AMD EPYC 4005 'Grado' Series: The New Benchmark in Entry Server Performance and Value

The server processor market has rarely been as dynamic and contentious as it is in the current landscape, with established giants like Intel being challenged by AMD’s aggressive foray into the entry server space. At the center of the latest upheaval stands the AMD EPYC 4005 "Grado" series, newly unveiled and already garnering industry buzz. Offering a compelling mix of affordability, technical capability, and energy efficiency, this lineup redefines what businesses can expect from entry-level server CPUs—a claim that holds up against scrutiny and, in some areas, exposes the limitations of Intel's Xeon E-2400 and 6300P series.

AMD EPYC 4005 "Grado": Targeting the Heart of Entry Server Needs​

The EPYC 4005 series marks AMD’s full-fledged Zen 5-powered entry into the affordable server processor arena. Comprised of just six SKUs, the stack is admirably focused. Two high-performance models target demanding 16-core tasks at a robust 170W TDP, while four 65W models address the needs of lower-power, cost-sensitive deployments. All feature a minimum base clock of 3.0 GHz, capable of boosting to over 5.4 GHz, ensuring solid real-world performance for a broad range of workloads.
What truly distinguishes this product family, however, is the value proposition: far more compute per dollar than Intel is able to offer at the segment’s top end. Consider the direct pricing comparison: Intel’s Xeon E-2488 and Xeon 6369P both sit at the $606 mark, delivering only eight cores. By contrast, AMD’s 8-core EPYC 4005 equivalent comes in at roughly half the price, and AMD also allows buyers to double the core count for less—irrespective of TDP band. Only the standout AMD EPYC 4585PX, equipped with additional 3D V-Cache for a staggering 128MB L3 total, exceeds Intel’s entry flagship price.

The Zen 5 Edge​

The generational leap from Zen 4 to Zen 5 brings several underlying improvements, making the 4005 series more than a simple rebrand of its Ryzen or prior EPYC 4004 cousins. The key advantages include:

• Full 512-bit AVX-512 instruction support, unlocking significant gains in vectorized workloads such as scientific simulations or high-throughput analytics.
• Support for faster ECC UDIMM memory, up to DDR5-5600, ensuring higher bandwidth and better data integrity.
• A wider range of validated platforms, with server OS (Windows Server, Ubuntu) and official ECC memory support from AMD to OEM, differentiating EPYC from similar Ryzen hardware often marketed for workstation use.

These advantages combine to form a processor lineup that is not only highly performant in raw benchmarks, but also reliable and ready for true enterprise deployment—critical for businesses that demand stability from their hardware.

Breaking Down the EPYC 4005 Stack​

Let’s take a closer look at the individual SKUs within the EPYC 4005 family. Although the full technical breakdown is reserved for official datasheets, sector coverage and launch materials confirm the following highlights:

Model	Cores	TDP	3D V-Cache	Base Freq.	Boost Freq.	Max L3 Cache	Target Use Case
4585PX	16	170W	Yes	≥3.0GHz	≥5.4GHz	128MB	High cache/compute workloads
4564P	16	170W	No	...	...	...	Standard high-core count
...	...	...	...	...	...	...	...
8-core model	8	65W	No	...	...	...	Budget/entry servers

(Full specifications are available on AMD's official documentation and partner launch content. Figures here are based on available pre-brief and review material; caution is advised for unlisted clock rates.)
The standout here is the 4585PX, leveraging AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology which adds 64MB of additional L3 cache to one CCD, making it ideal for applications thirsting for high cache per core density—such as certain databases or simulation platforms. AMD's willingness to bring 3D V-Cache into the entry server segment is a calculated move, and so far unmatched by any similarly-priced Intel offering.

Not Rebadged Ryzen: Substantive Server Differentiation​

A frequent refrain in the community suggests that the EPYC 4005 is “just a rebranded Ryzen.” It is true that the two share the same AM5 platform and Zen 5 architecture, with the processors physically similar in many respects. Yet there are subtleties that set EPYC 4005 apart, and these prove critical for real-world deployments:

• 16-core, 65W parts: Unlike Ryzen 9000, there is no 65W 16-core desktop CPU in the market, making this an exclusive and attractive SKU for energy-conscious data centers.
• Server-validated firmware: AMD ensures full validation for server OSes, a feature OEMs and managed service providers require for peace of mind. Although high-end motherboards for Ryzen do offer ECC support, official, end-to-end ECC validation is an EPYC exclusive.
• Hardware RAID features: Included RAIDXpert2 for Server allows AMD’s platform to provide robust software RAID options natively, reducing or eliminating the need for costly add-in cards for many standard configurations.
• Consistent firmware support: AMD’s server-oriented SKUs often benefit from longer, more predictable firmware and security patch cycles, critical in managed and cloud environments.

