Intel Xeon 6740P vs Intel Xeon 678X Comparison

The Intel Xeon 678X and Intel Xeon 6740P are both 48-core Granite Rapids server processors on the Intel Socket 4710 platform, yet benchmark results show they are distinctly different performers. The Xeon 678X is the clear overall winner in the aggregate data, taking 14 of the 16 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Xeon 6740P manages to secure only two wins. The average benchmark score for the Xeon 678X is 193,477, placing it in the 99th percentile of all CPUs, whereas the Xeon 6740P averages 176,227 and sits in the 98th percentile. This places the Xeon 678X roughly 9.8% ahead of the Xeon 6740P on average, a gap that is consistent across most workload categories but with notable exceptions in specific test types.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the Intel Xeon 678X comes in single-threaded performance. In the PassMark single-thread test, the Xeon 678X scores 3,758 against the Xeon 6740P’s 2,975, a 26.3% advantage. This is the largest delta between the two processors in any benchmark, and it is echoed in the Cinebench single-core tests where the Xeon 678X leads by 11.9% in both R15 (1,192 vs 1,065) and R20 (4,967 vs 4,438). The frequency difference is the likely driver, with the Xeon 678X boosting to 4.90 GHz compared to 3.80 GHz on the Xeon 6740P.

Multi-threaded rendering also favors the Xeon 678X strongly. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon 678X scores 83,775 versus 74,851 for the Xeon 6740P, an 11.9% margin. The same 11.9% delta appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core (8,444 vs 7,544) and R20 multi-core (35,185 vs 31,437). The PassMark multi-thread test shows a similar pattern, with the Xeon 678X at 98,559 and the Xeon 6740P at 88,061, again an 11.9% difference. These consistent margins suggest a uniform clock-speed advantage rather than a scaling advantage from additional cores, since both chips have identical 48-core/96-thread configurations.

In math-intensive workloads, the Xeon 678X extends its lead further. The PassMark floating-point math test shows a 22.3% advantage (362,070 vs 296,102), and the find-prime-numbers test shows a 22.9% edge (1,010 vs 822). Extended instruction sets also favor the Xeon 678X by 20.9% (141,431 vs 116,992). These larger deltas compared to the rendering tests indicate that the Xeon 678X benefits from more than just raw frequency in certain computational patterns, possibly from architectural refinements in the Granite Rapids-WS variant.

Data compression and encryption show smaller but still positive margins for the Xeon 678X. The PassMark data compression test has the Xeon 678X at 1,690,896 versus 1,537,129, a 10% lead. Data encryption is closer, with 83,598 against 82,028, just a 1.9% difference. Integer math also falls in the Xeon 678X’s favor, at 405,075 versus 388,500, a 4.3% margin.

The Intel Xeon 6740P wins two benchmarks, both of which highlight areas where the Xeon 678X is unexpectedly weaker. The PassMark physics test is the largest single reversal, with the Xeon 6740P scoring 9,705 against 7,809 for the Xeon 678X, a 19.5% advantage for the former. Random string sorting also goes to the Xeon 6740P, at 175,015 versus 164,102, a 6.2% margin. These results are outliers relative to the overall trend, suggesting that the Xeon 6740P has optimizations in memory-access patterns or caching that benefit these specific workloads.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Xeon 678X is substantially ahead, winning the PassMark single-thread test by 26.3% (3,758 vs 2,975) and the Cinebench R20 single-core test by 11.9% (4,967 vs 4,438).

Q: Are the two processors equal in core count and thread count?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon 678X and Intel Xeon 6740P have exactly 48 cores and 96 threads, with the same 2 MB L2 cache per core and 112 KB L1 cache per core.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in the PassMark single-thread test, where the Intel Xeon 678X leads by 26.3%. The largest win for the Intel Xeon 6740P is in the PassMark physics test, where it leads by 19.5%.

Q: How does the L3 cache differ between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon 6740P has a larger shared L3 cache of 288 MB, while the Intel Xeon 678X has 192 MB of shared L3. Despite having less cache, the Xeon 678X wins the majority of benchmarks.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon 678X boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the Intel Xeon 6740P boosts to 3.80 GHz. The base clocks are 2.40 GHz and 2.10 GHz, respectively.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory and PCIe configurations?

