AMD EPYC 9565 vs AMD EPYC 9965 Comparison

FAQ

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each processor?

A: The AMD EPYC 9965 has 192 cores and 384 threads, while the AMD EPYC 9565 has 72 cores and 144 threads.

Q: What process nodes are used for these two Turin processors?

A: The AMD EPYC 9965 is built on TSMC's 3 nm process, while the AMD EPYC 9565 uses TSMC's 4 nm process.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: Both processors have 384 MB of shared L3 cache, along with 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth for both processors?

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

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD EPYC 9565 has a higher boost clock at 4.30 GHz compared to the AMD EPYC 9965's 3.70 GHz. The EPYC 9565 also has a higher base clock at 3.15 GHz versus 2.25 GHz.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor have in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The AMD EPYC 9965 wins 14 of the head-to-head benchmarks, while the AMD EPYC 9565 wins 3.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of each processor?

A: The AMD EPYC 9965 has a launch MSRP of $14813, and the AMD EPYC 9565 has a launch MSRP of $10486.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly along workload type. The AMD EPYC 9965 dominates in throughput-heavy tasks, winning all six Cinebench tests and the majority of PassMark workloads. Its largest advantages appear in integer math (168.3% ahead), data encryption (145.5% ahead), data compression (120.2% ahead), random string sorting (116.8% ahead), and floating point math (109.9% ahead). These are precisely the workloads that scale with core count, and the EPYC 9965's 192 cores versus 72 cores provides the raw parallel capacity.

The AMD EPYC 9565 takes a different set of victories. It wins the PassMark single-thread test by 14.1% and the PassMark find prime numbers test by 50.1%. The prime number finding workload is highly dependent on single-core performance and clock speed, and the EPYC 9565's base clock of 3.15 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz give it a meaningful advantage in latency-sensitive, low-thread-count operations. The EPYC 9965's lower clocks (2.25 GHz base, 3.70 GHz boost) limit its per-core throughput despite the massive core count.

The multithreaded PassMark test shows a narrower margin: the EPYC 9965 leads by only 18.7% (160542 vs 135221). Physics also favors the EPYC 9965 but by just 3.7% (18707 vs 18036), indicating that this workload does not scale perfectly with the 2.67x core advantage. For mixed server workloads with moderate thread counts, the EPYC 9565's higher clocks can keep it competitive.

Architecture Differences

Both processors belong to the EPYC 9005 series and share the Turin codename, but they represent different Zen 5 implementations. The AMD EPYC 9965 is listed as Zen 5c (Turin), while the AMD EPYC 9565 is listed as Zen 5 (Turin). This distinction is central to their performance profiles.

The process node differs: the EPYC 9965 uses TSMC's 3 nm process, while the EPYC 9565 uses TSMC's 4 nm process. The EPYC 9565 does have a documented transistor count of 99,780 million and a die size of 12x 70.6 mm², whereas the EPYC 9965's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database. The denser 3 nm node on the EPYC 9965 allows for 192 cores within the same SP5 socket envelope.

Cache architecture is identical in structure: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 384 MB of shared L3. Neither processor features 3D V-Cache. The shared L3 capacity is notable for both, but the per-core L3 ratio differs substantially due to core count: the EPYC 9965 has 2 MB of L3 per core, while the EPYC 9565 has roughly 5.33 MB of L3 per core. This gives the EPYC 9565 a larger private L3 share per thread, which can aid single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads.

Both use the AMD Socket SP5, support DDR5 with ECC, run on a twelve-channel memory bus, and provide Gen 5 PCIe with 128 lanes (CPU only). Neither has integrated graphics. Both are active production parts released on the same date.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on several specifications. The core count is 192 for the EPYC 9965 versus 72 for the EPYC 9565, and threads follow at 384 versus 144. Base clock is 2.25 GHz for the EPYC 9965 and 3.15 GHz for the EPYC 9565. Boost clock is 3.70 GHz for the EPYC 9965 and 4.30 GHz for the EPYC 9565.

