AMD EPYC 9384X vs Intel Xeon 6732P Comparison

Intel Xeon 6732P and AMD EPYC 9384X are both 32-core server processors aimed at the same high-end socket market, yet they deliver distinctly different performance profiles. The Intel part, a Granite Rapids-SP chip built on a 5 nm process, wins 13 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, while the AMD EPYC 9384X, a Zen 4 Genoa-X part also on 5 nm, takes four. The database shows the Intel processor holds a commanding lead in most compute-heavy tasks, but the AMD chip counters with decisive wins in encryption, physics simulation, and single-threaded PassMark testing. Below is a breakdown of where each part excels, the architectural reasons behind those results, and which workload types favor which processor.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 6732P is the clear winner in rendering and general multi-core throughput. In Cinebench testing, it beats the EPYC 9384X by 7.4% in R15, R20, and R23 multi-core runs, and by 7.5% in the single-core versions of R15 and R20, with R23 single-core showing a 7.4% edge. The margin is consistent across the entire Cinebench suite, suggesting a uniform clock and IPC advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. PassMark integer math shows a 12.3% lead, floating-point math a massive 49.9% lead, and extended instructions a 43.5% lead. Data compression is 19.6% faster, and random string sorting is 11.7% faster. For rendering, scientific computing, and any task that relies on heavy arithmetic or vectorized code, the Intel part is substantially ahead.

The AMD EPYC 9384X wins in four specific areas. PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests show a 16.9% advantage, which is notable given the Intel part has higher base and boost clocks (3.80 GHz and 4.10 GHz versus 3.10 GHz and 3.90 GHz). The AMD chip also wins data encryption by 12.1% and physics simulation by 13.1%. The encryption result points to dedicated cryptographic acceleration or a more efficient implementation, while the physics win suggests the large L3 cache helps in certain latency-sensitive branching workloads. The single-thread PassMark win is the most surprising, as it contradicts the Cinebench single-core results where Intel leads by 7.5%, indicating that PassMark's single-thread test stresses different instructions or memory access patterns.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge sharply in cache hierarchy and memory configuration. The Intel Xeon 6732P has 144 MB of shared L3 cache, with 2 MB of L2 per core and 112 KB of L1 per core. The AMD EPYC 9384X has a much larger 768 MB of shared L3 cache, but smaller per-core L2 (1 MB) and L1 (64 KB). The 768 MB L3 is the defining feature of the Genoa-X architecture, designed to hold entire working sets for database and analytics workloads. However, the benchmark data shows that this massive cache does not translate into wins for most tested tasks, with the exception of physics and encryption.

Memory bandwidth is another differentiator. The AMD part supports twelve-channel memory with 460.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel part uses eight channels at 409.6 GB/s. Despite lower theoretical bandwidth, the Intel part wins data compression and random string sorting, which are often memory-intensive, by 19.6% and 11.7% respectively. This suggests the Intel memory controller or prefetch behavior is more effective for these patterns, or that the higher clock speed compensates. Both support DDR5 and ECC memory, and both use PCIe Gen 5, with the Intel part offering 136 lanes versus AMD's 128 lanes.

Process node and foundry are identical (5 nm), but the transistor counts differ: the EPYC 9384X has 90,160 million transistors across 8x 72 mm² chiplets, while the Intel die size is not recorded. The Intel part uses Socket 4710, while AMD uses Socket SP5. The EPYC 9384X has a lower TDP of 320 watts versus Intel's 350 watts, which may influence cooling requirements, though both are high-power server parts. The launch MSRP of the Intel Xeon 6732P is $5295, and the AMD EPYC 9384X is $5529.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for most users: the Intel Xeon 6732P is the faster processor across the majority of recorded benchmarks. It wins 13 of 17 head-to-head tests, including all Cinebench versions, all PassMark math tests, and both sorting and compression workloads. The consistent 7.4% to 7.5% edge in Cinebench suggests a per-core performance advantage that scales linearly with thread count. For rendering, data analysis, and general server compute, the Intel part delivers higher throughput.

The AMD EPYC 9384X is the better choice only if the specific workload matches its four wins. The 16.9% lead in PassMark single-thread performance is significant for lightly threaded applications, and the 12.1% encryption win and 13.1% physics win indicate specialized strengths. The 768 MB L3 cache may also be beneficial for very large in-memory databases, though the benchmark suite does not include a direct test that shows this advantage. For users running encryption-heavy services, physics simulation, or code that is sensitive to the PassMark single-thread pattern, the AMD part is competitive.

Neither processor is a clear failure, but the average benchmark score tells the story: the Intel Xeon 6732P averages 143444 across all tests, placing it in the 98th percentile of all CPUs, while the EPYC 9384X averages 120427, in the 97th percentile. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D (0.2% slower), Intel Xeon 674X (0.2% faster), and Intel Xeon w9-3575X (0.6% faster), indicating it sits at the top of its performance class. The EPYC 9384X is close to the Intel Xeon w7-3565X (1.8% faster) and AMD EPYC 9255 (3.5% slower), placing it in a slightly lower tier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon 6732P wins 13 of 17 head-to-head tests. The AMD EPYC 9384X wins four.

Q: Is the AMD EPYC 9384X faster in single-threaded performance?

A: It depends on the test. The AMD part wins PassMark single-thread by 16.9%, but the Intel part wins Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core by 7.4% to 7.5%.

Q: How does the L3 cache size compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 9384X has 768 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Xeon 6732P has 144 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has higher clock speeds?

A: The Intel Xeon 6732P has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The AMD EPYC 9384X has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth for each?

A: The Intel part has eight-channel memory with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD part has twelve-channel memory with 460.8 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor wins in encryption?

A: The AMD EPYC 9384X wins PassMark data encryption by 12.1%. The Intel part wins data compression by 19.6%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Intel Xeon 6732P is in PassMark floating-point math, where it scores 261703 against the EPYC 9384X's 174630, a 49.9% advantage. This is a massive gap and indicates that the Intel floating-point unit or its SIMD implementation is far more efficient. Extended instructions show a 43.5% lead (106697 versus 74363), which covers AVX and similar vector workloads. Data compression shows a 19.6% lead (1339480 versus 1119983), a significant margin for a task that often scales with memory bandwidth and cache efficiency.

The Intel part also wins integer math by 12.3% (334340 versus 297833), random string sorting by 11.7% (133467 versus 119440), and find prime numbers by 5.4% (628 versus 596). All Cinebench multi-core tests show a 7.4% lead, with scores of 6412 versus 5968 (R15), 26720 versus 24870 (R20), and 63621 versus 59215 (R23). Single-core Cinebench tests show a 7.4% to 7.5% lead, with R23 single-core at 8981 versus 8359.

The AMD EPYC 9384X's largest win is in PassMark single-thread, scoring 3015 versus 2506, a 16.9% advantage. This is a substantial difference and suggests that for some single-threaded instruction sequences, the AMD core is much faster despite lower clock speeds. The physics test shows a 13.1% lead (9332 versus 8109), and data encryption shows a 12.1% lead (72631 versus 63848). These wins are specific and do not carry over to other similar tests, making them niche advantages. The overall pattern is clear: the Intel Xeon 6732P dominates multi-core and math-heavy workloads, while the AMD EPYC 9384X has targeted strengths in single-thread PassMark patterns, encryption, and physics simulation.