EPYC 9455P
Xeon 6960P
EPYC 9455P vs Xeon 6960P Performance Spectrum
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
EPYC 9455P vs Xeon 6960P FPS Benchmarks
Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.
Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Baldur's Gate 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
EPYC 9455P vs Xeon 6960P: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict
See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.
EPYC 9455P
2024Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +8.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ✅Costs $4,806 less on MSRP ($4,819 MSRP vs $9,625 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 78.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 24.3 vs 13.6 PassMark/$ ($4,819 MSRP vs $9,625 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 300W instead of 500W, a 200W reduction.
- ✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 96) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (1,898 vs 60,000).
- ❌Smaller total L3 cache (256 MB vs 432 MB).
- ❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.
Xeon 6960P
2024Why buy it
- ✅+3061.2% higher Geekbench multi-core.
- ✅+68.8% larger total L3 cache (432 MB vs 256 MB).
- ✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9455P across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.6 vs 24.3 PassMark/$ ($9,625 MSRP vs $4,819 MSRP).
- ❌66.7% higher power demand at 500W vs 300W.
Quick Answers
So, is EPYC 9455P better than Xeon 6960P?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
EPYC 9455P vs Xeon 6960P Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
EPYC 9455P
The EPYC 9455P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 48 cores and 96 threads. Base frequency is 3.15 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 300 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 116,926 points. Launch price was $4,819.
Xeon 6960P
The Xeon 6960P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2024-09-24. It is based on the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture. It features 72 cores and 144 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 432 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA7529. Thermal design power (TDP): 500 Watt. Memory support: DDR5(6400MT/s), MRDIMM(8800MT/s). Passmark benchmark score: 130,659 points. Launch price was $9,625.
Processing Power
The EPYC 9455P packs 48 cores / 96 threads, while the Xeon 6960P offers 72 cores / 144 threads — the Xeon 6960P has 24 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the EPYC 9455P versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon 6960P — a 12% clock advantage for the EPYC 9455P (base: 3.15 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The EPYC 9455P uses the Turin (2024) architecture (4 nm), while the Xeon 6960P uses Granite Rapids (2024−2025) (Intel 3 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9455P scores 116,926 against the Xeon 6960P's 130,659 — a 11.1% lead for the Xeon 6960P. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,962 vs 2,100, a 6.8% lead for the Xeon 6960P that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 60,000 (187.7% advantage for the Xeon 6960P). L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9455P vs 432 MB (total) on the Xeon 6960P.
| Feature | EPYC 9455P | Xeon 6960P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 48 / 96 | 72 / 144+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+13% | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.15 GHz+17% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 256 MB (total) | 432 MB (total)+69% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 4 nm | Intel 3 nm-25% |
| Architecture | Turin (2024) | Granite Rapids (2024−2025) |
| PassMark | 116,926 | 130,659+12% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,962 | 2,100+7% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,898 | 60,000+3061% |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 9455P uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon 6960P uses LGA7529 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6000 on the EPYC 9455P versus DDR5-6400 on the Xeon 6960P — the Xeon 6960P supports 6.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9455P supports up to 9 TB of RAM compared to 3072 GB — 200% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 12-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9455P) vs 96 (Xeon 6960P) — the EPYC 9455P offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9455P) and Intel 600 Series (Xeon 6960P).
| Feature | EPYC 9455P | Xeon 6960P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP5 | LGA7529 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-6000 | DDR5-6400+7% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 9 TB+200% | 3072 GB |
| RAM Channels | 12 | 12 |
| ECC Support | Yes | Yes |
| PCIe Lanes | 128+33% | 96 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9455P) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon 6960P). Primary use case: EPYC 9455P targets Data Center / Single Socket, Xeon 6960P targets Server. Direct competitor: EPYC 9455P rivals Xeon 6766E; Xeon 6960P rivals EPYC 9654.
| Feature | EPYC 9455P | Xeon 6960P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | AMD-V, SEV-SNP | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Data Center / Single Socket | Server |
Value Analysis
At launch, the EPYC 9455P was priced at $4819, while the Xeon 6960P came in at $9625. On launch pricing ($4819 vs $9625), EPYC 9455P was $4806 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9455P delivers 24.3 pts/$ vs 13.6 pts/$ for the Xeon 6960P — making the EPYC 9455P the 56.5% better value option.
| Feature | EPYC 9455P | Xeon 6960P |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $4819-50% | $9625 |
| Performance per Dollar | 24.3+79% | 13.6 |
| Release Date | 2024 | 2024 |
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