Xeon 6960P vs EPYC 9654
Xeon 6960P
EPYC 9654
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 Xeon 6960P
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 9654
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon 6960P | EPYC 9654 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($9,625) | ✅ More affordable ($5,345) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Granite Rapids (2024−2025) / Intel 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Genoa (2022−2023) / 5 nm, 6 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon 6960P | EPYC 9654 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+64%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($9,625) | ✅ More affordable ($5,345) |
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 Xeon 6960P and EPYC 9654
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Xeon 6960P packs 72 cores / 144 threads, while the EPYC 9654 offers 96 cores / 192 threads — the EPYC 9654 has 24 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon 6960P versus 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9654 — a 5.3% clock advantage for the Xeon 6960P (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon 6960P uses the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture (Intel 3 nm), while the EPYC 9654 uses Genoa (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon 6960P scores 130,659 against the EPYC 9654's 119,246 — a 9.1% lead for the Xeon 6960P. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,100 vs 1,250, a 50.7% lead for the Xeon 6960P that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 60,000 vs 20,000 (100% advantage for the Xeon 6960P). L3 cache: 432 MB (total) on the Xeon 6960P vs 384 MB (total) on the EPYC 9654.
| Feature | Xeon 6960P | EPYC 9654 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 72 / 144 | 96 / 192+33% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+5% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+13% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 432 MB (total)+13% | 384 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core)+100% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 3 nm-40% | 5 nm, 6 nm |
| Architecture | Granite Rapids (2024−2025) | Genoa (2022−2023) |
| PassMark | 130,659+10% | 119,246 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,100+68% | 1,250 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 60,000+200% | 20,000 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon 6960P uses the LGA7529 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the EPYC 9654 uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-6400 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: 96 (Xeon 6960P) vs 128 (EPYC 9654) — the EPYC 9654 offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 Series (Xeon 6960P) and SP5 (EPYC 9654).
| Feature | Xeon 6960P | EPYC 9654 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA7529 | SP5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0+25% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-6400 | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 3072 GB | 6 TB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 12 | 12 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 96 | 128+33% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon 6960P) vs AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9654). Primary use case: Xeon 6960P targets Server, EPYC 9654 targets Data Center. Direct competitor: Xeon 6960P rivals EPYC 9654; EPYC 9654 rivals Xeon 8592+.
| Feature | Xeon 6960P | EPYC 9654 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V, SEV-SNP |
| Target Use | Server | Data Center |
Value Analysis
The Xeon 6960P launched at $9625 MSRP, while the EPYC 9654 debuted at $11805. At current prices ($9625 vs $5345), the EPYC 9654 is $4280 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon 6960P delivers 13.6 pts/$ vs 22.3 pts/$ for the EPYC 9654 — making the EPYC 9654 the 48.7% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon 6960P | EPYC 9654 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $9625-18% | $11805 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $9625 | $5345-44% |
| Performance per Dollar | 13.6 | 22.3+64% |
| Release Date | 2024 | 2022 |
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