AMD EPYC 9655P vs Intel Xeon 6774P Comparison

The AMD EPYC 9655P and Intel Xeon 6774P are two high-core-count server processors aimed at demanding data center workloads, but the benchmark data shows they are not close competitors in raw performance. The recorded results show the AMD EPYC 9655P winning all 14 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with a 42.3% lead in Cinebench multi-core tests and a 106.5% advantage in PassMark integer math. The Intel Xeon 6774P does not win a single recorded benchmark, making this a one-sided comparison in every measured category.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 9655P is the clear winner across every workload category in the database. In multi-threaded applications, it dominates the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests with a consistent 42.3% delta over the Intel Xeon 6774P. This pattern extends to PassMark multithread, where the AMD chip scores 160,490 against the Intel chip's 112,749, a 42.3% difference again. For workloads that stress integer arithmetic, the AMD EPYC 9655P is exceptionally strong, scoring 1,225,251 in PassMark integer math, which is more than double the Intel Xeon 6774P's 593,440. The AMD processor also leads in floating point math by 53.8%, scoring 715,866 versus 465,314.

The Intel Xeon 6774P has no recorded wins in any benchmark category. It trails in every measured test, including single-threaded performance, where the AMD EPYC 9655P leads by 26.3% in PassMark single-thread with a score of 3,849 versus 3,047. The Xeon 6774P is also behind in data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, physics, and random string sorting. The closest margin for the Intel processor is in extended instructions, where it trails by 30.1%, but even that is a substantial gap. The data indicates that any workload placed on the Intel Xeon 6774P would run measurably slower than on the AMD EPYC 9655P, though the Intel chip still performs within the 99th percentile of all CPUs, so it is not a weak processor in absolute terms.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD EPYC 9655P is built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Turin, and belongs to the EPYC 9005 series. It uses a 4 nm process from TSMC and is fabricated with 99,780 million transistors across 12 dies, each 70.6 mm². The Intel Xeon 6774P uses the Granite Rapids architecture, part of the Xeon 6 family, and is built on Intel's 5 nm process with two dies of 598 mm² each. The AMD chip has 96 cores and 192 threads, while the Intel chip has 64 cores and 128 threads, giving the AMD processor a 50% core advantage and a 50% thread advantage.

Cache layouts also differ significantly. The AMD EPYC 9655P has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 384 MB L3 cache. The Intel Xeon 6774P has 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 336 MB L3 cache. While the Intel chip has more L1 and L2 cache per core, the AMD chip has a larger total L3 pool. Memory support is another differentiator: the AMD EPYC 9655P uses a twelve-channel DDR5 memory bus with 576.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Intel Xeon 6774P uses an eight-channel DDR5 bus with 409.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, but the AMD processor offers 40.6% more memory bandwidth, which likely contributes to its performance edge in memory-intensive tasks.

PCIe connectivity is similar in generation but differs in lane count. Both support PCIe Gen 5, with the AMD EPYC 9655P offering 128 CPU-only lanes and the Intel Xeon 6774P offering 136 CPU-only lanes. The Intel chip has slightly more lanes, but this does not translate into a performance advantage in the recorded benchmarks. The AMD EPYC 9655P also has a higher base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, compared to the Intel Xeon 6774P's 2.50 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. The TDP values differ as well, with the AMD chip rated at 400 watts and the Intel chip at 350 watts, though the AMD chip delivers considerably higher performance despite the higher power envelope.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a uniform 42.3% advantage for the AMD EPYC 9655P across all three multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 13,744 against the Intel chip's 9,660. In R20 multi-core, the scores are 57,268 versus 40,251. In R23 multi-core, the AMD chip reaches 136,354 while the Intel chip manages 95,836. This consistency suggests the performance gap is structural, driven by core count and memory bandwidth, rather than workload-specific.

