AMD EPYC 4585PX vs Intel Xeon 658X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results paint a clear picture of workload distribution. Across the seventeen recorded tests, the Intel Xeon 658X wins fourteen, while the AMD EPYC 4585PX takes three. The Intel part wins every Cinebench test, but the margins are remarkably consistent: a 3.3% advantage in every single one, from Cinebench R15 single-core (888 vs 860) to R23 multi-core (62466 vs 60451). That uniformity suggests the Intel chip's advantage there is structural, not workload-specific.

The PassMark suite tells a more varied story. The Intel Xeon 658X dominates in floating-point math, scoring 210480 against the EPYC's 153219, a 37.4% gap that stands as the largest single delta in the comparison. Data compression also goes decisively to Intel, 1062062 vs 884774, a 20% lead. Extended instructions follow at 21.8% (84626 vs 69457), and prime number finding at 18.6% (649 vs 547).

The AMD EPYC 4585PX wins its three tests by narrower or broader margins depending on the metric. Its biggest win is in PassMark single-thread, where it scores 4538 against Intel's 3728, a 17.8% advantage. It also takes PassMark physics, 6612 vs 6470, a modest 2.1% edge. Those two wins matter because they hint at raw single-core capability that the Cinebench numbers obscure, since Intel leads those by only 3.3%.

Other Intel wins are more moderate. Integer math goes 263995 vs 248563, a 6.2% lead. Multithread lands at 73490 vs 68908, a 6.6% edge. Random string sorting favors Intel by 8.2% (103028 vs 95210), and data encryption by 10.9% (52357 vs 47224). The overall average benchmark score reflects the spread: Intel posts 116060, AMD 99324, a gap of roughly 17% in the aggregate.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon 658X uses Granite Rapids architecture, built on a 5 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It packs 24 cores and 48 threads. The AMD EPYC 4585PX uses Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Grado, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with 16 cores and 32 threads.

Cache layouts diverge sharply. Intel allocates 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 144 MB L3. AMD counters with 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 128 MB L3. The Intel die is described as 2x 598 mm², while AMD's is 2x 70.6 mm², an enormous physical difference. AMD lists 16,630 million transistors; Intel does not report a transistor count.

Memory support also separates the pair. Both use DDR5 and support ECC, but Intel runs an eight-channel memory bus with 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while AMD runs a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s. PCIe lanes differ too: Intel offers Gen 5 with 128 lanes (CPU only), AMD offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only). Intel has no integrated graphics; AMD includes Radeon Graphics.

Clock behavior is notable. AMD lists a 4.30 GHz base clock and 5.70 GHz boost, while Intel lists 3.00 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost. AMD's higher clocks help explain its single-thread PassMark win. Thermal design power runs 250 W for Intel and 170 W for AMD. Sockets differ completely: Intel uses Socket 4710, AMD uses Socket AM5. The Intel multiplier is unlocked; AMD's is not.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 658X is the clear choice for compute-heavy, parallel workloads. Its 37.4% lead in floating-point math suggests strong performance in scientific simulation, rendering, and any task that pounds the FPUs. The 20% advantage in data compression and 21.8% in extended instructions point to encryption, compression, and specialized instruction workloads. The 18.6% lead in prime number finding reinforces the pattern of mathematical throughput. All six Cinebench tests go Intel's way, so content creation and 3D rendering software that relies on Cinebench-style rendering loops will prefer the Intel part.

The AMD EPYC 4585PX wins single-thread performance by a wide margin. Its 17.8% PassMark single-thread lead means lightly threaded applications, legacy software, and interactive workloads may feel snappier on the AMD chip. The physics test win, while small at 2.1%, suggests some gaming or simulation physics engines favor AMD's architecture. The lower 170 W TDP also implies easier cooling requirements in dense server chassis.

But the overall benchmark average favors Intel by 16.9% (116060 vs 99324), and Intel's wins in the PassMark multithread test (6.6%) and integer math (6.2%) show that even in general-purpose throughput, Intel holds the edge. The database places both processors at the 97th percentile among all CPUs, so both are top-tier parts, but they target different corners of that tier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread score?

A: The AMD EPYC 4585PX scores 4538 in PassMark single-thread, compared to the Intel Xeon 658X's 3728, a 17.8% advantage. The Intel part leads Cinebench R23 single-core by 3.3%, 8818 vs 8534, so the winner depends on the benchmark.

Q: How large is Intel's lead in multi-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 62466 vs AMD's 60451, a 3.3% edge. The PassMark multithread test shows a 6.6% Intel lead, 73490 vs 68908. The Intel part has 24 cores and 48 threads, versus 16 cores and 32 threads for AMD.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark floating-point math, where Intel scores 210480 against AMD's 153219, a 37.4% advantage. The next largest is extended instructions at 21.8% (84626 vs 69457).

Q: Does the AMD processor have any integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the AMD EPYC 4585PX includes Radeon Graphics. The Intel Xeon 658X lists integrated graphics as N/A.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: Intel supports eight-channel memory with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth. AMD supports dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s. Both support DDR5 and ECC.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Xeon 658X offers Gen 5 with 128 lanes (CPU only). The AMD EPYC 4585PX offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only).

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Xeon 658X | AMD EPYC 4585PX |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Cores | 24 | 16 |

| Threads | 48 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 5.70 GHz |

| TDP | 250 W | 170 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 4710 | AMD Socket AM5 |

| Architecture | Granite Rapids | Zen 5 |

| Codename | Granite Rapids | Grado |

| Generation | Xeon 600 (Granite Rapids-WS) | EPYC (Zen 5 (Grado)) |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not reported | 16,630 million |

| Die Size | 2x 598 mm² | 2x 70.6 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 112 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 144 MB (shared) | 128 MB |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 409.6 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 128 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | N/A | Radeon Graphics |

| Launch MSRP | $1699 | $699 |

| Unlocked Multiplier | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SA2D2 | 100-000001561 |

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward split. The Intel Xeon 658X is the stronger all-around processor for threaded and mathematical workloads. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, holds a 37.4% lead in floating-point math, a 20% lead in data compression, and a 21.8% lead in extended instructions. Its 24 cores, 48 threads, 144 MB L3, and eight-channel memory with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth make it the pick for database servers, render farms, and compute nodes that can use every thread and every byte of memory bandwidth.

The AMD EPYC 4585PX wins the single-thread crown by 17.8% and the physics test by 2.1%. Its 5.70 GHz boost clock and 4.30 GHz base clock are the highest in this comparison. For workloads that care about per-core speed, low thread counts, or the lower 170 W TDP, the AMD part is the better fit. Its Radeon Graphics and AM5 socket also make it a different kind of server processor, one aimed at compact or lower-power deployments.

The average benchmark score favors Intel by roughly 17%, and the percentile ranking ties both at 97. The Intel Xeon 658X is the throughput king. The AMD EPYC 4585PX is the single-thread specialist. Choose based on whether the workload scales across cores or demands maximum per-core response.