EPYC 9745 vs Xeon 6960P
EPYC 9745
Xeon 6960P
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 9745
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 6960P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 9745 | Xeon 6960P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10,588) | ✅ More affordable ($9,625) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Turin (2024) / 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Granite Rapids (2024−2025) / Intel 3 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 9745 | Xeon 6960P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+10%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10,588) | ✅ More affordable ($9,625) |
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 9745 and Xeon 6960P
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. Both support up to DDR5-6000 memory speed. The Xeon 6960P supports up to 3072 GB of RAM compared to 6 TB — 199.2% 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 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 6 TB+100% | 3072 GB |
| RAM Channels | 12 | 12 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| 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
The EPYC 9745 launched at $12141 MSRP, while the Xeon 6960P debuted at $9625. At current prices ($10588 vs $9625), the Xeon 6960P is $963 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9745 delivers 12.3 pts/$ vs 13.6 pts/$ for the Xeon 6960P — making the Xeon 6960P the 9.5% better value option.
| Feature | EPYC 9745 | Xeon 6960P |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $12141 | $9625-21% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10588 | $9625-9% |
| Performance per Dollar | 12.3 | 13.6+11% |
| Release Date | 2024 | 2024 |
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