
EPYC 9965 vs EPYC 9845

EPYC 9965

EPYC 9845
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 9965
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 9845
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 9965 | EPYC 9845 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10,000) | ✅ More affordable ($8,670) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Turin (2024) / 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Turin (2024) / 3 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 9965 | EPYC 9845 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+10%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10,000) | ✅ More affordable ($8,670) |
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 9965 and EPYC 9845

EPYC 9965
The EPYC 9965 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 192 cores and 384 threads. Base frequency is 2.25 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 384 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 500 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 160,778 points. Launch price was $14,813.

EPYC 9845
The EPYC 9845 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 160 cores and 320 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 320 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 390 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 152,985 points. Launch price was $13,564.
Processing Power
The EPYC 9965 packs 192 cores / 384 threads, while the EPYC 9845 offers 160 cores / 320 threads — the EPYC 9965 has 32 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9965 versus 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9845 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.25 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). Both are built on the Turin (2024) architecture using a 3 nm process. In PassMark, the EPYC 9965 scores 160,778 against the EPYC 9845's 152,985 — a 5% lead for the EPYC 9965. L3 cache: 384 MB (total) on the EPYC 9965 vs 320 MB (total) on the EPYC 9845.
| Feature | EPYC 9965 | EPYC 9845 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 192 / 384+20% | 160 / 320 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.25 GHz+7% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 384 MB (total)+20% | 320 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 3 nm | 3 nm |
| Architecture | Turin (2024) | Turin (2024) |
| PassMark | 160,778+5% | 152,985 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,520 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the SP5 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-6000 memory speed. Both support up to 6 TB of RAM. Both feature 12-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 128 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9965) and SP5 (EPYC 9845).
| Feature | EPYC 9965 | EPYC 9845 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP5 | SP5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-6000 | DDR5-6000 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 6 TB | 6 TB |
| RAM Channels | 12 | 12 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 128 | 128 |
Advanced Features
Both support AMD-V, SEV-SNP virtualization. Primary use case: EPYC 9965 targets Data Center / High Density, EPYC 9845 targets Data Center / AI Training. Direct competitor: EPYC 9965 rivals Xeon 6980P; EPYC 9845 rivals Xeon 6972P.
| Feature | EPYC 9965 | EPYC 9845 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V, SEV-SNP | AMD-V, SEV-SNP |
| Target Use | Data Center / High Density | Data Center / AI Training |
Value Analysis
The EPYC 9965 launched at $14813 MSRP, while the EPYC 9845 debuted at $13564. At current prices ($10000 vs $8670), the EPYC 9845 is $1330 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9965 delivers 16.1 pts/$ vs 17.6 pts/$ for the EPYC 9845 — making the EPYC 9845 the 9.3% better value option.
| Feature | EPYC 9965 | EPYC 9845 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $14813 | $13564-8% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10000 | $8670-13% |
| Performance per Dollar | 16.1 | 17.6+9% |
| Release Date | 2024 | 2024 |
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