This suite of features answers some longstanding criticisms of AMD’s previous attempts to capture server mindshare and closes gaps that otherwise might relegate EPYC to hobbyist or solely enthusiast deployments.

Comparison: AMD EPYC 4005 vs Intel Xeon E-2400/6300P​

The competitive implications of the new lineup cannot be overstated. On paper—and largely in practice—the EPYC 4005 delivers:

• Twice the cores at similar or lower cost: Intel’s entry stack caps out at eight cores, while AMD delivers up to 16 within the same power or price band.
• Advanced instruction set and memory support: Full AVX-512 and DDR5-5600, outpacing Intel’s official AVX2 (no AVX-512 at this tier) and DDR5-4800 support.
• Lower total cost of ownership: Between lower purchase price (for non-3D V-Cache models) and dramatically better perf/Watt metrics, AMD’s offering becomes compelling for cost-sensitive or high-density colocation use cases.

Such advantages are borne out in third-party performance reviews and independent industry testing, where EPYC 4005 models routinely best their Intel equivalents in multi-threaded benchmarks and memory-intensive workloads. Real-world deployment feedback suggests similar trends: lower heat output in dense rack deployments, less aggressive cooling requirements, and correspondingly lower operating costs.

Possible Weaknesses and Caveats​

Despite the compelling case for AMD’s entry offering, several caveats and potential disadvantages must be recognized:

• Platform Ecosystem: The Intel Xeon E series benefits from a more mature ecosystem of motherboards and ready-to-ship platforms, which can make procurement and integration easier for certain integrators and OEMs.
• Software/Driver Optimization: While Zen 5 adoption is accelerating, it remains true that, in some edge cases, legacy software still prefers Intel architectures. Organizations should validate all mission-critical applications before large-scale AMD deployment.
• Integrated Graphics: Some Intel Xeon E SKUs come with integrated graphics, valuable for lightweight edge and appliance deployments where external GPUs are impractical. EPYC 4005 models rely on discrete GPUs if graphics output is required.

Practical Server Deployments: What the EPYC 4005 Enables​

Where does the new AMD lineup thrive? Use-case feedback suggests several environments stand to benefit:

• Cloud-native colocation: The low 65W 16-core option is ideal for high-density racks, offering compute-dense nodes with reduced power and cooling costs—a game-changer for hosting providers.
• Virtualization hosts: With more cores and higher memory bandwidth, small clusters or branch office servers can provide more VM density and smoother multitasking.
• Edge computing: Improved energy efficiency and compact validated server offerings suit edge infrastructures where cost and reliability are paramount.
• High-cache workloads: The EPYC 4585PX with 128MB L3 excels at databases, caches, and applications with high data locality requirements.

On the other hand, organizations with heavy reliance on legacy Xeon-optimized software stacks, or requiring the absolute broadest platform interoperability, may still default to Intel out of inertia, familiarity, or procurement policies.

Enterprise-Ready: The Importance of Validation​

One of the historic pain points of using consumer-class CPUs in server environments is the lack of comprehensive validation for critical features like ECC memory and server OSes. EPYC 4005 sidesteps these by:

• Ensuring full ECC UDIMM support: Crucial not just for data integrity but also when deploying in environments where every bit counts—financial institutions, health data, and scientific computing, for instance.
• Robust firmware and software RAID: The inclusion of enterprise-grade RAIDXpert2, and the R&D investment in server-class BIOS and microcode, overcomes key objections to using alternatives for RAID and reliability.

Validating these claims reveals that both AMD and launch partners advertise full server operating system support for their 4005 series platforms, and independent testers have confirmed ECC is active and functional end-to-end on major server boards.

Environmental and Economic Implications​

The ability to run twice the cores at the same or lower TDP brings tangible benefits well beyond simple throughput numbers:

• Lower environmental impact: Power savings per rack, multiplied across thousands of servers in a data center, equate to substantial CO2 and cost reductions.
• TCO improvements: Lower cooling and energy bills, coupled with the up-front discount relative to Intel, hasten ROI—a key factor for tight-margin colocation houses and hyperscalers.

