Intel Xeon 6505P vs Intel Xeon Phi 7290 Comparison
Intel Xeon 6505P
Xeon Phi 7290
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Xeon 6505P vs Intel Xeon Phi 7290
The Intel Xeon 6505P and Intel Xeon Phi 7290 are both server/workstation processors from Intel, yet they represent fundamentally different design philosophies separated by nearly a decade. The data shows the Xeon 6505P, a Granite Rapids part with 12 cores and 24 threads, wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks against the Xeon Phi 7290, a Knights Landing part with 72 cores and 288 threads. The Xeon Phi 7290 takes four wins, primarily in data compression, extended instructions, integer math, and random string sorting. Average benchmark scores are nearly identical: the Xeon 6505P scores 53,701, while the Xeon Phi 7290 scores 53,469, a delta of 0.4%. Both processors sit at the 91st percentile among all CPUs.
The Verdict
The benchmark data paints a clear picture: the Intel Xeon 6505P is the superior choice for the vast majority of workloads. It leads the Xeon Phi 7290 by 115.6% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, and by a similar margin in single-core tests. The Xeon 6505P also wins decisively in encryption (95.6% ahead), floating-point math (96.1% ahead), prime number finding (90.4% ahead), and multithreaded PassMark (115.6% ahead). Its single-thread performance is nothing short of dominant: 557.1% higher than the Xeon Phi 7290 in PassMark single-thread tests.
For general-purpose server workloads, rendering, or any task that benefits from high per-core performance, the Xeon 6505P is the clear winner. The Xeon Phi 7290, however, retains value in specific, highly parallel workloads. It wins data compression by 14.9%, extended instructions by 9.6%, integer math by 5.1%, and random string sorting by 23.6%. These are tasks that scale with raw core count and can leverage its 72 cores and 288 threads. If a workload is built around massive thread-level parallelism and fits the Xeon Phi's architecture, it can still outperform the newer chip in those niches. Otherwise, the Xeon 6505P is the better buy for most users, based strictly on the data.
Where Each One Wins
The Xeon 6505P wins across the board in rendering and general compute. It leads in every Cinebench test—R15, R20, and R23—in both multi-core and single-core variants, with deltas of 115.6% to 115.8%. This indicates its 12 cores with 4.10 GHz boost clock provide far more effective throughput than the Phi's 72 cores at 1.70 GHz. The Xeon 6505P also wins in PassMark physics (32.5% ahead), floating-point math (96.1% ahead), and data encryption (95.6% ahead). For single-threaded tasks, the gap is enormous: 557.1% in PassMark single-thread tests, reflecting the massive clock speed and IPC advantage.
The Xeon Phi 7290 wins in four specific areas, all involving data manipulation or instruction processing. It leads data compression by 14.9%, extended instructions by 9.6%, integer math by 5.1%, and random string sorting by 23.6%. These wins suggest that its 288 threads can be effectively utilized in tasks that are memory-bandwidth-bound or that involve heavy SIMD-style operations, despite its lower clocks. In compression and sorting, the sheer number of threads overcomes the per-core disadvantage. For integer math, the margin is slim at 5.1%, but it is a consistent win.
Architecture Differences
The architectural gap between these two processors is stark. The Xeon 6505P uses the Granite Rapids architecture on a 5 nm process node, while the Xeon Phi 7290 uses the Knights Landing architecture on a 14 nm node. The Xeon 6505P has 12 cores and 24 threads; the Xeon Phi 7290 has 72 cores and 288 threads. The newer chip operates at a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, while the Phi runs at 1.50 GHz base and 1.70 GHz boost. Power consumption reflects this difference: the Xeon 6505P has a 150 W TDP, while the Xeon Phi 7290 draws 245 W.
Cache configurations differ substantially. The Xeon 6505P has 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 48 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon Phi 7290 has only 32 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with no L3 cache listed. Memory support also diverges: the Xeon 6505P uses DDR5 over an eight-channel bus, providing 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Xeon Phi 7290 uses DDR4 with no memory bus or bandwidth figures provided. The Xeon 6505P supports PCIe Gen 5 with 88 lanes (CPU only), while the Phi has no PCIe information listed. Both support ECC memory. The Xeon 6505P has a launch MSRP of $563 and is listed as an active production part, while the Phi's production status and launch MSRP are not specified.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores?
