EPYC 9654 vs Xeon 6781P
EPYC 9654
Xeon 6781P
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 9654
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 6781P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 9654 | Xeon 6781P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5,345) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($8,960) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Genoa (2022−2023) / 5 nm, 6 nm) | ✨ Modern (Granite Rapids (2024−2025) / Intel 3 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 9654 | Xeon 6781P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+69%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5,345) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($8,960) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9654 and Xeon 6781P
EPYC 9654
The EPYC 9654 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 November 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture. It features 96 cores and 192 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 384 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 360 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 119,246 points. Launch price was $11,805.
Xeon 6781P
The Xeon 6781P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture. It features 80 cores and 160 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 336 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4710. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5(6400MT/s), MRDIMM(8800MT/s). Passmark benchmark score: 117,946 points. Launch price was $8,960.
Processing Power
The EPYC 9654 packs 96 cores / 192 threads, while the Xeon 6781P offers 80 cores / 160 threads — the EPYC 9654 has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9654 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon 6781P — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Xeon 6781P (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2 GHz). The EPYC 9654 uses the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Xeon 6781P uses Granite Rapids (2024−2025) (Intel 3 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9654 scores 119,246 against the Xeon 6781P's 117,946 — a 1.1% lead for the EPYC 9654. L3 cache: 384 MB (total) on the EPYC 9654 vs 336 MB (total) on the Xeon 6781P.
| Feature | EPYC 9654 | Xeon 6781P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 96 / 192+20% | 80 / 160 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.8 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+20% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 384 MB (total)+14% | 336 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 5 nm, 6 nm | Intel 3 nm-40% |
| Architecture | Genoa (2022−2023) | Granite Rapids (2024−2025) |
| PassMark | 119,246+1% | 117,946 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,250 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 20,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 9654 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon 6781P uses LGA4710 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The EPYC 9654 supports up to 6 TB of RAM compared to 4 TB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9654) vs 8 (Xeon 6781P). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9654) vs 136 (Xeon 6781P) — the Xeon 6781P offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | EPYC 9654 | Xeon 6781P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP5 | LGA4710 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800 | DDR5-6400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 6 TB+50% | 4 TB |
| RAM Channels | 12+50% | 8 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 128 | 136+6% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9654) vs VT-x, VT-d, VT-x EPT (Xeon 6781P). Primary use case: EPYC 9654 targets Data Center, Xeon 6781P targets Data Center / Cloud Scale. Direct competitor: EPYC 9654 rivals Xeon 8592+; Xeon 6781P rivals EPYC 9655.
| Feature | EPYC 9654 | Xeon 6781P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V, SEV-SNP | VT-x, VT-d, VT-x EPT |
| Target Use | Data Center | Data Center / Cloud Scale |
Value Analysis
The EPYC 9654 launched at $11805 MSRP, while the Xeon 6781P debuted at $8960. At current prices ($5345 vs $8960), the EPYC 9654 is $3615 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9654 delivers 22.3 pts/$ vs 13.2 pts/$ for the Xeon 6781P — making the EPYC 9654 the 51.6% better value option.
| Feature | EPYC 9654 | Xeon 6781P |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $11805 | $8960-24% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5345-40% | $8960 |
| Performance per Dollar | 22.3+69% | 13.2 |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2025 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on EPYC 9654 and Xeon 6781P