The PassMark integer math test delivers the largest margin in the entire comparison. The AMD EPYC 9655P scores 1,225,251, which is 106.5% higher than the Intel Xeon 6774P's 593,440. This is a striking result, indicating the AMD architecture handles integer-heavy workloads with far greater efficiency. The next largest gap is in data encryption, where the AMD chip scores 220,074 versus 115,025, a 91.3% advantage. Random string sorting also shows a wide gap, with the AMD chip leading 451,824 to 262,417, a 72.2% difference.

Physics and floating point tests show similarly large margins. The AMD EPYC 9655P scores 25,847 in PassMark physics, which is 61.3% higher than the Intel chip's 16,023. Floating point math sees the AMD chip at 715,866 versus 465,314, a 53.8% lead. Data compression favors the AMD chip by 50.9%, with scores of 3,486,158 versus 2,309,868. Prime number finding shows a 33.4% gap, with the AMD chip at 1,686 and the Intel chip at 1,264. The extended instructions test has the smallest margin among the PassMark tests, but the AMD chip still leads by 30.1%, scoring 230,609 versus 177,273. Single-threaded performance is the closest overall, with the AMD EPYC 9655P scoring 3,849 versus 3,047, a 26.3% advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 9655P has 96 cores and 192 threads, while the Intel Xeon 6774P has 64 cores and 128 threads. The AMD chip has 32 more cores and 64 more threads.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-core Cinebench performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 9655P leads by 42.3% in all three Cinebench multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 136,354 while the Intel Xeon 6774P scores 95,836.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD EPYC 9655P scores 1,225,251 versus the Intel Xeon 6774P's 593,440, a 106.5% advantage.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD EPYC 9655P has a twelve-channel DDR5 memory bus with 576.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Xeon 6774P has an eight-channel bus with 409.6 GB/s. The AMD chip provides 40.6% more bandwidth.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD EPYC 9655P and the Intel Xeon 6774P support ECC memory.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds of the two processors?

A: The AMD EPYC 9655P has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, while the Intel Xeon 6774P has a boost clock of 3.90 GHz.

The Verdict

The data points decisively toward the AMD EPYC 9655P for any workload that benefits from high core counts, high memory bandwidth, or heavy integer math. It wins every recorded benchmark, with margins ranging from 26.3% in single-threaded performance to 106.5% in integer math. The AMD chip also offers 50% more cores and 40.6% more memory bandwidth, which makes it the stronger choice for virtualization, database workloads, scientific computing, and any parallel processing task. The Intel Xeon 6774P is a capable 64-core processor that sits in the 99th percentile of all CPUs, but it is outperformed across the board by the AMD EPYC 9655P, which sits in the 100th percentile. For buyers who prioritize maximum performance in multi-threaded server workloads, the AMD EPYC 9655P is the only rational choice based on the recorded benchmarks. The Intel Xeon 6774P may still be appropriate for workloads where its specific platform features are required, but the performance data shows no scenario where it matches the AMD chip.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The AMD EPYC 9655P has 96 cores and 192 threads, while the Intel Xeon 6774P has 64 cores and 128 threads. The AMD chip has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, while the Intel chip has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The AMD EPYC 9655P is rated at 400 watts TDP, while the Intel Xeon 6774P is rated at 350 watts. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket SP5, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 4710. The AMD EPYC 9655P is built on Zen 5 architecture with a 4 nm TSMC process, while the Intel Xeon 6774P uses Granite Rapids architecture with a 5 nm Intel process. The AMD chip has 384 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel chip has 336 MB. The AMD chip has 80 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, while the Intel chip has 112 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core. The AMD EPYC 9655P uses a twelve-channel DDR5 memory bus with 576.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Xeon 6774P uses an eight-channel bus with 409.6 GB/s. Both support PCIe Gen 5, but the AMD chip offers 128 lanes while the Intel chip offers 136 lanes. The AMD EPYC 9655P launched on October 9, 2024 with a launch MSRP of $10811, while the Intel Xeon 6774P launched on May 21, 2025 with a launch MSRP of $6760.