Intel Xeon 6731P vs Intel Xeon w5-3535X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a fascinating split between these two Intel Xeon processors. The Intel Xeon 6731P wins 8 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Xeon w5-3535X takes 9. However, the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

In the Cinebench suite, the w5-3535X demonstrates a consistent edge across all six tests. The multicore results show the w5-3535X scoring 4634 in Cinebench R15, 19309 in R20, and 45974 in R23, compared to the 6731P's 4522, 18845, and 44871 respectively. Every one of these Cinebench comparisons shows the w5-3535X ahead by 2.4%. The single-core variants follow the same pattern, with the w5-3535X posting 654 in R15, 2725 in R20, and 6490 in R23, versus the 6731P's 638, 2660, and 6334. The consistency of this 2.4% delta across all six Cinebench tests indicates a fundamental clock-speed advantage rather than workload-specific behavior.

The Passmark results flip the narrative dramatically. The 6731P dominates in data compression with a score of 799474 against 731388, a 9.3% advantage. Data encryption shows the 6731P at 40087 versus 36784, a 9% edge. Extended instructions favor the 6731P by 9.1% (65656 versus 60183). The most striking discrepancy appears in the find prime numbers test, where the 6731P scores 541 against the w5-3535X's 269, a staggering 101.1% advantage. Physics testing shows a similarly lopsided result: 7105 versus 3547, a 100.3% margin. Floating-point math favors the 6731P by 7.8% (157330 versus 145924), and integer math by 6.8% (198761 versus 186158). Random string sorting completes the 6731P's Passmark dominance with an 19.6% edge (88019 versus 73618).

The Passmark multithread test bucks this trend, with the w5-3535X scoring 54088 versus 52790, another 2.4% win. The single-thread Passmark results show the w5-3535X at 3602 versus 2107, a massive 41.5% advantage. This single-thread gap is the largest margin in either direction across the entire benchmark suite, and it highlights how differently these processors are tuned.

What does this data imply? The 6731P appears to excel in workloads that leverage massive parallel throughput and specialized instruction execution, particularly prime number calculations and physics simulations. The w5-3535X, despite having fewer cores, maintains superiority in conventional rendering benchmarks and single-threaded tasks. The consistent 2.4% Cinebench delta suggests a clock-speed-driven advantage, while the 6731P's Passmark wins in compute-heavy workloads point to architectural efficiency gains from its newer design.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divergence between these two processors is substantial. The Intel Xeon 6731P uses the Granite Rapids architecture, built on a 5 nm process node, while the Intel Xeon w5-3535X relies on the older Sapphire Rapids design on a 10 nm node. This process difference likely explains much of the 6731P's efficiency in compute-heavy Passmark tests.

Core counts differ significantly. The 6731P packs 32 cores and 64 threads, while the w5-3535X offers 20 cores and 40 threads. Despite this 60% core advantage for the 6731P, the w5-3535X still wins most Cinebench tests, which speaks to the power of its higher clocks. The w5-3535X runs at a 2.90 GHz base clock and 4.80 GHz boost, versus the 6731P's 2.50 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost.

Cache hierarchies tell a complex story. The 6731P provides 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 144 MB of shared L3 cache. The w5-3535X offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and just 52.5 MB of L3. The 6731P's 144 MB L3 is nearly three times the w5-3535X's 52.5 MB, which likely contributes to its dominance in data-intensive Passmark workloads like random string sorting and data compression.

Memory bandwidth also favors the 6731P. Both processors support DDR5 with eight-channel memory buses, but the 6731P achieves 409.6 GB/s versus the w5-3535X's 307.2 GB/s. This 33% bandwidth advantage helps explain the 6731P's superior encryption and compression scores.

The physical designs differ as well. The 6731P uses Intel Socket 4710 with a die size of 598 mm², while the w5-3535X uses Intel Socket 4677 with a 4x 477 mm² die configuration. The 6731P offers 136 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, compared to 112 lanes on the w5-3535X. Thermal design power favors the 6731P at 245 watts versus 300 watts for the w5-3535X, despite the former having 12 more cores.

The w5-3535X has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the 6731P does not. This is a notable feature difference for workstation users who want to push clocks beyond stock settings. The release dates place the 6731P as the newer part, arriving on 2025-02-23, while the w5-3535X launched on 2024-08-23.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Xeon w5-3535X wins every single-threaded benchmark in the comparison. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 654 versus 638, and the Passmark single-thread test shows 3602 versus 2107, a 41.5% advantage.

Q: Why does the 6731P win the find prime numbers test by so much?

A: The 6731P scores 541 versus 269 for the w5-3535X, a 101.1% margin. The prime number test likely benefits from the 6731P's 32 cores, 144 MB L3 cache, and higher memory bandwidth of 409.6 GB/s, all of which support parallel computation.

Q: Do the Cinebench results align with the Passmark results?

A: No, they diverge significantly. The w5-3535X wins all six Cinebench tests by 2.4%, but the 6731P wins 8 of 11 Passmark tests, often by large margins. The Passmark suite appears to favor the 6731P's architectural strengths, while Cinebench favors the w5-3535X's higher clock speeds.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The 6731P has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the w5-3535X has 20 cores and 40 threads. The 6731P also provides more L3 cache at 144 MB versus 52.5 MB.

