Intel® Xeon™ Gold 6256

The Intel Xeon Gold 6256 is a server processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, built on the Cascade Lake architecture. It launched in Jan 2020. Clocks run from 3.6 GHz base to 4.5 GHz boost. A 33-MB L3 cache backs the cores (3.8 MB per core). It addresses DDR4 memory up to 1024 GB across 6 channels. The chip drops into the FCLGA3647 socket and exposes PCIe 3.0 (48 lanes). Rated TDP is 205 W. Notable platform capabilities: AVX-512, Extended Page Tables (EPT).

The Intel Xeon Gold 6256 scores 2,558 in single-core performance and 25,334 in multi-core performance (PassMark CPU Mark ratings). From those two ratings Feex computes 8,050 for overall performance, 20,048 for productivity performance, 18,538 for creator performance, 27,551 for engineering performance and 14,008 for gaming performance. Its multi-core throughput works out to 2,111 per core, 1,056 per thread and 124 per watt. Its computed efficiency index is 562. Its performance index is 100, equal to the Intel Core i5-12400. Each bar shows the score as a share of a reference ceiling, which is the larger of the 99th-percentile score across the Feex CPU database and a fixed baseline.

Scores for individual PassMark CPU Mark test categories. Higher is better. These are measured test scores, not computed from the single-core and multi-core ratings.

In the individual workload tests the Intel Xeon Gold 6256 scores 85,650 in integer math, 54,049 in floating-point math, 365,958 in compression, 9,068 in cryptography, 2,083 in physics simulation, 28,960 in vector SIMD, 118 in the prime sieve and 46,738 in sorting. Higher is better. Compared with the Intel Core i5-12400, it is 45% above in integer math, 18% above in floating-point math, 60% above in compression, 21% below in cryptography, 91% above in physics simulation, 87% above in vector SIMD, 76% above in the prime sieve and 106% above in sorting. Each bar shows the score as a share of that workload's reference ceiling, the larger of the 99th-percentile score across CPUs with a recorded value and a fixed baseline.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6256 has 12 physical cores and runs 24 logical threads. It runs 2 threads per core. It runs at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boosts up to 4.50 GHz.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6256 is a server processor, belongs to the Intel Xeon Gold family, uses the Cascade Lake architecture, carries the codename Cascade Lake and is manufactured on a 14 nm process. It launched in Jan 2020.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6256 has 768 KB of L1 cache, 12 MB of L2 cache and 33 MB of L3 cache. That adds up to about 45.8 MB of cache, or 3.81 MB per core. Each core has 1 MB of private L2 cache.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6256 has a 3-level cache hierarchy: L1 at 768 KB, L2 at 12 MB and L3 at 33 MB. L3 is the largest level and makes up about 72% of the cache listed here.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6256 supports DDR4 memory, addresses up to 1,024 GB of memory, uses 6 memory channels, runs memory at up to 2,933 MT/s and delivers up to 140.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It does not support DDR5 and LPDDR memory.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6256 does not include integrated graphics, so a discrete graphics card is required for display output.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6256 uses the FCLGA3647 socket, supports PCI Express 3.0 and provides up to 48 PCIe lanes.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6256 has a rated TDP of 205 W.

Instruction sets, security, virtualization, AI acceleration and OS readiness. Features are listed as supported, explicitly not supported, or not recorded; a feature that is not recorded is not the same as unsupported.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6256 is manufactured by Intel. It launched at a price of $3,900.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6256 is also identified by the model number 6256.

Feex has recorded 59% of the specifications it tracks for the Intel Xeon Gold 6256. Values Feex does not hold are shown as "Not recorded" rather than estimated.

Not recorded: Core Configuration: Performance Cores, Efficiency Cores, Hybrid Architecture, All-Core Boost and Unlocked Multiplier. Architecture & Generation: ISA Family and Market Status. Cache: L4 Cache. Memory Support: ECC Memory. Platform & Compatibility: Package and Package Size. Power & Thermals: Base Power, Maximum Turbo Power, Configurable TDP (Min), Configurable TDP (Max), Max Junction Temperature and Tcase. Physical & Manufacturing: Transistor Count, Die Size, Die Count and Foundry. Naming & Aliases: Normalized Name, SKU, Processor Number and Part Number.

Processors that use the same FCLGA3647 socket as the Intel Xeon Gold 6256 and have the closest multi-core scores in the Feex database include Intel Xeon Gold 6142, Intel Xeon Gold 5218R, Intel Xeon W-3235, Intel Xeon Gold 6143 and Intel Xeon Platinum 8175M.