	EPYC 9255	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
Socket	SP5	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	4800	5200+8%
Max RAM Capacity	6144+50%	4096
RAM Channels	12+50%	8
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+60%	80

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9255) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6548Y+). Direct competitor: EPYC 9255 rivals Xeon Platinum 8480+; Xeon Gold 6548Y+ rivals EPYC 9454.

Feature	EPYC 9255	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9255 launched at $2495 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ debuted at $3726. On MSRP ($2495 vs $3726), the EPYC 9255 is $1231 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9255 delivers 30.4 pts/$ vs 19.7 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ — making the EPYC 9255 the 42.7% better value option.