AMD EPYC 9455P vs Intel Xeon 6780E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between two very different design philosophies. The AMD EPYC 9455P wins 11 of the 16 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Xeon 6780E takes 5. The margin of victory, however, tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The most decisive result belongs to the AMD EPYC 9455P in single-threaded performance. In both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, the AMD part scores 3745 against Intel's 1923, a 48.7% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set, and it reflects a fundamental difference in how these processors are built. The AMD EPYC 9455P also dominates the Cinebench suite across all three versions. In cinebench_r15_multicore, AMD scores 9999 versus 7431 for Intel, and the same 25.7% deficit appears in cinebench_r15_singlecore (1411 vs 1049), cinebench_r20_multicore (41666 vs 30963), cinebench_r20_singlecore (5882 vs 4371), and cinebench_r23_multicore (99206 vs 73723). Every Cinebench result shows the identical 25.7% delta, suggesting a consistent per-core throughput gap that scales uniformly across the benchmark's workload.

The passmark_multithread score reinforces AMD's advantage in general multithreaded work, with 116927 against 86734, a 25.8% lead. The passmark_physics test shows an even larger gap at 36.8%, with AMD scoring 17315 versus 10951. Extended instruction workloads also favor AMD, with a 17.1% lead (137485 vs 114008). Prime number finding, a workload sensitive to integer throughput and latency, goes to AMD by 36% (1107 vs 708).

The Intel Xeon 6780E counters with significant wins in several specific workloads. The largest Intel victory is in passmark_data_encryption, where it scores 193004 against AMD's 115403, a 67.2% advantage. Data compression also favors Intel heavily, with a 32.6% lead (2557582 vs 1928897). Random string sorting goes to Intel by 34.7% (326954 vs 242701). Floating point math favors Intel by 21.3% (433862 vs 357783), while integer math shows a narrower 5.9% edge for Intel (641817 vs 606239).

The overall average benchmark score in the database places the Intel Xeon 6780E at 280438, which is 28.7% higher than the AMD EPYC 9455P's 217854. This aggregate figure, however, is heavily influenced by the Passmark data compression and encryption results, where Intel's massive wins outweigh the more numerous but smaller AMD victories. The Intel part sits at the 99th percentile among all CPUs, and its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X (0.2% ahead), AMD EPYC 9565 (1.8% behind), Intel Xeon 696X (2% behind), and AMD EPYC 9555P (2.3% behind). The AMD EPYC 9455P also holds the 99th percentile, with its nearest rivals being the Intel Xeon w9-3595X (3.8% behind), Intel Xeon 6747P (8.6% ahead), Intel Xeon 6741P (11.8% behind), and AMD EPYC 9335 (12.2% behind).

Architecture Differences

The architectural divergence between these two processors is stark. The Intel Xeon 6780E uses the Sierra Forest architecture, built on Intel's 5 nm process, and carries the codename Sierra Forest. It belongs to the Xeon 6 generation (Sierra Forest-SP). The AMD EPYC 9455P is built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Turin, part of the EPYC 9005 series, and fabricated on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The transistor counts and die layouts reflect these different approaches: AMD lists 66,520 million transistors across 8 chiplets of 70.6 mm² each, while Intel's die is a single 578 mm² piece.

Core counts diverge dramatically. The Intel Xeon 6780E packs 144 cores with 144 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The AMD EPYC 9455P has 48 cores with 96 threads, enabling two threads per core. Clock speeds tell the opposite story: AMD's base clock of 3.15 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz far exceed Intel's 2.20 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. With three times the cores but significantly lower clocks, Intel's design prioritizes raw core count, while AMD's design emphasizes per-core speed and thread efficiency.

Cache hierarchies also differ in structure. Intel provides 96 KB of L1 per core, 4 MB of L2 per module, and 108 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 256 MB of shared L3. The L3 difference is notable: AMD offers more than double the shared cache, which helps explain its strong performance in cache-sensitive single-threaded workloads. Intel's larger L2 per module and per-core L1 reflect its modular core layout.