Further, when AMD leads in perf/watt at a given tier, there is a strong case for businesses prioritizing sustainability initiatives to explore AMD deployments—provided their software stack and operational requirements align.

The Broader Industry Perspective​

Industry analysts agree that 2024 represents a watershed moment for AMD in the entry server space. After years of being “second best” in mind share despite technical parity or superiority, the new Zen 5-based lineups—with their aggressive pricing and server-centric features—are winning over OEMs and IT buyers at an accelerating pace.
There is, however, the persistent risk that Intel will respond forcefully within the next product cycle. Historically, Intel’s entrenched relationships, ecosystem breadth, and manufacturing scale have enabled it to rapidly claw back ground. IT leaders are reminded that market dominance in this sector is never set in stone.

Critical Analysis: Strengths and Opportunities​

Notable Strengths​

• Technical Superiority at Key Workloads: The combination of more cores, AVX-512, and high memory bandwidth make EPYC 4005 ideal for modern multi-threaded and memory-bound workloads.
• Excellent Value Proposition: Far more compute for the dollar, and a compelling TCO narrative for both small and large buyers.
• Validated Server Features Out of the Box: From ECC memory to official OS support, AMD closes the longstanding gap between its mainstream and server lines, removing friction from enterprise deployment.
• Sustainability: The low-power, high-density models are aligned with modern data center initiatives to decrease overall energy consumption.

Potential Risks​

• Ecosystem Maturity: Despite accelerating platform launches, Intel still maintains broader out-of-the-box compatibility—something that matters in scenarios demanding instant deployment.
• Vendor Lock-in: Some server applications or OEM platforms—especially those based on legacy Intel optimizations—may underperform or be unsupported, necessitating careful vetting ahead of upgrade cycles.
• Market Pushback: If Intel launches new Xeon E-series or adjacent parts with more cores, higher clocks, or lower prices (as has happened before), the AMD advantage could narrow within a single product year.

Conclusion​

AMD’s EPYC 4005 "Grado" series is the most serious challenge to Intel’s entry server hegemony in a decade, delivering more compute, better efficiency, and a credible ecosystem for real-world enterprises. Technical evaluations and early independent reviews validate AMD’s lead in core counts, instruction set support, and memory speed at each price point. While some ecosystem and compatibility challenges remain, the 4005 series represents a turning point where AMD no longer simply competes on technical merit alone—it wins on price, reliability, and deployment-readiness.
IT decision-makers evaluating new entry server deployments in 2024 should seriously consider AMD’s EPYC 4005 series—especially in environments prioritizing performance-per-watt and purchase efficiency. As the server market continues to evolve, more competition can only benefit the end customer, and EPYC’s ascendancy is likely to set a new baseline for value that all future incumbents must answer. Businesses willing to move quickly and validate for their own unique environments stand to reap significant operational and fiscal rewards.

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Source: ServeTheHome AMD EPYC 4005 Grado is Great and Intel is Exposed

 

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AMD’s latest EPYC 4005 “Grado” CPUs signal a bold evolution for the entry-level server market, shaking up a segment long dominated by incremental improvements and measured conservatism. For years, server buyers—especially those running dedicated hosting platforms, seeking efficient SMB tower servers, or requiring affordable, high-density compute—have found themselves forced to choose between AMD and Intel based mainly on historical brand loyalties, licensing alignments, and small deltas in power and core count. With the arrival of Grado, those equations have changed dramatically, exposing and amplifying fissures in Intel’s entry server strategy and casting a bright spotlight on both strengths and risks as industries prepare for new upgrades.

AMD EPYC 4005 “Grado”: The Key Use Cases​

There are three main entry-level server CPU use cases shaping the market today:

• Dedicated Server Platforms
  Here, cost efficiency and low power consumption allow hosts and cloud providers to maximize server density per rack—critical for cost parity in competitive hosting markets.
• Performance-Optimized Platforms
  Many applications, from virtualization hosts to edge compute nodes, demand high per-core performance. CPUs in this market must balance frequency, core count, and power in a way that aligns with modern application workloads.
• Tower Servers for SMB Customers
  Small/medium businesses often prioritize reliability, ease of management, and total cost of ownership. Entry-level tower servers must fit cleanly into office environments—emphasizing stable power draw and longevity over raw performance.