Q: Which processor has higher power consumption?

A: The w5-3535X has a TDP of 300 watts, higher than the 6731P's 245 watts, despite having fewer cores. This suggests the w5-3535X's higher clock speeds come at a power cost.

Q: Is the w5-3535X overclockable?

A: Yes, the w5-3535X has an unlocked multiplier. The 6731P does not offer this feature.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. Core and thread counts lead the list: the 6731P offers 32 cores and 64 threads, the w5-3535X provides 20 cores and 40 threads. Clock speeds favor the w5-3535X with a 2.90 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost, compared to the 6731P's 2.50 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost.

The process nodes separate the generations: 5 nm for the 6731P's Granite Rapids architecture, 10 nm for the w5-3535X's Sapphire Rapids design. L1 cache per core favors the 6731P at 112 KB versus 80 KB, while L2 cache is identical at 2 MB per core. L3 cache heavily favors the 6731P at 144 MB shared, versus 52.5 MB for the w5-3535X.

Memory bandwidth gives the 6731P a clear edge at 409.6 GB/s versus 307.2 GB/s, though both use DDR5 with eight-channel buses. PCIe lanes differ as well: 136 Gen 5 lanes for the 6731P, 112 Gen 5 lanes for the w5-3535X. Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 4710 for the 6731P, Intel Socket 4677 for the w5-3535X.

Power and physical characteristics also differ. The 6731P has a 245 watt TDP and a 598 mm² die, while the w5-3535X has a 300 watt TDP and a 4x 477 mm² die configuration. The w5-3535X features an unlocked multiplier, which the 6731P lacks. Release dates place the 6731P about six months newer. The launch MSRP for the 6731P is $2700, and for the w5-3535X it is $1689.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints two distinct pictures depending on workload type. For users running Cinebench-style rendering tasks or applications that depend on high clock speeds, the Intel Xeon w5-3535X is the clear choice. Its 2.4% edge across all Cinebench tests, combined with the massive 41.5% single-thread Passmark advantage, makes it the superior option for frequency-sensitive applications.

However, the 6731P demonstrates overwhelming superiority in specific compute patterns. The 101.1% lead in prime number finding and 100.3% lead in physics testing indicate workloads that scale with core count and cache capacity will see transformative gains. The 6731P's 9.3% data compression edge, 9% encryption advantage, and 19.6% random string sorting lead suggest data-centric workloads strongly favor the newer architecture.

The average benchmark scores in the database place the 6731P at 87756 versus 81115 for the w5-3535X, an 8.2% overall advantage for the 6731P. Both processors sit at the 96th percentile among all CPUs. The 6731P's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6736P at -0.1% delta, the Intel Xeon w7-2575X at -0.5%, the AMD EPYC 7F72 at 3.2%, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 at -3.1%. The w5-3535X's closest competitors are the Intel Core i9-14900KS at 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX at 0%, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 at 0.4%, and the Intel Xeon 638 at 0.5%.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 6731P wins in scenarios that demand massive parallel throughput and extensive cache resources. Data compression workloads favor the 6731P by 9.3%, making it suited for database compression, file archiving, and storage-related tasks. Encryption workloads see a 9% advantage, which matters for security applications, VPN servers, and encrypted storage systems. The 101.1% prime number advantage indicates exceptional performance in mathematical computing, cryptography-related number theory, and scientific simulations. The 100.3% physics lead suggests strength in physics engines, computational fluid dynamics, and similar simulation workloads. Floating-point math runs 7.8% faster, and integer math 6.8% faster, making the 6731P attractive for general scientific computing and data analysis. Random string sorting wins by 19.6%, pointing to strengths in sorting algorithms, text processing, and data transformation pipelines.

The Intel Xeon w5-3535X wins in frequency-sensitive environments. All Cinebench tests show a 2.4% advantage, making it the better choice for 3D rendering, video encoding, and other creative workloads that rely on the Cinebench engine. The 41.5% single-thread Passmark lead is decisive for legacy software, lightly threaded applications, and interactive workloads where per-core performance is paramount. The Passmark multithread test also favors the w5-3535X by 2.4%, suggesting that even some multithreaded workloads respond better to higher clocks than additional cores. For workstation users running CAD, simulation software that scales poorly beyond 20 cores, or development environments with frequent compilation of single translation units, the w5-3535X's clock advantage will deliver tangible benefits.

The overall database averages favor the 6731P at 87756 versus 81115, but the choice ultimately depends on whether the workload pattern matches the 6731P's parallel compute strengths or the w5-3535X's frequency advantages. The 6731P supports more PCIe lanes at 136 versus 112, which benefits multi-GPU configurations and high-density storage arrays. The 6731P also offers 33% more memory bandwidth, which matters for memory-bound workloads. The w5-3535X's unlocked multiplier provides flexibility for users who wish to push clock speeds further, potentially widening its single-thread lead. Both processors share DDR5 support, eight-channel memory buses, and ECC memory capability, so those factors do not differentiate them.