Memory architecture differs as well. Both support DDR5 and ECC memory, but AMD runs twelve channels with 576.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while Intel runs eight channels with 409.6 GB/s. PCIe connectivity favors AMD with 128 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only) versus Intel's 88 Gen 5 lanes. Both lack integrated graphics and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Power envelopes are close, with Intel rated at 330W TDP and AMD at 300W TDP.

The release dates show Intel arriving first on 2024-06-02, with AMD following on 2024-10-09. Both are listed as Active in production status and target the Server/Workstation market segment.

The Verdict

The data points to different optimal choices depending on workload profile. The AMD EPYC 9455P is the stronger choice for general compute, rendering, and single-threaded performance. Its 48.7% lead in single-threaded tests, combined with consistent 25.7% advantages across the entire Cinebench suite, makes it the clear pick for applications that rely on per-core speed and moderate thread counts. The passmark_multithread result, 116927 versus 86734, shows that even in heavily threaded workloads, AMD's 96 threads outperform Intel's 144 threads by 25.8%. The physics test, with a 36.8% advantage for AMD, reinforces this pattern.

The Intel Xeon 6780E is the better choice for specialized workloads where its design excels. Data encryption shows a massive 67.2% lead, data compression a 32.6% lead, and random string sorting a 34.7% lead. Floating point math also favors Intel by 21.3%. These are not marginal differences; they represent substantial advantages in specific acceleration paths or memory access patterns. The Intel part also delivers a higher average benchmark score overall, 280438 versus 217854, though this aggregate is skewed by its dominant performance in the Passmark compression and encryption tests.

The core count disparity explains the strategic positioning. Intel offers 144 cores versus AMD's 48, yet AMD wins most benchmarks. This suggests that for the majority of measured workloads, the combination of higher clocks, SMT, and larger L3 cache on AMD more than compensates for Intel's threefold core advantage. The 330W TDP on Intel versus 300W on AMD also means Intel consumes more power while delivering fewer wins in the measured suite. The launch MSRP for the Intel Xeon 6780E is $11350, while the AMD EPYC 9455P carries a launch MSRP of $4819.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. Core count stands as the most obvious gap: 144 cores and 144 threads on Intel versus 48 cores and 96 threads on AMD. Clock speeds reverse the order, with AMD at 3.15 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost against Intel's 2.20 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. The process node differs, with Intel on 5 nm and AMD on 4 nm, and the foundries differ as well, Intel fabricating its own silicon while AMD uses TSMC.

Cache configurations diverge in both size and organization. Intel allocates 96 KB L1 per core and 4 MB L2 per module, while AMD provides 80 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core. Shared L3 favors AMD at 256 MB versus Intel's 108 MB. Memory channels and bandwidth follow suit: AMD offers twelve channels and 576.0 GB/s, Intel eight channels and 409.6 GB/s. PCIe lane counts give AMD 128 Gen 5 lanes versus Intel's 88. The TDP ratings are close but not identical, with Intel at 330W and AMD at 300W. Sockets differ completely, with Intel using Socket 4710 and AMD using Socket SP5. The die sizes reflect different packaging strategies, with Intel using a monolithic 578 mm² die and AMD using 8 chiplets of 70.6 mm² each. Transistor count is listed only for AMD at 66,520 million.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon 6780E has 144 cores and 144 threads, while the AMD EPYC 9455P has 48 cores and 96 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 9455P leads by 48.7% in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, scoring 3745 versus Intel's 1923.

Q: Why does Intel win the data encryption benchmark by such a large margin?

A: The Intel Xeon 6780E scores 193004 in passmark_data_encryption versus 115403 for the AMD EPYC 9455P, a 67.2% advantage. This is the largest single delta in the head-to-head comparison.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD EPYC 9455P provides 576.0 GB/s across twelve channels, while the Intel Xeon 6780E provides 409.6 GB/s across eight channels.

Q: How do the Cinebench results compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 9455P wins all three Cinebench versions by a consistent 25.7% margin. In cinebench_r23_multicore, AMD scores 99206 against Intel's 73723.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon 6780E has an average benchmark score of 280438, while the AMD EPYC 9455P averages 217854. Both sit at the 99th percentile among all CPUs in the database.