AMD EPYC 9565 vs AMD EPYC 9655P Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits into two very distinct profiles. The AMD EPYC 9655P wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the AMD EPYC 9565 takes exactly one. That single victory is in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the 9565 scores 2422 against the 9655P's 1686, a 30.4% advantage. This is a workload that responds to high per-core frequency and lower core-count contention, and the 9565's 3.15 GHz base clock against the 9655P's 2.60 GHz base clock explains why.

Everywhere else, the 9655P dominates, and the margins are often massive. In integer math, the 9655P scores 1,225,251 versus 717,948, a 70.7% gap. Data encryption shows a 55.1% lead, random string sorting a 54.8% lead, and physics a 43.3% lead. These are throughput-heavy tasks that scale directly with core count, and the 9655P has 96 cores against the 9565's 72. The pattern is consistent: if the workload can use all available cores, the 9655P pulls ahead by a wide margin.

The single-threaded picture is closer. In PassMark single thread, the 9655P scores 3849 versus 3696, only a 4.1% lead. The Cinebench single-core tests show a larger gap, 18.7% in R15 and 18.6% in R23, because the 9655P's 4.50 GHz boost clock exceeds the 9565's 4.30 GHz. So the 9655P wins both throughput and single-thread tests, but the margin narrows dramatically when the workload is not parallel.

The 9565's lone win in prime number finding is notable because it is the only test where the lower-core part beats the higher-core part. This suggests that the 9565's higher base clock gives it an edge in latency-sensitive, branch-heavy integer loops that do not benefit from additional cores. For users running such workloads, the 9565 is the better choice despite losing nearly everything else.

Architecture Differences

Both processors belong to the AMD EPYC 9005 series, use the Zen 5 architecture, and carry the Turin codename. They are built on the same 4 nm process at TSMC, with the same 99,780 million transistors and the same die configuration of 12 chiplets at 70.6 mm² each. The socket is identical, AMD Socket SP5, and both support DDR5 memory across a twelve-channel bus with 576.0 GB/s of bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on both, and each provides PCIe Gen 5 with 128 lanes from the CPU.

The core counts differ significantly. The 9655P has 96 cores and 192 threads, while the 9565 has 72 cores and 144 threads. That 24-core difference is the primary architectural separator. The 9655P's base clock is 2.60 GHz, lower than the 9565's 3.15 GHz, but the 9655P boosts to 4.50 GHz versus the 9565's 4.30 GHz. This means the 9565 starts at a higher frequency but cannot reach the same peak.

Cache configurations are identical: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 384 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither processor uses 3D V-Cache. The memory subsystem, PCIe lanes, and ECC support are all the same. The only architectural differences are core count, base clock, and boost clock. Everything else, from the process node to the foundry to the transistor count, is shared.

Both were released on the same date, 2024-10-09, and both remain in active production. The 9655P carries the part number 100-000001522, while the 9565 uses 100-000001447. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The launch MSRP for the 9655P is $10811, and for the 9565 it is $10486.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. For any application that scales across many cores, the AMD EPYC 9655P is the stronger part. Its 96 cores deliver leads of 18.6% in Cinebench R23 multicore, 35.1% in data compression, 55.1% in data encryption, and 70.7% in integer math. The average benchmark score reflects this: the 9655P averages 397,773 against the 9565's 285,471. The 9655P also sits at the 100th percentile among all CPUs, while the 9565 ranks at the 99th.

The AMD EPYC 9565 is the better choice only for workloads that resemble prime number finding, where its higher base clock of 3.15 GHz provides a 30.4% advantage. This is a narrow niche. The 9565's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 696X at a 0.2% lower average score, the AMD EPYC 9555P at 0.6% lower, and the Intel Xeon 6780E at 1.8% higher. The 9655P's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX at 3.5% higher, the AMD EPYC 9535 at 4.8% lower, and the AMD EPYC 9655 at 6.5% lower.

For most server and workstation deployments, the 9655P is the superior processor. The 9565's single advantage is real but narrow, and it comes at the cost of losing every other benchmark by margins that range from 4.1% to 70.7%. If the workload is dominated by parallel throughput, the 9655P is the obvious pick. If the workload is dominated by a specific latency-sensitive integer routine, the 9565 deserves consideration.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD EPYC 9655P wins every multi-threaded test. It leads by 18.6% in Cinebench R23 multicore, 35.1% in data compression, 55.1% in data encryption, and 70.7% in integer math.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 9565 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the 9565 wins the PassMark find prime numbers test with a score of 2422 versus the 9655P's 1686, a 30.4% advantage.

