CPU Comparison
Intel Xeon 6736P vs Intel Xeon 6748P
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Xeon 6736P is a 36-core, 72-thread server processor based on the Granite Rapids-SP architecture, built on Intel’s 3 process and targeted at dual-socket enterprise, cloud, and AI-adjacent workloads requiring high memory bandwidth and strong per-core performance.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- AMX and DL Boost accelerate matrix operations for inference.
- Best suited for CPU-hosted inference models or pre-/post-processing alongside discrete accelerators.
- Not a replacement for high-end GPUs or specialized AI accelerators for training.
- AMX and DL Boost accelerate CPU‑based AI inference
- Well suited as an AI host node for GPU‑accelerated servers
- Not a replacement for dedicated AI accelerators for training
Content Creation
Gaming
- No integrated graphics; requires discrete GPU.
- Platform optimized for server workloads, not client gaming.
- Latency and driver stack not tuned for gaming.
- Single-thread performance is good, but not competitive with best gaming CPUs.
- Designed for server and HPC workloads, not gaming
- High latency and core‑count‑optimized microarchitecture
- Modern desktop CPUs offer better gaming performance at far lower cost
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- 36 high-efficiency P-cores with 72 threads for dense server workloads.
- 8-channel DDR5-6400 with up to 4 TB per socket and high bandwidth.
- 88 PCIe 5.0 lanes for GPUs, NVMe, and SmartNICs.
- Integrated accelerators (AMX, QAT, DLB, DSA, IAA) for AI, crypto, and data processing.
- Granular SST-PP and SST-BF tuning for per-core clock and TDP optimization.
- Strong security feature set including TDX, SGX, and MK-TME for confidential computing.
Cons
- No integrated graphics; requires discrete GPU for any display output.
- Not optimized for gaming or client workloads.
- Platform is server-only; LGA4710 motherboards are not desktop boards.
- Higher platform cost compared to older Sapphire Rapids systems.
- Core count is modest versus top Granite Rapids-SP SKUs that reach 86+ cores.
Pros
- 48 cores and 96 threads for high multi‑threaded throughput
- 8‑channel DDR5‑6400 with MRDIMM support for bandwidth‑intensive workloads
- Up to 88 PCIe 5.0 lanes and CXL 2.0 for GPUs and accelerators
- Mature RAS and enterprise features from the Xeon Scalable lineage
- Good AI inference performance with AMX and DL Boost
Cons
- 300 W TDP requires robust cooling and increases platform power
- High platform cost (CPU, DDR5, server board) compared to lower‑core‑count options
- No integrated graphics; even basic VGA requires an add‑in card or BMC
- Locked multiplier with no official overclocking support
- Overkill for workloads that cannot saturate 48 cores and 8 memory channels
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Xeon 6736P
- AMD EPYC 9334Rival
Server
- AMD EPYC 8324PRival
Server
- Compare head-to-headIntel Xeon 6706P-BRival
Server
- Compare head-to-headIntel Xeon 6726P-BRival
Server
- Intel Xeon Gold 6530Rival
Server
Lower core count (16) but higher base and turbo clocks for workloads that benefit more from per-core performance than raw core count.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Xeon 6748P
- AMD EPYC 9454Rival
Server
- AMD EPYC 9554Rival
Server
- AMD EPYC 9654Rival
Server
- Compare head-to-headIntel Xeon 6781PRival
Server
- Compare head-to-headIntel Xeon 6760PRival
Server
Same core count with higher cache and slightly lower TDP if you need more L3 per core.
Compare head-to-headLower core count and TDP for less demanding server workloads with similar platform features.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Xeon 6900P seriesAlt
Higher‑core‑count Granite Rapids‑AP platform for those needing 72–128 cores per socket.
Our Verdict on Each
A balanced Granite Rapids-SP SKU that pairs 36 P-cores with strong I/O and accelerators, ideal for consolidating older 2S clusters or building new general-purpose + AI inference nodes.
Best for: New or refreshed dual-socket servers for virtualization, databases, and mixed enterprise + AI inference workloads where you want strong per-core performance, high memory bandwidth, and integrated accelerators without moving to the highest core-count SKUs.
Read the full reviewA strong 48-core server CPU for multi-socket platforms that need high memory bandwidth and PCIe connectivity, but with a 300 W TDP and premium price that demand careful platform and cooling design.
Best for: Building or upgrading 2–8 socket servers for virtualization, databases, or HPC where high core count, memory bandwidth, and PCIe connectivity are critical and platform cost can be justified.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Xeon 6736P or Intel Xeon 6748P?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Xeon 6736P comes out ahead with a score of 8.8/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Xeon 6736P or Intel Xeon 6748P?
For gaming, the Intel Xeon 6748P leads with a gaming performance score of 40/100 among Intel Xeon 6736P and Intel Xeon 6748P.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Xeon 6736P has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Xeon 6736P (205 W), Intel Xeon 6748P (300 W).
Do Intel Xeon 6736P and Intel Xeon 6748P use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the FCLGA4710 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Xeon 6748P has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Xeon 6736P (36 cores), Intel Xeon 6748P (48 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Xeon 6736P posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Xeon 6736P (44,000), Intel Xeon 6748P (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.