EPYC 9654
Xeon 6960P
EPYC 9654 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 9654 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 9654 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 9654
2022Why buy it
- ✅Draws 360W instead of 500W, a 140W reduction.
- ✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 96) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,250 vs 2,100).
- ❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (20,000 vs 60,000).
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.1 vs 13.6 PassMark/$ ($11,805 MSRP vs $9,625 MSRP).
Xeon 6960P
2024Why buy it
- ✅+68% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
- ✅Costs $2,180 less on MSRP ($9,625 MSRP vs $11,805 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 34.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 13.6 vs 10.1 PassMark/$ ($9,625 MSRP vs $11,805 MSRP).
Trade-offs
- ❌38.9% higher power demand at 500W vs 360W.
Quick Answers
So, is Xeon 6960P better than EPYC 9654?
Which one is better for gaming?
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 9654 vs Xeon 6960P Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
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 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 9654 packs 96 cores / 192 threads, while the Xeon 6960P offers 72 cores / 144 threads — the EPYC 9654 has 24 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9654 versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon 6960P — a 5.3% clock advantage for the Xeon 6960P (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The EPYC 9654 uses the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Xeon 6960P uses Granite Rapids (2024−2025) (Intel 3 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9654 scores 119,246 against the Xeon 6960P's 130,659 — a 9.1% lead for the Xeon 6960P. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,250 vs 2,100, a 50.7% lead for the Xeon 6960P that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 20,000 vs 60,000 (100% advantage for the Xeon 6960P). L3 cache: 384 MB (total) on the EPYC 9654 vs 432 MB (total) on the Xeon 6960P.
| Feature | EPYC 9654 | Xeon 6960P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 96 / 192+33% | 72 / 144 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.9 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.7 GHz+13% |
| L3 Cache | 384 MB (total) | 432 MB (total)+13% |
| 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 | 130,659+10% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,250 | 2,100+68% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 20,000 | 60,000+200% |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 9654 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 DDR5-4800 on the EPYC 9654 versus DDR5-6400 on the Xeon 6960P — the Xeon 6960P supports 33.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9654 supports up to 6 TB of RAM compared to 3072 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 12-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9654) vs 96 (Xeon 6960P) — the EPYC 9654 offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9654) and Intel 600 Series (Xeon 6960P).
| Feature | EPYC 9654 | Xeon 6960P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP5 | LGA7529 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800 | DDR5-6400+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 6 TB+100% | 3072 GB |
| RAM Channels | 12 | 12 |
| ECC Support | Yes | Yes |
| PCIe Lanes | 128+33% | 96 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9654) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon 6960P). Primary use case: EPYC 9654 targets Data Center, Xeon 6960P targets Server. Direct competitor: EPYC 9654 rivals Xeon 8592+; Xeon 6960P rivals EPYC 9654.
| Feature | EPYC 9654 | 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 | Server |
Value Analysis
At launch, the EPYC 9654 was priced at $11805, while the Xeon 6960P came in at $9625. On launch pricing ($11805 vs $9625), Xeon 6960P was $2180 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9654 delivers 10.1 pts/$ vs 13.6 pts/$ for the Xeon 6960P — making the Xeon 6960P the 29.3% better value option.
| Feature | EPYC 9654 | Xeon 6960P |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $11805 | $9625-18% |
| Performance per Dollar | 10.1 | 13.6+35% |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2024 |
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