AMD EPYC 9124 vs AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive pattern in most workloads: the AMD EPYC 9124 wins 9 of the 11 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 takes only 2. The margin of victory, however, tells a more nuanced story about the two chips' different design goals.

The EPYC 9124's largest advantage comes in the PassMark physics test, where it scores 3662 against the P185's 1772, a 106.7% lead. That is more than double the embedded part's result. Prime number finding also heavily favors the server chip: 256 versus 129, a 98.4% delta. These two tests are heavily threaded and scale with core count, and the EPYC 9124 has 16 cores and 32 threads against the P185's 12 cores and 24 threads.

Data encryption shows a similarly lopsided result. The EPYC 9124 scores 36078 versus 19612, an 84% advantage. This points to the server chip's superior memory bandwidth and likely its dedicated encryption throughput. Random string sorting goes to the EPYC 9124 by 82.9%, with scores of 74177 and 40557. Data compression follows at 60.1% in favor of the EPYC 9124, 599417 against 374429.

Extended instruction workloads, which often reflect AVX-512 or similar vector processing efficiency, also favor the EPYC 9124 by 63.4%, 43380 to 26544. The multithread test shows a 37.8% lead for the EPYC 9124, 43846 versus 31817. Integer math is closer but still clear: 148785 versus 117832, a 26.3% edge. Floating point math narrows further to 23.3%, 87057 against 70587.

The P185's only wins come in the single-threaded tests, and they are substantial. In PassMark single thread, the P185 scores 3977 against the EPYC 9124's 2719, a 31.6% advantage. This is the most telling result in the entire comparison. The P185 boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the EPYC 9124 tops out at 3.70 GHz. That raw clock advantage, combined with the newer Zen 5 architecture, delivers a significant per-core performance lead.

Looking at average benchmark scores across all recorded tests, the EPYC 9124 averages 65104, which places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The P185 averages 62839, also in the 93rd percentile. The overall average difference is modest, roughly 3.5%, despite the EPYC 9124 winning most individual tests. This is because the single-threaded wins for the P185 are large in percentage terms, and the average score calculation weights each test equally.

The nearest rivals in the database provide context. The EPYC 9124 sits close to the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, which averages 65914, a 1.2% higher score. It also trades nearly evenly with the AMD EPYC 4464P at 64823, a 0.4% difference, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 at 64640, a 0.7% difference. The P185's closest competitors include the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX at 62738, a 0.2% gap, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 PRO 465 at 62498, a 0.5% gap. Both chips are competitive within their respective segments.

The Verdict

The data indicates two different tools for two different jobs. The AMD EPYC 9124 is the clear choice for multi-threaded, memory-intensive server workloads. Its 106.7% lead in physics, 84% lead in encryption, and 60.1% lead in compression all point to a processor built for sustained throughput across many cores. The 16-core, 32-thread configuration with a 200 W power envelope and twelve-channel DDR5 memory delivers results that the P185 cannot match in these areas.

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 is the pick for single-threaded responsiveness and power-constrained environments. Its 31.6% single-thread advantage over the EPYC 9124 is substantial, and its 28 W TDP versus 200 W means it draws far less power under load. The P185 includes integrated Radeon 890M graphics, which the EPYC 9124 lacks entirely, making it suitable for edge systems that need GPU output without a discrete card.

For a rack server running virtualized workloads, database queries, or batch processing, the EPYC 9124's multithread and memory bandwidth advantages are decisive. For an embedded appliance, a mobile workstation, or a compact edge device where per-core speed and power efficiency matter more than raw core count, the P185 is the better match. Neither chip is a substitute for the other. The EPYC 9124 dominates 9 of 11 head-to-head tests, but the P185 wins the one metric that matters most for interactive and lightly threaded tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The EPYC 9124 uses Zen 4, with the codename Genoa, and is part of the EPYC 9004 series. The P185 uses a hybrid Zen 5 / Zen 5c configuration, with the codename Gorgon Point. This is a meaningful difference: the P185's cores are newer and architecturally more advanced, which explains its large single-thread lead despite having fewer cores.

Manufacturing processes also differ. The EPYC 9124 is built on a 5 nm process by TSMC, while the P185 uses a 4 nm process, also from TSMC. The smaller node contributes to the P185's much lower power draw. The EPYC 9124 has a 200 W TDP, while the P185 is rated at just 28 W.

Cache layouts are substantially different. The EPYC 9124 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The P185 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, but only 16 MB of L3 total. The EPYC 9124's larger L3 cache, four times the size of the P185's, is a major factor in its stronger performance in data-heavy tests like compression and encryption.

The physical design reflects the different target markets. The EPYC 9124 uses a multi-die layout with a die size of 4x 72 mm², totaling around 288 mm², and contains 26,280 million transistors. The P185 is a monolithic 233 mm² die. The EPYC 9124's socket is AMD Socket SP5, while the P185 uses AMD Socket FP8.

Memory architecture diverges sharply. The EPYC 9124 supports DDR5 over a twelve-channel bus with 460.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The P185 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s. The EPYC 9124 has more than five times the memory bandwidth, which directly benefits its multithreaded scores. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities also differ. The EPYC 9124 offers Gen 5 with 128 lanes, while the P185 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes. The EPYC 9124 has no integrated graphics, while the P185 includes Radeon 890M graphics.

Specification Differences

The core counts differ: 16 cores and 32 threads for the EPYC 9124, 12 cores and 24 threads for the P185. Base clocks are 3.00 GHz versus 2.00 GHz, but boost clocks reverse the order: 3.70 GHz for the EPYC 9124 and 5.10 GHz for the P185. The P185's boost clock is 1.40 GHz higher.

Power envelopes are far apart. The EPYC 9124 consumes 200 W, while the P185 is rated at 28 W, a 172 W difference. This makes the P185 suitable for fanless or passively cooled embedded designs, while the EPYC 9124 requires robust server cooling.

Memory support differs in type and width. The EPYC 9124 supports DDR5 only, over a twelve-channel bus. The P185 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus. Memory bandwidth is 460.8 GB/s for the EPYC 9124 and 89.6 GB/s for the P185.

PCIe generation and lane count differ: Gen 5 with 128 lanes for the EPYC 9124, Gen 4 with 16 lanes for the P185. Integrated graphics are absent on the EPYC 9124 but present as Radeon 890M on the P185.

The EPYC 9124 was released on November 9, 2022, while the P185 has a release date of February 28, 2026. The EPYC 9124 has a launch MSRP of $1083. The P185 has no recorded launch MSRP. The EPYC 9124's part number is 100-100000802, while the P185's part number is unknown. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Market segments differ by design: the EPYC 9124 targets Server/Workstation, while the P185 targets Mobile. Both are listed as Active in production status.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 wins the PassMark single thread test with a score of 3977, compared to the AMD EPYC 9124's 2719. That is a 31.6% advantage for the P185.

Q: How large is the EPYC 9124's lead in physics performance?

A: The EPYC 9124 scores 3662 in the PassMark physics test, while the P185 scores 1772. The EPYC 9124 leads by 106.7%, more than double the P185's result.

Q: Does the P185 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 includes Radeon 890M integrated graphics. The AMD EPYC 9124 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The EPYC 9124 has a twelve-channel memory bus with 460.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The P185 has a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s. The EPYC 9124 provides more than five times the bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The P185 boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the EPYC 9124 boosts to 3.70 GHz. The P185's boost clock is 1.40 GHz higher.

Q: How do the two chips compare in average benchmark score?

A: The EPYC 9124 averages 65104 across all recorded tests, while the P185 averages 62839. Both place in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs in the database.