Q: How much faster is the 9655P in single-threaded tests?

A: In PassMark single thread, the 9655P scores 3849 versus 3696, a 4.1% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the lead is 18.6%, with scores of 19250 and 16226.

Q: What is the core count difference?

A: The 9655P has 96 cores and 192 threads, while the 9565 has 72 cores and 144 threads, a difference of 24 cores.

Q: Do both processors have the same memory support?

A: Yes, both support DDR5 memory with a twelve-channel bus and 576.0 GB/s of bandwidth, and both support ECC memory.

Q: What is the clock speed difference?

A: The 9565 has a higher base clock at 3.15 GHz versus 2.60 GHz, but the 9655P has a higher boost clock at 4.50 GHz versus 4.30 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the 9655P comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 1,225,251 against 717,948, a 70.7% advantage. This is the clearest demonstration of the core count advantage, as integer math scales almost linearly with additional cores. The 9655P's 96 cores overwhelm the 9565's 72 cores in this workload.

Data encryption shows the second-largest gap at 55.1%, with scores of 220,074 and 141,936. Encryption workloads are highly parallel and benefit from both core count and cache bandwidth, both of which favor the 9655P. Random string sorting follows closely at 54.8%, with scores of 451,824 and 291,941. This test involves memory access patterns and sorting algorithms, where the 9655P's additional cores provide a substantial edge.

Physics simulation shows a 43.3% lead for the 9655P, scoring 25,847 versus 18,036. Data compression is next at 35.1%, with scores of 3,486,158 and 2,579,631. Floating point math shows a 30.3% lead, with scores of 715,866 and 549,422. Extended instructions are closer at 10%, with scores of 230,609 and 209,595.

The Cinebench suite shows consistent 18.6% to 18.7% leads for the 9655P across all tests. R15 multicore scores 13,744 versus 11,585, R20 multicore scores 57,268 versus 48,273, and R23 multicore scores 136,354 versus 114,937. Single-core tests show the same pattern: R15 single-core 1,940 versus 1,635, R20 single-core 8,085 versus 6,814, and R23 single-core 19,250 versus 16,226.

PassMark multithread shows an 18.7% lead for the 9655P, with scores of 160,490 and 135,221. The closest margin is PassMark single thread at 4.1%, where the 9655P scores 3,849 and the 9565 scores 3,696. The 9565's only win is in prime number finding, where it scores 2,422 against 1,686, a 30.4% advantage.

The overall pattern is unambiguous. The 9655P wins 16 tests, the 9565 wins one. The average benchmark scores are 397,773 for the 9655P and 285,471 for the 9565, a difference of roughly 39%. The 9655P also achieves the 100th percentile among all CPUs, while the 9565 sits at the 99th.

Specification Differences

The core count is the most significant difference. The 9655P has 96 cores and 192 threads, while the 9565 has 72 cores and 144 threads. The base clock differs as well: 2.60 GHz for the 9655P and 3.15 GHz for the 9565. The boost clock also differs: 4.50 GHz for the 9655P and 4.30 GHz for the 9565.

The launch MSRP differs by $325, with the 9655P at $10811 and the 9565 at $10486. The part numbers are different: 100-000001522 for the 9655P and 100-000001447 for the 9565.

All other specifications are identical. Both use the Zen 5 architecture, the Turin codename, the 4 nm process at TSMC, and have 99,780 million transistors. Both have 12 chiplets at 70.6 mm² each. L1 cache is 80 KB per core, L2 cache is 1 MB per core, and L3 cache is 384 MB shared. Memory support is DDR5 with a twelve-channel bus and 576.0 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory, both provide PCIe Gen 5 with 128 lanes, and neither has integrated graphics.

Both processors use AMD Socket SP5, have a TDP of 400, and were released on 2024-10-09. Both are in active production, both are aimed at the server and workstation market segment, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The 9655P's average benchmark score is 397,773, while the 9565's is 285,471. The 9655P ranks at the 100th percentile among all CPUs, and the 9565 ranks at the 99th.