Until recently, the AMD EPYC 4000 series wasn’t widely available from big OEMs like Dell, HPE, or Lenovo. In early 2025, that changed with the Lenovo ThinkSystem ST45 V3, expanding the addressable market for these CPUs and marking a pivotal moment for the Grado family.

Dedicated Hosting and AMD’s Strengths​

AMD’s foothold in dedicated servers isn’t new—it was evident even in the Opteron era as European and global hosters pursued alternatives to Intel’s monopoly. However, the EPYC 4005 builds on this legacy, ensuring hosting and cloud providers aren’t forced to use consumer-grade Ryzen chips for server workloads. This transition is notable because:

• Server-optimized Features: Unlike Ryzen, EPYC 4005 CPUs integrate critical server features (like full ECC memory support, broader virtualization instructions, and management capabilities) that dedicated hosts require for reliability and remote administration.
• Core Counts Aligning with Software Licensing: AMD leverages 16-core configurations for an edge in licensing under the Microsoft Windows Server model, which sells CALs per 16 cores. This could translate directly into licensing cost savings for larger deployments—an often-overlooked, but crucial dimension for buyers.

This aligns with STH’s observations and is backed by AMD’s own server platform documentation, confirming the availability and validation of these features across OEM partner boards.

Tower Servers: The SMB Battleground​

SMB-focused tower servers present a more nuanced landscape. Here, competing priorities emerge:

• Lowest Possible Power Draw: Intel’s Xeon E-2400/6300P series offers four-core parts with notably low max TDP, making them attractive in ultra-tight power environments. For SMBs managing just one or two servers, shaving a dozen watts per system can make a noticeable difference.
• Performance per Watt: AMD’s 6+ core, 65W TDP EPYC 4005 parts, however, routinely surpass Intel E-class Xeons on multi-threaded performance and overall efficiency, especially in environments running a handful of VMs or more demanding workloads.

Recent technical reviews and benchmarks confirm AMD’s architectural improvements. The “Grado” refresh brings enhanced IPC (instructions per clock), improved memory bandwidth, and broader I/O support compared to previous 4004-series chips and even some mid-range Intel Xeons.

A Platform Problem: Where are Dell and HPE?​

Despite Grado’s technical edge, market penetration is still limited by platform availability. Lenovo’s ST45 V3 is proof AMD can play in the SMB tower space, but unless Dell and HPE launch similar systems soon, much of the entry-level server market will remain Intel-centric by default.
This is a non-trivial barrier. Many business buyers, especially those in regulated or support-intensive industries, will only consider "big three" OEM offerings for warranty, remote support, and established procurement pipelines. STH’s reporting makes it clear: until Dell and HPE embrace EPYC 4005, Intel will retain a vestigial advantage in these channels, regardless of performance metrics.

Intel’s Entry-Class Dilemma: A Stalling Engine​

The EPYC 4000-series versus Xeon E-class rivalry is not merely about core-count, MHz, or TDP. It’s about direction. In 2024, STH declared the AMD EPYC 4004 the clear winner; Intel responded not with a design overhaul but a clock bump and rebrand—Xeon E-2400 to 6300P. AMD, meanwhile, brought real architectural improvements with Grado.
Industry analysts now note that Intel’s entry server CPUs lag not just in raw performance. They also come up short on platform scalability, PCIe connectivity, and memory expandability. While Intel’s Xeon 6300P remains competitive for 1-4 core, ultra-low power servers, it simply cannot match the EPYC 4005’s multi-threaded throughput and modern feature set in most entry server scenarios.

Performance and Power: The 2025 Landscape​

Benchmark Highlights​

Verified third-party testing has shown:

• **AMD EPYC 4005 (Grado) 6- and 8-core chips outperform Xeon 6300P/2400 series by as much as 35-50% in multi-threaded workloads, including virtualization and development containers.
• Power Efficiency: While the lowest power E-class Xeons hit around 55-60W, the EPYC 4005’s 65W parts typically deliver more than double the threaded performance for a marginal increase in TDP.
• Single-Threaded Performance: Historically, Intel had a slight edge, but Grado’s new core design and improved boost behaviour have narrowed and, in some cases, flipped this delta in AMD’s favour.

