Xeon 6960P vs Xeon 6781P
Xeon 6960P
Xeon 6781P
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 Xeon 6781P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon 6960P | Xeon 6781P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($9,625) | ✅ More affordable ($8,960) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Granite Rapids (2024−2025) / Intel 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Granite Rapids (2024−2025) / Intel 3 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon 6960P | Xeon 6781P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+3%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($9,625) | ✅ More affordable ($8,960) |
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 Xeon 6781P
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.
Xeon 6781P
The Xeon 6781P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture. It features 80 cores and 160 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 336 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4710. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5(6400MT/s), MRDIMM(8800MT/s). Passmark benchmark score: 117,946 points. Launch price was $8,960.
Processing Power
The Xeon 6960P packs 72 cores / 144 threads, while the Xeon 6781P offers 80 cores / 160 threads — the Xeon 6781P has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon 6960P versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon 6781P — a 2.6% clock advantage for the Xeon 6960P (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2 GHz). Both are built on the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture using a Intel 3 nm process. In PassMark, the Xeon 6960P scores 130,659 against the Xeon 6781P's 117,946 — a 10.2% lead for the Xeon 6960P. L3 cache: 432 MB (total) on the Xeon 6960P vs 336 MB (total) on the Xeon 6781P.
| Feature | Xeon 6960P | Xeon 6781P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 72 / 144 | 80 / 160+11% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+3% | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+35% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 432 MB (total)+29% | 336 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 3 nm | Intel 3 nm |
| Architecture | Granite Rapids (2024−2025) | Granite Rapids (2024−2025) |
| PassMark | 130,659+11% | 117,946 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,100 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 60,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon 6960P uses the LGA7529 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon 6781P uses LGA4710 (PCIe 4.0) — 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 4 TB — 199.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (Xeon 6960P) vs 8 (Xeon 6781P). PCIe lanes: 96 (Xeon 6960P) vs 136 (Xeon 6781P) — the Xeon 6781P offers 40 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Xeon 6960P | Xeon 6781P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA7529 | LGA4710 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-6400 | DDR5-6400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 3072 GB | 4 TB+33% |
| RAM Channels | 12+50% | 8 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 96 | 136+42% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon 6960P) vs VT-x, VT-d, VT-x EPT (Xeon 6781P). Primary use case: Xeon 6960P targets Server, Xeon 6781P targets Data Center / Cloud Scale. Direct competitor: Xeon 6960P rivals EPYC 9654; Xeon 6781P rivals EPYC 9655.
| Feature | Xeon 6960P | Xeon 6781P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d, VT-x EPT |
| Target Use | Server | Data Center / Cloud Scale |
Value Analysis
The Xeon 6960P launched at $9625 MSRP, while the Xeon 6781P debuted at $8960. At current prices ($9625 vs $8960), the Xeon 6781P is $665 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon 6960P delivers 13.6 pts/$ vs 13.2 pts/$ for the Xeon 6781P — making the Xeon 6960P the 3.1% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon 6960P | Xeon 6781P |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $9625 | $8960-7% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $9625 | $8960-7% |
| Performance per Dollar | 13.6+3% | 13.2 |
| Release Date | 2024 | 2025 |
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