The best server CPUs, according to hackers
8 server CPUs were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 2 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The two most recommended server CPUs with the badge. Each figure is 2 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Strong multi-core performance
People recommend EPYC server processors for strong multi-core performance, high memory bandwidth and good value. Critics say single-thread speed is weak and power use is high.
Better price-performance than x86
People recommend AWS Graviton ARM processors for better price-performance than x86 instances, often lowering AWS bills. Some critics report regressions on certain workloads and slower single-thread speed than Intel or AMD.
All 8 server CPUs, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AMD EPYC | 26 | 3 | 90% | 11 | — | Approved |
| 2 | AWS Graviton | 16 | 7 | 70% | 6 | — | Approved |
| 3 | Intel Xeon | 14 | 11 | 56% | 4 | 15 yrs3 owners | — |
| 4 | Nvidia Vera CPU | 11 | 7 | 61% | 6 | — | — |
| Tied 5 | Ampere CPU | 8 | 6 | 57% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 5 | AMD EPYC Turin | 8 | 0 | 100% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 7 | AMD Opteron | 5 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 7 | Arm AGI CPU | 5 | 14 | 26% | 1 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same server CPU in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to server CPUs that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.