A: The Intel Xeon Phi 7290 has 72 cores and 288 threads, while the Intel Xeon 6505P has 12 cores and 24 threads.
Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?
A: The Intel Xeon 6505P has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Intel Xeon Phi 7290 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 1.70 GHz.
Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?
A: The Intel Xeon 6505P scores 32,687, which is 115.6% higher than the Xeon Phi 7290's score of 15,163.
Q: In which benchmarks does the Xeon Phi 7290 win?
A: The Xeon Phi 7290 wins in PassMark data compression (564,535 vs 480,368), extended instructions (41,517 vs 37,515), integer math (126,922 vs 120,456), and random string sorting (68,593 vs 52,372).
Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?
A: In PassMark single-thread tests, the Intel Xeon 6505P scores 3,187, which is 557.1% higher than the Xeon Phi 7290's score of 485.
Q: What are the memory support differences?
A: The Intel Xeon 6505P supports DDR5 over an eight-channel bus with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Xeon Phi 7290 supports DDR4, with no memory bus or bandwidth data provided.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The most dominant wins for the Intel Xeon 6505P come in single-threaded tests. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 3,187 versus 485 for the Xeon Phi 7290, a delta of 557.1%. This is not a marginal advantage; it is a complete annihilation. The same story holds in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon 6505P scores 464 versus 215, a 115.8% lead. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the scores are 1,937 versus 898, a 115.7% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the scores are 4,614 versus 2,140, a 115.6% lead. These results indicate that for any workload that cannot fully utilize hundreds of threads, the Xeon 6505P is overwhelmingly faster.
Multi-core benchmarks tell a similar story, but with a twist. The Xeon 6505P leads in all Cinebench multi-core tests by 115.6%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 3,294 versus 1,528. In R20 multi-core, it scores 13,728 versus 6,368. In R23 multi-core, it scores 32,687 versus 15,163. The PassMark multithread test also shows a 115.6% lead, with scores of 38,456 versus 17,839. Despite having 6 times the cores, the Xeon Phi 7290 cannot match the Xeon 6505P in these rendering workloads. The Xeon 6505P also wins PassMark physics by 32.5% (2,991 vs 2,257), floating-point math by 96.1% (92,992 vs 47,417), data encryption by 95.6% (24,458 vs 12,505), and prime number finding by 90.4% (217 vs 114).
The Xeon Phi 7290's wins are concentrated in data-heavy tasks. Its largest victory is in random string sorting, where it scores 68,593 versus 52,372, a 23.6% lead. In data compression, it scores 564,535 versus 480,368, a 14.9% lead. In extended instructions, it scores 41,517 versus 37,515, a 9.6% lead. In integer math, it scores 126,922 versus 120,456, a 5.1% lead. These are meaningful wins, but they are narrower than the Xeon 6505P's victories. The overall benchmark count is 13 wins for the Xeon 6505P and 4 for the Xeon Phi 7290, reflecting a clear overall superiority for the newer processor.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The Intel Xeon 6505P has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Xeon Phi 7290 has 72 cores and 288 threads. Clock speeds are dramatically different: the Xeon 6505P runs at 2.20 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost, while the Xeon Phi 7290 runs at 1.50 GHz base and 1.70 GHz boost. TDP is 150 W for the Xeon 6505P and 245 W for the Xeon Phi 7290. The Xeon 6505P uses a 5 nm process node, while the Xeon Phi 7290 uses a 14 nm node. The Xeon Phi 7290 has 8,000 million transistors, a figure not listed for the Xeon 6505P.
Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The Xeon 6505P has 112 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, plus 48 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon Phi 7290 has 32 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with no L3 cache listed. Memory support favors the Xeon 6505P: it uses DDR5 with an eight-channel bus and 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon Phi 7290 uses DDR4 with no memory bus or bandwidth details. The Xeon 6505P supports PCIe Gen 5 with 88 lanes (CPU only), while the Xeon Phi 7290 has no PCIe information. The Xeon 6505P is on Intel Socket 4710, while the Xeon Phi 7290 is on Intel Socket 3647. Both support ECC memory, and neither has integrated graphics. The Xeon 6505P has a launch MSRP of $563; no MSRP is listed for the Xeon Phi 7290. The Xeon 6505P is an active production part, while the Xeon Phi 7290's production status is not specified.