EPYC 9745 vs Xeon 6960P

EPYC 9745 vs Xeon 6960P Performance Spectrum

EPYC 9745

128 / 256

130,698

0.0%

Ryzen 9 9950X3D

Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX

Xeon 6960P

72 / 144

130,659

0.0%

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 9745 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.

EPYC 9745 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 9745

2024

Why buy it

✅+0% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 400W instead of 500W, a 100W reduction.
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 96) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon 6960P across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (256 MB vs 432 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.8 vs 13.6 PassMark/$ ($12,141 MSRP vs $9,625 MSRP).

Xeon 6960P

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+68.8% larger total L3 cache (432 MB vs 256 MB).
✅Costs $2,516 less on MSRP ($9,625 MSRP vs $12,141 MSRP).
✅Delivers 26.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 13.6 vs 10.8 PassMark/$ ($9,625 MSRP vs $12,141 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (130,659 vs 130,698).
❌25% higher power demand at 500W vs 400W.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9745 better than Xeon 6960P?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon 6960P is ahead with a 9.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9745 pulls ahead with 0% better PassMark. Xeon 6960P also has the bigger cache pool with 68.8% larger total L3 cache (432 MB vs 256 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9745 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 128 cores and 256 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

EPYC 9745 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon 6960P is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. EPYC 9745 comes in 26.1% more expensive on MSRP at $12,141 MSRP versus $9,625 MSRP, and it still gives you 0% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon 6960P is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 9.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon 6960P is also 26.1% better value on MSRP (13.6 vs 10.8 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon 6960P makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra cache should keep paying off in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

EPYC 9745 vs Xeon 6960P Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

EPYC 9745

The EPYC 9745 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 128 cores and 256 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 400 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 130,698 points. Launch price was $12,141.

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 9745 packs 128 cores / 256 threads, while the Xeon 6960P offers 72 cores / 144 threads — the EPYC 9745 has 56 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9745 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 9745 uses the Turin (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Xeon 6960P uses Granite Rapids (2024−2025) (Intel 3 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9745 scores 130,698 against the Xeon 6960P's 130,659 — a 0% lead for the EPYC 9745. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9745 vs 432 MB (total) on the Xeon 6960P.

Feature	EPYC 9745	Xeon 6960P
Cores / Threads	128 / 256+78%	72 / 144
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	3.9 GHz+5%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	2.7 GHz+13%
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)	432 MB (total)+69%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+100%
Process	3 nm	Intel 3 nm
Architecture	Turin (2024)	Granite Rapids (2024−2025)
PassMark	130,698	130,659
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,100
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	60,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9745 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 9745 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 9745 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 9745) vs 96 (Xeon 6960P) — the EPYC 9745 offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9745) and Intel 600 Series (Xeon 6960P).

Feature	EPYC 9745	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	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 9745) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon 6960P). Primary use case: EPYC 9745 targets Data Center / High Density, Xeon 6960P targets Server. Direct competitor: EPYC 9745 rivals Xeon 6980P; Xeon 6960P rivals EPYC 9654.

Feature	EPYC 9745	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 / High Density	Server

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the EPYC 9745 was priced at $12141, while the Xeon 6960P came in at $9625. On launch pricing ($12141 vs $9625), Xeon 6960P was $2516 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9745 delivers 10.8 pts/$ vs 13.6 pts/$ for the Xeon 6960P — making the Xeon 6960P the 23.1% better value option.

Feature	EPYC 9745	Xeon 6960P
MSRP	$12141	$9625-21%
Performance per Dollar	10.8	13.6+26%
Release Date	2024	2024

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