AMD EPYC 9845 vs Intel Xeon 6781P Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two server processors into distinct roles. The AMD EPYC 9845 dominates the vast majority of workloads, taking 11 of 14 head-to-head tests. The Intel Xeon 6781P wins only three: both PassMark single-thread tests and the PassMark find prime numbers test. That is a narrow, specialized footprint.

For throughput-oriented tasks, the EPYC 9845 is the clear choice. Its wins span Cinebench multicore tests, data compression, encryption, extended instructions, floating point math, integer math, multithreaded PassMark, physics, and random string sorting. The margin is often enormous, sometimes exceeding 100%. The Xeon 6781P, by contrast, only shows an edge in lightweight single-threaded scenarios and prime number sieving, which is a niche workload favoring its per-core characteristics.

The data suggests the EPYC 9845 is designed for dense compute, database, virtualization, and scientific workloads where core count and memory bandwidth dominate. The Xeon 6781P is more suited to latency-sensitive, branch-heavy, or single-threaded tasks. In the database's percentile ranking, the EPYC 9845 sits at the 100th percentile versus all CPUs, while the Xeon 6781P sits at the 99th percentile. That one-point gap reflects the EPYC's overwhelming average benchmark lead, not the Xeon's lack of capability.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in design philosophy. The AMD EPYC 9845 uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Turin, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It packs 160 cores and 320 threads. The Intel Xeon 6781P uses Granite Rapids, built on a 5 nm process at Intel, with 80 cores and 160 threads. That is exactly half the core count and half the thread count.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The EPYC 9845 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 320 MB of shared L3. The Xeon 6781P has 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 336 MB of shared L3. So the Intel part has more L1 and L2 per core, plus slightly more total L3, but the AMD part has more physical cores to feed.

Memory and I/O show further separation. The EPYC 9845 runs a twelve-channel DDR5 memory bus with 576.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Xeon 6781P runs an eight-channel DDR5 bus with 409.6 GB/s. The AMD part also has 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while the Intel part has 136 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The Intel chip uses a dual-die design with a 2x 598 mm² die size, whereas the AMD chip has no recorded die size. Both lack integrated graphics, both support ECC memory, and both are server/workstation parts with active production status.

The socket and platform differ entirely: AMD uses Socket SP5, Intel uses Socket 4710. Release dates also differ, with the EPYC 9845 launching on 2024-10-09 and the Xeon 6781P on 2025-02-23. The Intel launch MSRP is $8960, while the AMD launch MSRP is $13564. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest AMD win comes in PassMark integer math. The EPYC 9845 scores 1,687,531 against the Xeon's 584,834, a 188.5% delta. That is not a marginal edge; it is a near-tripling of throughput. Encryption shows a 148.1% delta (296,808 vs 119,623), and random string sorting shows a 100.3% delta (538,060 vs 268,573). Floating point math is 92.8% ahead (978,377 vs 507,406), and data compression is 91.7% ahead (4,680,013 vs 2,441,690). Extended instructions are 58.2% ahead (314,798 vs 199,048).

Cinebench results are consistent across versions. The EPYC 9845 leads by 29.7% in R15 multicore (13,107 vs 10,105), R20 multicore (54,615 vs 42,106), and R23 multicore (130,037 vs 100,254). PassMark multithread also shows exactly 29.7% (152,985 vs 117,946). Physics is the smallest AMD win at 10.6% (19,631 vs 17,753).

The Xeon 6781P's wins are narrow. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 3,152 versus 3,144, a 0.3% edge. The same delta appears in the duplicate singlethread test. In find prime numbers, the Xeon scores 1,687 versus 1,255, a 25.6% advantage. That prime number result is the Xeon's only substantial win, and it is a specific workload that does not generalize to broader compute patterns.

The average benchmark score difference is stark. The EPYC 9845's average is 523,613, while the Xeon 6781P's is 315,524. The EPYC's nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 9755 at 505,778 (3.5% behind), then the EPYC 9965 at 620,487 (15.6% ahead), then the EPYC 9745 at 425,973 (22.9% behind), then the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX at 412,068 (27.1% behind). The Xeon's nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 9575F at 311,774 (1.2% behind), then the EPYC 9734 at 310,619 (1.6% behind), then the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX at 320,749 (1.6% ahead), then the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X at 321,753 (1.9% ahead).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD EPYC 9845 has 160 cores and 320 threads. The Intel Xeon 6781P has 80 cores and 160 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon 6781P win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins three tests: PassMark single-thread (3,152 vs 3,144), the duplicate singlethread test, and PassMark find prime numbers (1,687 vs 1,255).

Q: How large is the AMD lead in Cinebench multicore?

A: The EPYC 9845 leads by 29.7% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. Scores are 13,107 vs 10,105, 54,615 vs 42,106, and 130,037 vs 100,254, respectively.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD EPYC 9845 has a twelve-channel DDR5 bus with 576.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Xeon 6781P has an eight-channel DDR5 bus with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon 6781P has 336 MB of shared L3, while the AMD EPYC 9845 has 320 MB of shared L3. However, the AMD part has more cores sharing that cache.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The AMD EPYC 9845 has an average benchmark score of 523,613. The Intel Xeon 6781P has an average benchmark score of 315,524.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 9845 | Intel Xeon 6781P |

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

| Cores | 160 | 80 |

| Threads | 320 | 160 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 390 W | 350 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP5 | Intel Socket 4710 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Granite Rapids |

| Codename | Turin | Granite Rapids |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 5 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | N/A | 2x 598 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 320 MB (shared) | 336 MB (shared) |

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

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

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

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

| Launch MSRP | $13564 | $8960 |

| Part Number | 100-000001458 | SRV5J |

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD EPYC 9845 for almost any workload that benefits from parallel execution. It wins 11 of 14 head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 10.6% in physics to 188.5% in integer math. Its 160 cores, 320 threads, and 576.0 GB/s memory bandwidth make it the superior choice for database servers, scientific computing, encryption, compression, and any environment where total throughput is the priority. The 100th percentile ranking versus all CPUs confirms its position at the top of the database.

The Intel Xeon 6781P is not without merit, but its wins are narrow and specialized. A 0.3% single-thread edge and a 25.6% lead in prime number generation are real, but they do not translate into broad superiority. For workloads that are purely single-threaded or that rely on prime number sieving, the Xeon 6781P is the recorded winner. Its lower launch MSRP of $8960 versus $13564 may be relevant to procurement decisions, but the raw performance data shows the AMD part is in a different class.

The verdict is clear. If the workload is multithreaded, dense, or bandwidth-hungry, the AMD EPYC 9845 is the choice. If the workload is narrowly single-threaded or prime-number-centric, the Intel Xeon 6781P has the recorded edge. For general server deployment, the EPYC 9845's benchmark dominance, higher core count, and higher memory bandwidth make it the stronger overall processor. The Xeon 6781P's 99th percentile ranking is respectable, but it trails the EPYC 9845's 100th percentile by a wide average margin.