Intel Xeon 6520P vs Intel Xeon 6731P Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Xeon 6520P, which wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons. The most striking disparity appears in the single-threaded PassMark tests, where the 6520P scores 3356 against the 6731P's 2107. That is a 59.3% advantage, the largest delta recorded between these two processors across any benchmark. The Cinebench suite tells a consistent story: across R15, R20, and R23, the 6520P leads by 19.2% in both single-core and multi-core runs. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 6520P posts 53495 while the 6731P manages 44871. The same 19.2% margin appears in R15 multi-core (5392 vs 4522) and R20 multi-core (22467 vs 18845).

The 6520P also wins the PassMark multithread test by a matching 19.2% margin, scoring 62936 against 52790. Data compression favors the 6520P by a smaller but still clear 5.3% (841518 vs 799474). Integer math shows a 7.8% lead for the 6520P (214288 vs 198761), while floating-point math is closer at 3.5% (162862 vs 157330). Random string sorting goes to the 6520P by 8.8% (95736 vs 88019). Data encryption shows a 12.7% gap in favor of the 6520P (45188 vs 40087), and physics simulation is nearly tied, with the 6520P ahead by just 1.5% (7209 vs 7105).

The Intel Xeon 6731P claims only two wins, and both are narrow. Extended instructions favor the 6731P by 1.7% (65656 vs 64557), and finding prime numbers goes to the 6731P by 2.8% (541 vs 526). These are the only benchmarks where the higher core count of the 6731P translates into a measurable advantage, and even there the margin is modest. Overall, the average benchmark score for the 6520P is 93786, while the 6731P averages 87756. That difference of roughly 6.9% aligns with the pattern seen across most individual tests.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 6520P dominates in general-purpose compute workloads. Its Cinebench sweep, covering single-core and multi-core across three versions, indicates strong performance in both lightly threaded and fully threaded rendering tasks. The 19.2% lead in all six Cinebench tests suggests that per-core efficiency is substantially higher on the 6520P, and that advantage carries into the PassMark multithread test as well. For workloads that depend on integer arithmetic, data compression, encryption, or random string sorting, the 6520P is the clear choice based on the recorded scores. Its 12.7% encryption lead and 7.8% integer math lead make it suitable for database operations, compression pipelines, and cryptographic processing.

The Intel Xeon 6731P wins in two specific niches. Extended instruction workloads, which may include SIMD-heavy or specialized instruction set usage, show a 1.7% edge for the 6731P. Prime number finding, often used as a proxy for certain mathematical or algorithmic workloads, favors the 6731P by 2.8%. These are narrow wins, but they indicate that the 6731P is not without merit in workloads that stress particular instruction paths or algorithmic patterns. For most other tasks, the 6520P's higher clock speeds and better per-core performance dominate.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same underlying Granite Rapids architecture, belong to the Xeon 6 (Granite Rapids-SP) generation, and are built on Intel's 5 nm process with a die size of 598 mm². They use the same Intel Socket 4710, support DDR5 memory with an eight-channel bus, and offer identical memory bandwidth at 409.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory and lack integrated graphics. The L1 cache is 112 KB per core, the L2 cache is 2 MB per core, and the L3 cache is 144 MB shared, identical on both parts.

The core counts differ significantly. The 6520P has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the 6731P has 32 cores and 64 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the 6520P posts higher base and boost clocks: 2.40 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost, compared to 2.50 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost for the 6731P. The clock advantage is smaller than the core disadvantage, yet the 6520P still wins most benchmarks, meaning the per-core performance difference must be substantial. The thermal design power (TDP) also differs: the 6520P is rated at 210 W, while the 6731P is rated at 245 W. The higher TDP of the 6731P reflects the additional cores.

PCIe lane counts differ as well. The 6520P provides Gen 5 with 88 lanes (CPU only), while the 6731P provides Gen 5 with 136 lanes (CPU only). This is a notable difference for systems that require many PCIe devices, such as GPUs, NVMe drives, or networking cards. Both chips were released on the same date, 2025-02-23, and both are listed as Active production status. The launch MSRP for the 6520P is $1295, and for the 6731P it is $2700.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon 6731P has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Xeon 6520P has 24 cores and 48 threads.

Q: Why does the 6520P win most benchmarks despite having fewer cores?

A: The recorded data shows the 6520P has a 59.3% lead in PassMark single-thread tests and a 19.2% lead across all Cinebench tests. The higher per-core performance, driven by its 4.00 GHz boost clock versus 4.10 GHz on the 6731P, more than compensates for the core deficit in these workloads.

Q: In which benchmarks does the 6731P come out ahead?

A: The 6731P wins extended instructions (65656 vs 64557, a 1.7% edge) and prime number finding (541 vs 526, a 2.8% edge). These are the only two tests where it leads.

Q: Do the two processors share the same memory architecture?

A: Yes. Both support DDR5 with an eight-channel memory bus and have the same 409.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. Both also support ECC memory.

Q: How do the PCIe lane counts compare?

A: The 6731P offers more PCIe lanes: Gen 5 with 136 lanes (CPU only), compared to Gen 5 with 88 lanes (CPU only) for the 6520P.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The 6520P is rated at 210 W, while the 6731P is rated at 245 W. The higher TDP of the 6731P aligns with its larger core count.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Xeon 6520P as the stronger processor for the majority of workloads. Its 19.2% lead across all Cinebench versions and the 59.3% single-thread advantage make it the better choice for rendering, general compute, and any application that benefits from high per-core throughput. The 6520P also offers a lower TDP (210 W vs 245 W) and a lower launch MSRP ($1295 vs $2700), making it the more efficient option on both thermal and cost axes, though those factors are noted here strictly as recorded specifications.

The Intel Xeon 6731P justifies consideration in two scenarios. First, if a workload heavily relies on extended instructions or prime number finding, the 6731P's narrow wins (1.7% and 2.8% respectively) may be relevant. Second, if the system needs significantly more PCIe lanes, the 6731P's 136 lanes versus 88 lanes on the 6520P could be the deciding factor. For multi-GPU or high-density NVMe configurations, that extra lane count matters. However, for raw compute performance, the 6520P is the clear winner in the database's recorded results.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Xeon 6520P | Intel Xeon 6731P |

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

| Cores | 24 | 32 |

| Threads | 48 | 64 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 210 W | 245 W |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 88 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 136 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Launch MSRP | $1295 | $2700 |

| Part Number | SRVNQ | SRVNR |

All other recorded specifications are identical: architecture (Granite Rapids), process node (5 nm), foundry (Intel), die size (598 mm²), cache hierarchy (112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, 144 MB shared L3), memory support (DDR5, eight-channel, 409.6 GB/s), ECC support, socket (Intel Socket 4710), release date, and production status.