Intel Xeon 6710E vs Intel Xeon 6730P Comparison

The Intel Xeon 6710E and Intel Xeon 6730P are both active server/workstation processors on Intel Socket 4710, but they are built on fundamentally different architectures that dictate their performance profiles. The 6710E is a Sierra Forest part with 64 efficiency-focused cores, while the 6730P is a Granite Rapids chip with 32 performance-oriented cores and simultaneous multithreading. Benchmark data shows the 6730P wins 13 of 17 head-to-head tests, yet the 6710E claims victory in four specific workloads where its high core count and cache configuration shine. Both processors sit in the 97th percentile of all CPUs, with average benchmark scores of 129930 for the 6710E and 124756 for the 6730P, a difference of 4.1% favoring the former.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Xeon 6710E has 64 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Xeon 6730P has 32 cores and 64 threads. The 6730P achieves its thread count through simultaneous multithreading, whereas the 6710E runs one thread per core.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The 6730P is decisively faster in single-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 8893 versus 7413 for the 6710E, a 16.6% advantage. PassMark single-thread results show an even larger gap: 2995 for the 6730P versus 1910 for the 6710E, a 36.2% lead.

Q: What is the difference in cache configuration?

A: The 6710E has 96 KB of L1 per core, 4 MB of L2 per module, and 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The 6730P has 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a much larger 288 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor offers higher memory bandwidth?

A: The 6730P provides 409.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, compared to 358.4 GB/s for the 6710E. Both support DDR5 memory over an eight-channel bus and have ECC memory support.

Q: In which benchmarks does the 6710E beat the 6730P?

A: The 6710E wins in PassMark data compression (1230786 vs 1138470, +8.1%), data encryption (81850 vs 55964, +46.3%), integer math (302954 vs 290740, +4.2%), and random string sorting (151491 vs 113919, +33%).

Q: What are the release dates for these processors?

A: The Intel Xeon 6710E was released on 2024-06-02, and the Intel Xeon 6730P was released on 2025-02-23. The 6710E has a launch MSRP of $2749, and the 6730P has a launch MSRP of $3726.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 6730P is the clear winner for general-purpose computing, rendering, and physics simulation. Its Cinebench scores across R15, R20, and R23 all show a consistent 16.6% advantage over the 6710E in both multi-core and single-core tests. PassMark multithread results reinforce this, with the 6730P scoring 74113 versus 61775, another 16.6% lead. The 6730P also dominates in floating-point math (226838 vs 219926, +3%) and prime number finding (686 vs 451, +34.3%). Its physics score of 8606 versus 5000 represents a massive 41.9% advantage, making it the obvious choice for simulation and scientific workloads that rely on high per-core performance.

The 6710E carves out a niche in data-centric tasks. Its 46.3% lead in data encryption (81850 vs 55964) is the largest margin of any benchmark between these two chips. This is complemented by wins in data compression (+8.1%), integer math (+4.2%), and random string sorting (+33%). These results suggest the 6710E is better suited for database workloads, compression pipelines, and encryption-heavy services where raw core count and memory hierarchy behavior favor its architecture. The 6710E also holds a 2.5% average benchmark lead over the AMD EPYC 9354 and a 4.6% lead over the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX, while the 6730P trails the EPYC 9354 by 1.6%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct design philosophies within Intel’s Xeon 6 lineup. The 6710E is based on Sierra Forest, a 5 nm architecture from the Sierra Forest-SP generation. It uses a dense core layout with 64 cores and no hyperthreading, prioritizing throughput per socket. The 6730P uses Granite Rapids, also on a 5 nm node, from the Granite Rapids-SP generation. This architecture focuses on high-frequency performance cores with 32 cores and 64 threads via simultaneous multithreading. The die size differs significantly: the 6710E uses a single 578 mm² die, while the 6730P uses two dies totaling 2x 598 mm².

Cache hierarchies reflect these design goals. The 6710E allocates 4 MB of L2 per module and shares 96 MB of L3 across all cores. The 6730P gives each core 2 MB of dedicated L2 and provides 288 MB of shared L3, triple the L3 capacity of the 6710E. This larger L3 cache helps the 6730P excel in workloads with large working sets that benefit from data locality. The 6710E’s higher base clock of 2.40 GHz versus 2.50 GHz for the 6730P is offset by the 6730P’s higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus 3.20 GHz. Both processors have no integrated graphics, support Gen 5 PCIe with 88 lanes (CPU only), and are socketed at Intel Socket 4710.

Specification Differences

The most striking specification difference is core count: the 6710E has 64 cores while the 6730P has 32, yet both present 64 threads. The 6730P counterbalances its lower core count with higher clocks—2.50 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost versus 2.40 GHz and 3.20 GHz for the 6710E. Thermal design power also diverges: the 6730P draws 250 W compared to 205 W for the 6710E. The cache configurations are starkly different, with the 6710E offering 96 KB L1 per core and 4 MB L2 per module, while the 6730P provides 112 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core. L3 cache is 96 MB for the 6710E versus 288 MB for the 6730P. Memory bandwidth favors the 6730P at 409.6 GB/s versus 358.4 GB/s, though both use eight-channel DDR5 with ECC support. The part numbers are SRPG2 for the 6710E and SRV5R for the 6730P. The 6730P launches later, on 2025-02-23, compared to 2024-06-02 for the 6710E. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The 6730P dominates the Cinebench suite with uniform 16.6% margins across every test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 6349 against 5292, and in single-core it posts 896 versus 747. Cinebench R20 shows the same pattern: 26458 vs 22053 multi-core and 3735 vs 3113 single-core. Cinebench R23 multi-core gives the 6730P a 62996 score versus 52508, and single-core yields 8893 versus 7413. These results indicate that despite having half the cores, the 6730P’s architecture delivers higher aggregate throughput and far superior per-thread performance.

PassMark results reveal a more nuanced picture. The 6730P wins extended instructions (96204 vs 59625, +38%), find prime numbers (686 vs 451, +34.3%), floating-point math (226838 vs 219926, +3%), multithread (74113 vs 61775, +16.6%), physics (8606 vs 5000, +41.9%), and single-thread (2995 vs 1910, +36.2%). However, the 6710E takes data compression (1230786 vs 1138470, +8.1%), data encryption (81850 vs 55964, +46.3%), integer math (302954 vs 290740, +4.2%), and random string sorting (151491 vs 113919, +33%). The encryption and sorting wins are particularly notable, with margins exceeding 30%, suggesting the 6710E’s core count provides a decisive edge in memory-latency-sensitive and parallel data-processing tasks. Overall, the 6730P wins 13 benchmarks, while the 6710E wins 4, yet the 6710E still holds a higher average benchmark score of 129930 versus 124756, a 4.1% gap that underscores how workload mix determines the better buy.