TDP is 500 for the EPYC 9965 and 400 for the EPYC 9565. Process node is 3 nm for the EPYC 9965 and 4 nm for the EPYC 9565. Transistor count is not recorded for the EPYC 9965 but is 99,780 million for the EPYC 9565. Die size is not recorded for the EPYC 9965 but is 12x 70.6 mm² for the EPYC 9565.

The generation field also differs: the EPYC 9965 is listed as "EPYC (Zen 5c (Turin))" while the EPYC 9565 is listed as "EPYC (Zen 5 (Turin))". Launch MSRP is $14813 for the EPYC 9965 and $10486 for the EPYC 9565. Part numbers are 100-000000976 for the EPYC 9965 and 100-000001447 for the EPYC 9565.

Identical between the two: socket (SP5), architecture family (Zen 5), manufacturer (AMD), L1/L2/L3 cache sizes, memory type (DDR5), memory bus (twelve-channel), memory bandwidth (576.0 GB/s), ECC support, PCIe configuration (Gen 5, 128 lanes, CPU only), integrated graphics (N/A), market segment (Server/Workstation), production status (Active), release date, and multiplier unlock status (both locked).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a consistent pattern. Across R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core tests give the EPYC 9965 an 18.9% advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 9965 scores 13775 against 11585. In R15 single-core, it scores 1944 against 1635. R20 multi-core shows 57397 versus 48273, and R20 single-core shows 8103 versus 6814. R23 multi-core is 136661 versus 114937, and R23 single-core is 19293 versus 16226. The uniform 18.9% delta across both single and multi-core Cinebench tests indicates that the EPYC 9965's architecture, despite lower clocks, delivers higher per-thread Cinebench performance than the EPYC 9565.

The PassMark suite tells a more varied story. The EPYC 9965 wins data compression by 120.2% (5679990 vs 2579631), data encryption by 145.5% (348449 vs 141936), extended instructions by 82.9% (383298 vs 209595), floating point math by 109.9% (1153453 vs 549422), integer math by 168.3% (1926069 vs 717948), multithread by 18.7% (160542 vs 135221), physics by 3.7% (18707 vs 18036), and random string sorting by 116.8% (633030 vs 291941).

The EPYC 9565 counters in two areas. PassMark single-thread shows 3696 versus 3176, a 14.1% advantage. PassMark find prime numbers shows 2422 versus 1208, a 50.1% advantage. These wins align with the EPYC 9565's higher clock speeds and its larger L3 share per core.

Looking at the rival context, the EPYC 9965 sits at the 100th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 620487. Its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 9845, averages 523613, which is 18.5% lower. The AMD EPYC 9755 trails by 22.7% (505778), the AMD EPYC 9745 by 45.7% (425973), and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX by 50.6% (412068). The EPYC 9965 is not just ahead of the EPYC 9565; it leads the next closest EPYC part by a substantial margin.

The EPYC 9565, at the 99th percentile, has an average benchmark score of 285471. Its rivals are much closer: the Intel Xeon 696X is essentially tied at -0.2% (286102), the AMD EPYC 9555P is 0.6% higher (287066), the Intel Xeon 6780E is 1.8% lower (280438), and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is 2% lower (279778). This places the EPYC 9565 in a highly competitive segment where clock speed and per-core efficiency matter more than raw core count.

The overall average benchmark score difference is stark: 620487 for the EPYC 9965 versus 285471 for the EPYC 9565. The EPYC 9965's nearest rivals are other high-core-count EPYC parts, while the EPYC 9565 competes directly with Intel Xeon parts and high-end Threadripper SKUs. For workloads that can use 192 cores effectively, the EPYC 9965 is in a class of its own. For workloads that favor clock speed and moderate thread counts, the EPYC 9565's higher clocks and competitive rival positioning make it the more balanced option.