Xeon Gold 6256 vs Platinum 8260

Aggregate performance score

Xeon Platinum 8260
2019
24 cores / 48 threads, 165 Watt
19.75
Xeon Gold 6256
2020
12 cores / 24 threads, 205 Watt
30.43
+54.1%

Xeon Gold 6256 outperforms Xeon Platinum 8260 by an impressive 54% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Xeon Platinum 8260 and Xeon Gold 6256 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking301145
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation6.20no data
Market segmentServerServer
SeriesIntel Xeon Platinumno data
Power efficiency10.9613.59
Architecture codenameCascade Lake-SP (2018−2019)no data
Release date2 April 2019 (5 years ago)1 January 2020 (4 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$4,702no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Xeon Platinum 8260 and Xeon Gold 6256 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 cores24 (Tetracosa-Core)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads4824
Base clock speed2.4 GHz3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed3.9 GHz4.5 GHz
Multiplier24no data
L1 cache1.5 MBno data
L2 cache24 MBno data
L3 cache35.75 MB (shared)33 MB
Chip lithography14 nm14 nm
Maximum core temperature90 °C64 °C
Number of transistors8,000 millionno data
64 bit support+-
Windows 11 compatibility++

Compatibility

Information on Xeon Platinum 8260 and Xeon Gold 6256 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 configuration8 (Multiprocessor)no data
SocketFCLGA3647FCLGA3647
Power consumption (TDP)165 Watt205 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Xeon Platinum 8260 and Xeon Gold 6256. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
AES-NI++
AVX+-
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shift++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX++
Turbo Boost Max 3.0--
Deep Learning Boost++

Security technologies

Xeon Platinum 8260 and Xeon Gold 6256 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Xeon Platinum 8260 and Xeon Gold 6256 are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Xeon Platinum 8260 and Xeon Gold 6256. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4-2933DDR4-2933
Maximum memory size1 TB1 TB
Max memory channels66
Maximum memory bandwidth140.8 GB/sno data
ECC memory support++

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardN/Ano data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Xeon Platinum 8260 and Xeon Gold 6256.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes4848

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.

Xeon Platinum 8260 19.75
Xeon Gold 6256 30.43
+54.1%

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.

Xeon Platinum 8260 30347
Xeon Gold 6256 46767
+54.1%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 19.75 30.43
Recency 2 April 2019 1 January 2020
Physical cores 24 12
Threads 48 24
Power consumption (TDP) 165 Watt 205 Watt

Xeon Platinum 8260 has 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads, and 24.2% lower power consumption.

Xeon Gold 6256, on the other hand, has a 54.1% higher aggregate performance score, and an age advantage of 8 months.

The Xeon Gold 6256 is our recommended choice as it beats the Xeon Platinum 8260 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Xeon Platinum 8260 and Xeon Gold 6256, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Xeon Platinum 8260
Xeon Platinum 8260
Intel Xeon Gold 6256
Xeon Gold 6256

Similar processor comparisons

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


2.9 14 votes

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Xeon Platinum 8260 or Xeon Gold 6256, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.