AMD EPYC 9354 vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX and the AMD EPYC 9354 are both high-end server and workstation processors, but they target different priorities. The Threadripper PRO 9965WX is a 24-core Zen 5 part built on a 4 nm process, while the EPYC 9354 is a 32-core Zen 4 part on a 5 nm process. In the database's head-to-head benchmark suite, the Threadripper wins 14 of 17 tests, including every Cinebench run, while the EPYC takes three Passmark workloads. The average benchmark score for the Threadripper is 147009, against 126810 for the EPYC, placing the Threadripper in the 98th percentile of all CPUs and the EPYC in the 97th.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the comparison is single-thread performance. The Threadripper PRO 9965WX scores 4551 in Passmark's single-thread test, a 75% advantage over the EPYC's 2601. That gap is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set. The same pattern appears across Cinebench: the Threadripper leads by 31.2% in all six Cinebench tests, from R15 multicore (8162 vs 6221) to R23 single-core (11431 vs 8713). The consistency of that 31.2% delta across every Cinebench variant suggests a fundamental per-core advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

In multi-threaded Passmark workloads, the Threadripper also leads. Passmark multithread shows 92604 vs 72615, a 27.5% margin. Extended instructions come in at 108753 vs 86176, a 26.2% lead. Floating point math is 229685 vs 188894, a 21.6% advantage. Data compression is 1345230 vs 1168626, a 15.1% lead. Integer math is 349195 vs 304828, a 14.6% margin. Random string sorting is 149617 vs 140690, a 6.3% edge.

The EPYC 9354 wins three tests. Data encryption is 71400 vs 66155, a 7.3% advantage for the EPYC. Find prime numbers is 934 vs 752, a 19.5% lead. Physics is 9281 vs 7529, an 18.9% margin. These wins are notable because they come despite the EPYC's lower clock speeds, and they align with the EPYC's larger L3 cache and higher core count.

The overall win count is 14 for the Threadripper and 3 for the EPYC. The average benchmark score difference is 147009 vs 126810, which places the Threadripper in the 98th percentile and the EPYC in the 97th. The Threadripper's nearest rivals in the database are the AMD EPYC 8434P (0.1% behind), the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965 (0.9% behind), the AMD EPYC 7643P (1.5% behind), and the Intel Xeon w9-3575X (1.9% behind). The EPYC's nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon 6730P (1.6% behind), the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX (2.1% behind), the AMD EPYC 7642 (2.3% behind), and the Intel Xeon 6710E, which is 2.4% ahead of the EPYC.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX. In Passmark's single-thread test it scores 4551 against the EPYC 9354's 2601, a 75% lead. It also wins every Cinebench single-core test by 31.2%.

Q: Does the EPYC 9354's higher core count translate to more wins?

A: Not in most tests. The EPYC has 32 cores and 64 threads versus 24 cores and 48 threads, but it wins only three of 17 head-to-head tests: data encryption, find prime numbers, and physics. The Threadripper wins the other 14, including all Cinebench runs and Passmark multithread.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The Threadripper PRO 9965WX has an average benchmark score of 147009, while the EPYC 9354 averages 126810. The Threadripper sits in the 98th percentile of all CPUs, and the EPYC sits in the 97th.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The EPYC 9354 has 256 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Threadripper PRO 9965WX has 128 MB. The EPYC also has a twelve-channel memory bus with 460.8 GB/s bandwidth, versus the Threadripper's eight-channel bus at 409.6 GB/s.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The Threadripper PRO 9965WX was released on 2025-07-22, while the EPYC 9354 was released on 2022-11-09. The Threadripper is built on a 4 nm process with Zen 5 architecture, while the EPYC uses a 5 nm process with Zen 4.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The Threadripper PRO 9965WX has an unlocked multiplier, while the EPYC 9354 does not.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations of AMD's server and workstation lineups. The Threadripper PRO 9965WX uses the Zen 5 architecture with the codename Shimada Peak, while the EPYC 9354 uses Zen 4 with the codename Genoa. The Threadripper is fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC, while the EPYC uses a 5 nm process, also at TSMC.

The transistor counts differ substantially. The Threadripper has 33,260 million transistors across a die size of 4x 70.6 mm². The EPYC has 52,560 million transistors across 8x 72 mm². The EPYC's larger transistor count and die area reflect its higher core count and larger L3 cache.

Cache hierarchy differs in the L3 level. Both CPUs have 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core. The Threadripper has 128 MB of L3, while the EPYC has 256 MB of shared L3. The EPYC's L3 is double the size, which helps in cache-sensitive workloads like the prime number and physics tests it wins.

Memory architecture also differs. The Threadripper uses an eight-channel DDR5 memory bus with 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The EPYC uses a twelve-channel DDR5 bus with 460.8 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. The EPYC's wider memory bus gives it a bandwidth advantage, though the Threadripper's higher clock speeds offset that in many tests.

The sockets are different: the Threadripper uses AMD Socket sTR5, while the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP5. Both support PCIe Gen 5 with 128 lanes from the CPU. Neither has integrated graphics. The Threadripper has an unlocked multiplier, while the EPYC is locked. The Threadripper is part of the 9000 series, and the EPYC is part of the EPYC 9004 series.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications differ in the following fields.

| Specification | Threadripper PRO 9965WX | EPYC 9354 |

| Cores | 24 | 32 |

| Threads | 48 | 64 |

| Base clock | 4.20 GHz | 3.25 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 350 W | 280 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket sTR5 | AMD Socket SP5 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Zen 4 |

| Codename | Shimada Peak | Genoa |

| Process node | 4 nm | 5 nm |

| Transistors | 33,260 million | 52,560 million |

| Die size | 4x 70.6 mm² | 8x 72 mm² |

| L3 cache | 128 MB | 256 MB (shared) |

| Memory bus | Eight-channel | Twelve-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 409.6 GB/s | 460.8 GB/s |

| Release date | 2025-07-22 | 2022-11-09 |

| Launch MSRP | $2899 | $3420 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part number | 100-000000724 | 100-100000798 |

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for most workloads. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, including every Cinebench benchmark and the majority of Passmark workloads. Its single-thread advantage is enormous at 75%, and it leads by 31.2% across all Cinebench variants. For users running rendering, compilation, or general workstation tasks, the Threadripper is the stronger choice.

The EPYC 9354 is not without merit. It wins in data encryption, find prime numbers, and physics, and it offers a larger L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB), a wider twelve-channel memory bus, and higher memory bandwidth (460.8 GB/s vs 409.6 GB/s). It also has a lower TDP of 280 W versus 350 W, and more cores (32 vs 24). For server workloads that are cache-sensitive or memory-bandwidth-bound, the EPYC's wins in those three tests show where it excels.

The Threadripper's average benchmark score of 147009 places it in the 98th percentile, while the EPYC's 126810 places it in the 97th. The Threadripper's nearest rivals are all within 1.9% of its average score, while the EPYC's nearest rivals are within 2.4% (with the Intel Xeon 6710E actually ahead of it by 2.4%). The Threadripper is also the newer part, released on 2025-07-22 versus 2022-11-09, and it is built on a more advanced 4 nm process.

For buyers who prioritize single-thread performance, the Threadripper PRO 9965WX is the obvious pick. For buyers who need the EPYC's specific strengths in encryption, prime number finding, and physics, or who require the larger L3 cache and twelve-channel memory bus, the EPYC 9354 is the appropriate choice. The Threadripper is also the only one of the two with an unlocked multiplier.