A: Both support DDR5 memory with an eight-channel bus and 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, and both support ECC. However, the Intel Xeon 678X provides 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while the Intel Xeon 6740P provides 88 PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 678X is the choice for workloads that demand maximum single-thread responsiveness and high-frequency multi-threaded throughput. Its 26.3% lead in single-thread performance makes it suitable for database transaction processing or latency-sensitive applications where per-core speed matters. The 11.9% advantage across all Cinebench multi-core tests positions it well for 3D rendering, video encoding, and other heavily threaded creative workloads. The large margins in floating-point math (22.3%) and extended instructions (20.9%) make it the stronger option for scientific computing, financial modeling, and AI inference tasks that rely on vectorized operations. For data compression, the 10% edge suggests it handles storage and archival workloads with better efficiency.

The Intel Xeon 6740P wins in two specific areas that should not be overlooked. Its 19.5% advantage in the PassMark physics test indicates superior performance in physics simulation and collision detection, which may be relevant for engineering simulation or certain game-server workloads. The 6.2% lead in random string sorting suggests better performance in text processing, log analysis, or database indexing operations that involve frequent sorting of non-sequential data. The larger 288 MB L3 cache on the Xeon 6740P likely contributes to these wins, as the additional shared cache can reduce memory latency for data sets that fit within the larger pool.

For general-purpose server consolidation, the Xeon 678X wins 14 of 16 benchmarks and has a higher average score (193,477 vs 176,227). The Xeon 6740P, however, draws closer in integer math (4.3% behind) and data encryption (1.9% behind), making it competitive for general integer-heavy enterprise workloads. Its lower TDP of 270 watts versus 300 watts also gives it a thermal advantage in dense server environments, though the Xeon 678X compensates with higher performance per clock in most tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors share the same core count (48), thread count (96), process node (5 nm), foundry (Intel), die size (2x 598 mm²), memory type (DDR5), memory bus (eight-channel), memory bandwidth (409.6 GB/s), ECC support, socket (Intel Socket 4710), market segment (Server/Workstation), and production status (Active). The key differences are in clock speeds, cache, PCIe lanes, TDP, and feature set.

The Intel Xeon 678X has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, compared to 2.10 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost on the Xeon 6740P. The Xeon 678X has 192 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Xeon 6740P has 288 MB. PCIe lane counts differ significantly: the Xeon 678X provides 128 Gen 5 lanes, while the Xeon 6740P provides 88 Gen 5 lanes. The TDP is 300 watts for the Xeon 678X and 270 watts for the Xeon 6740P. The Xeon 678X has an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon 6740P is locked. The launch MSRP for the Xeon 678X is $3749, and for the Xeon 6740P it is $4650.

The release dates also differ, with the Xeon 6740P launching earlier on 2025-02-23 and the Xeon 678X following on 2026-02-01. Part numbers are SA2CX for the Xeon 678X and SRV5R for the Xeon 6740P.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the Granite Rapids architecture, but they belong to different sub-families within the Xeon 600 series. The Intel Xeon 678X is part of the Xeon 600 (Granite Rapids-WS) generation, while the Intel Xeon 6740P is part of the Xeon 6 (Granite Rapids-SP) generation. The “-WS” designation on the Xeon 678X suggests a workstation-optimized variant, while the “-SP” on the Xeon 6740P indicates a standard server platform part.

The core architecture is identical at the microarchitectural level, with both using the same Granite Rapids cores on the same 5 nm Intel process with the same dual-die design (2x 598 mm²). The L1 and L2 cache configurations are identical: 112 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core. The difference in L3 cache (192 MB on Xeon 678X vs 288 MB on Xeon 6740P) indicates the Xeon 6740P has a larger aggregated last-level cache across its two dies, which helps explain its wins in cache-sensitive workloads like physics simulation and random string sorting.

The PCIe lane count difference (128 vs 88) reflects a difference in I/O capability, with the Xeon 678X offering significantly more expansion headroom for accelerators, storage controllers, and high-speed networking. The unlocked multiplier on the Xeon 678X provides overclocking flexibility that the Xeon 6740P lacks, a feature that is unusual for server processors and suggests a workstation-oriented positioning for the Xeon 678X.

The higher boost clock (4.90 GHz) on the Xeon 678X, combined with the same core count, gives it a clear frequency advantage in single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. The Xeon 6740P compensates with a larger L3 cache and lower TDP, but the benchmark data shows that the Xeon 678X’s clock advantage dominates in most scenarios. The nearest rival data further contextualizes the Xeon 678X: it sits within 0.4% of the AMD EPYC 9335 and 0.7% below the Intel Xeon 6741P, while leading the Intel Xeon 6740E by 3.1% and the AMD EPYC 8534P by 4.5%. The Xeon 6740P, by contrast, trails the AMD EPYC 7763 by 2.1% and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX by 3.5%, while leading the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX by 2.6% and the AMD EPYC 7C13 by 5%.