Platform Features​

AMD’s Grado chips now support:

• Up to 128GB RAM (ECC, unbuffered)
• Broad PCIe Gen 4 support, increasing flexibility for storage/network add-in cards
• Accelerated virtual machine encryption and nested virtualization, deeply integrated into Windows Server 2022 and later—a key argument for modern SMB environments

Intel’s 6300P/E-2400, in contrast, is limited in PCIe lanes and often only officially supports up to 64GB RAM, a constraint as workloads grow more memory-hungry.

Licensing and Virtualization: A Hidden Cost Factor​

One of AMD’s cleverest moves is tailoring core counts to Microsoft’s server licensing scheme. Windows Server licenses are typically sold in 16-core packs; by hitting this core count directly, the EPYC 4005 enables customers to maximize virtual infrastructure without buying extra licenses.
STH, Microsoft’s official documentation, and AMD’s product guides all corroborate this advantage. For virtualized SMBs and small cloud providers, this frequently translates to thousands of dollars saved over the lifespan of even small racks.

Market Risks: OEM Reticence and Channel Support​

Despite these clear technical and economic edges, risk factors remain for EPYC 4005 adoption:

• Limited OEM Offerings: Until Dell and HPE expand their EPYC 4000 series portfolios, many enterprise buyers will delay adoption.
• Channel Familiarity and Stocking: Distribution channels, especially outside North America and Europe, are still weighted toward Intel, making day-to-day procurement harder for AMD-based systems.
• Conservative IT Departments: A significant portion of the SMB and entry server market remains risk-averse. Without multi-generational evidence from enterprise OEMs, many won’t jump platforms for fear of unforeseen bugs or long-term support uncertainties.

Competitive Outlook: Intel’s Narrowing Niches​

Intel’s parts still have relevance in specific use cases:

• Ultra-low Power Environments: Offices or edge nodes needing sub-50W CPUs may still find Xeon E-2400 and 6300P series compelling.
• Embedded and Niche Solutions: Some industries/specifications require Intel for software validation or long-term availability guarantees not yet matched by AMD.

However, for most new server deployments, Intel faces an existential challenge at the entry level. The incremental pace of improvement and reliance on older platform architectures suggest this will persist until a more radical update arrives.

Critical Analysis: The Real Meaning of “Grado is Great”​

On balance, EPYC 4005 “Grado” excels not because it rewrites physics or offers previously impossible capabilities, but because it matches and surpasses Intel where it matters most for entry server buyers—real workload performance, licensing efficiency, and total cost of ownership.
Strengths:

• Technical leadership in IPC and per-watt throughput
• Core count aligns perfectly with Windows Server licensing, reducing costs
• Rapid platform feature expansion (PCIe, memory, virtualization)
• Increasing support from tier-one OEMs (e.g., Lenovo’s ThinkSystem ST45 V3)

Risks and Challenges:

• OEM inertia—Dell/HPE need to join Lenovo in offering validated, standardized platforms
• Institutionally risk-averse IT buyers require time and proof before widespread adoption
• Channel support and spare parts remain stronger for Intel, especially in global markets

Strategic Implication: Unless Intel pivots with a substantive, architectural revision or AMD stumbles on supply and support, the next several quarters should see EPYC 4005 (and its successors) capture substantial new entry-server market share—mirroring AMD’s dramatic gains with EPYC “Rome” in 2019.

Final Thoughts: AMD’s Clear Victory—And What Comes Next​

The server landscape is dynamic. AMD’s EPYC 4005 “Grado” provides a rare moment of clarity for buyers: all else being equal, it’s the superior choice for most entry server deployments in 2025. STH’s declaration—that Intel is no longer competitive at this tier—finds support in every major benchmarking lab and in the purchasing trends at modern hyperscale cloud and SMB server customers.
Yet, the real test for “Grado” and its successors is not simply in single-socket SMB towers or dedicated host nodes, but in how rapidly AMD can convert its technical leadership into broad, platform-agnostic adoption. Dell and HPE’s next moves will signal the pace of this transformation.
For now, buyers seeking value, performance, and future licensing agility in their next entry-level server should look closely at EPYC 4005-based platforms—especially as the industry waits for Intel’s overdue overhaul. If the old paradigm was “wait and see,” Grado’s arrival means it’s time to act—or risk missing out on the most meaningful server platform leap in years.

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Source: ServeTheHome AMD EPYC 4005 Grado is Great and Intel is Exposed