AMD EPYC 9455P vs Intel Xeon 6781P Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Xeon 6781P and AMD EPYC 9455P is decisively lopsided, with the Intel part winning 11 of the 14 recorded head-to-head tests. The margin of victory, however, varies dramatically by workload type, revealing distinct architectural strengths.

The most striking Intel wins come in compute-heavy PassMark workloads. In the extended instructions test, the Xeon 6781P scores 199,048 against the EPYC's 137,485, a 44.8% advantage. The floating point math test shows a similar pattern: 507,406 versus 357,783, a 41.8% lead. The prime number finding test is the most extreme outlier, with Intel at 1,687 versus AMD at 1,107, a 52.4% gap. These are not marginal differences; they represent fundamental throughput advantages in specific instruction paths.

Data compression is another major Intel win, with a 26.6% delta (2,441,690 versus 1,928,897). Random string sorting also favors Intel by 10.7% (268,573 versus 242,701). Even in data encryption, where the gap is smaller, Intel still leads by 3.7% (119,623 versus 115,403).

The multi-core Cinebench results are remarkably close. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the Intel Xeon 6781P wins each time by just 1.1%. The scores are 10,105 versus 9,999, 42,106 versus 41,666, and 100,254 versus 99,206 respectively. This consistency across three Cinebench versions suggests the two processors deliver nearly identical sustained multi-threaded rendering performance, despite the Intel chip having 80 cores versus 48 for AMD.

The PassMark multithread test tells a similar story: Intel wins 117,946 to 116,927, a mere 0.9% margin. The physics test also goes to Intel by 2.5% (17,753 versus 17,315).

The AMD EPYC 9455P's victories are concentrated in single-threaded performance and integer math. In the PassMark single-thread test, AMD scores 3,745 versus Intel's 3,152, a 15.8% advantage. This is the largest margin in either direction in the entire benchmark suite. The integer math test is the only other AMD win, at 606,239 versus 584,834, a 3.5% lead.

The overall picture is clear: Intel dominates in floating point, extended instructions, and memory-intensive operations, while AMD holds a significant edge in raw single-core throughput and a modest lead in integer arithmetic. The average benchmark scores reflect this, with Intel at 315,524 and AMD at 217,854, though the comparison is complicated by the fact that these averages include different benchmark sets.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in this comparison?

A: The Intel Xeon 6781P wins 11 of the 14 head-to-head tests, while the AMD EPYC 9455P wins only 3.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The AMD EPYC 9455P leads the PassMark single-thread test by 15.8%, scoring 3,745 versus Intel's 3,152.

Q: Are the multi-core Cinebench scores significantly different?

A: No, they are nearly identical. The Intel Xeon 6781P wins all three Cinebench multi-core tests (R15, R20, R23) by exactly 1.1% each time.

Q: What is the largest performance delta in either direction?

A: The largest delta is Intel's 52.4% advantage in the PassMark find prime numbers test (1,687 versus 1,107).

Q: Does the AMD processor have any advantage in memory-intensive tasks?

A: No, the Intel processor wins the data compression test by 26.6% and the random string sorting test by 10.7%.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Intel Xeon 6781P's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX, which is 1.6% faster on average. The AMD EPYC 9455P's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon 6747P, which is 8.6% faster on average.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon 6781P uses the Granite Rapids architecture on a 5 nm process manufactured at Intel's own foundry. It packs 80 cores and 160 threads. The AMD EPYC 9455P, part of the EPYC 9005 series, uses the Zen 5 architecture (codenamed Turin) on a 4 nm process from TSMC, with 48 cores and 96 threads.

The core count disparity is substantial, but the clock speeds tell the other side of the story. The AMD part runs at a 3.15 GHz base clock and 4.40 GHz boost clock. The Intel part has a 2.00 GHz base clock and 3.80 GHz boost clock. AMD's higher clocks explain its single-thread dominance, while Intel's core advantage powers its multi-threaded wins.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. Intel provides 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a massive 336 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD offers 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 256 MB shared L3. Intel's larger per-core caches and bigger L3 pool contribute to its strong performance in data-heavy workloads.

Memory architecture is another differentiator. The Intel Xeon 6781P supports eight-channel DDR5 with a recorded bandwidth of 409.6 GB/s. The AMD EPYC 9455P supports twelve-channel DDR5 with 576.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Despite the AMD memory bandwidth advantage, Intel wins the data compression and sorting tests, suggesting memory bandwidth is not the sole bottleneck in those workloads.

PCIe connectivity is comparable: Intel offers 136 Gen 5 lanes, AMD offers 128 Gen 5 lanes. Both have ECC memory support and neither includes integrated graphics. The Intel processor uses Socket 4710, while AMD uses Socket SP5.

The die configurations reflect different manufacturing approaches. Intel uses a 2x 598 mm² design, while AMD uses 8x 70.6 mm² chiplets. AMD lists 66,520 million transistors, while Intel's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear workload-based selection. For multi-threaded, floating-point-heavy, and data-intensive server workloads, the Intel Xeon 6781P is the stronger choice. Its wins in extended instructions (44.8%), floating point math (41.8%), and data compression (26.6%) are decisive. The 11-to-3 benchmark win count solidifies this position.

For single-threaded responsiveness and integer-heavy applications, the AMD EPYC 9455P holds the advantage. Its 15.8% lead in single-thread performance and 3.5% lead in integer math are meaningful for workloads that cannot scale across cores or that depend on per-core throughput.

The Cinebench results suggest that for pure rendering workloads, the choice is nearly immaterial. Both processors deliver within 1.1% of each other across three benchmark versions. The AMD chip achieves this with 32 fewer cores, relying on higher clocks and architectural efficiency.

The AMD EPYC 9455P also carries a lower launch MSRP of $4819, compared to Intel's $8960, though this page does not analyze pricing implications. The Intel part was released on 2025-02-23, while AMD launched on 2024-10-09, making AMD the earlier entrant.

Both processors sit at the 99th percentile versus all CPUs in the database. The Intel Xeon 6781P's average benchmark score of 315,524 places it within 1.6% of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX and 1.9% of the Threadripper 9980X. The AMD EPYC 9455P's average of 217,854 trails the Intel Xeon 6747P by 8.6% but leads the Xeon w9-3595X by 3.8%.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon 6781P | AMD EPYC 9455P |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 80 | 48 |

| Threads | 160 | 96 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 3.15 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 350 W | 300 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 4710 | AMD Socket SP5 |

| Architecture | Granite Rapids | Zen 5 |

| Codename | Granite Rapids | Turin |

| Generation | Xeon 6 (Granite Rapids-SP) | EPYC (Zen 5 (Turin)) |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 2x 598 mm² | 8x 70.6 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 112 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 336 MB (shared) | 256 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Twelve-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 409.6 GB/s | 576.0 GB/s |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 5, 136 (CPU only) | Gen 5, 128 (CPU only) |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 66,520 million |

| Release Date | 2025-02-23 | 2024-10-09 |

| Launch MSRP | $8960 | $4819 |

| Part Number | SRV5J | 100-000001563 |

Both processors share DDR5 memory support, ECC memory capability, no integrated graphics, a server/workstation market segment, active production status, and locked multipliers. The AMD part belongs to the EPYC 9005 series, while Intel's series field is not recorded in the database.