AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D vs Intel Xeon 6724P Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, which wins 12 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Xeon 6724P takes only three wins, but those wins are concentrated in Cinebench single-thread tests, where the Xeon's performance is exceptional. The most lopsided result is in Cinebench R23 single-core: the Xeon 6724P scores 6161 against AMD's 2259, a 63.3% advantage. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where Intel wins 620 to 350, a 43.5% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon again wins, scoring 43643 versus 42018, a narrower 3.7% edge.

Outside of those Cinebench results, the AMD processor dominates. The largest single victory for AMD comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ryzen 9 9950X3D scores 613 against 372, a 64.8% margin. Data compression shows a 44.8% lead for AMD, with scores of 908421 versus 627185. Integer math follows closely, with AMD ahead by 41.2% (243209 versus 172216). The single-thread PassMark test also favors AMD, 4737 versus 3279, a 44.5% advantage. Extended instructions show a 35% lead for AMD (73011 versus 54101), while encryption tasks produce a 29.7% edge (44536 versus 34332). Random string sorting goes to AMD by 39.4% (95423 versus 68477), and multi-thread performance favors AMD by 36.8% (70255 versus 51345). Floating point math is closer, with AMD ahead 18% (159724 versus 135404), and physics tests show a 13.3% gap (5670 versus 5004).

The Cinebench R15 multi-core result is worth noting, as AMD wins 6536 to 4399, a 48.6% margin that contrasts sharply with the R23 multi-core result where Intel barely edges ahead. This suggests the Xeon's advantage in R23 multi-core is not consistent across rendering workloads, while AMD's superiority in most other compute tasks is robust. Overall, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D's average benchmark score sits at 75779, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the Xeon 6724P averages 72396, in the 94th percentile.

The Verdict

The data points to two very different usage profiles. For general compute, content creation, and most multi-threaded workloads, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the clear choice. It wins the majority of benchmark categories, often by large margins, and its 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms its position as a top-tier desktop processor. The Xeon 6724P, despite its lower overall win count, demonstrates extraordinary single-thread performance in Cinebench tests, beating AMD by over 60% in R23 single-core. That result is unusual and suggests the Xeon's architecture excels in specific rendering scenarios.

However, the Xeon's three wins are limited to Cinebench, and even there, the multi-core result is marginal. For users running PassMark-style workloads, which include encryption, compression, sorting, and math operations, the AMD processor is consistently faster, often by 30% to 65%. The Xeon's 94th percentile ranking is respectable, but its average score trails AMD's by 4.6% (72396 versus 75779). The verdict is straightforward: pick the Ryzen 9 9950X3D for broad performance across varied tasks, and consider the Xeon 6724P only if the specific Cinebench single-thread advantage is critical.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. Intel's Xeon 6724P uses the Granite Rapids architecture, also codenamed Granite Rapids, on a 5 nm process at Intel. These process differences matter: the AMD chip integrates 16,630 million transistors across a die size of 2x 70.6 mm², while the Xeon's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database. The smaller process node gives AMD a potential density advantage, though the architectural differences are more telling.

Cache configurations diverge significantly. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D offers 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 128 MB of L3 cache. The Xeon 6724P provides 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and only 72 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip's larger L3 cache, combined with a smaller L2 per core, suggests a design tuned for data-heavy workloads. The Xeon's larger L1 and L2 caches may benefit certain latency-sensitive operations, but the L3 disparity is substantial.

Socket and platform requirements also differ. AMD uses Socket AM5, while Intel uses Socket 4710. The AMD processor includes integrated Radeon Graphics, whereas the Xeon has no integrated graphics. Both support DDR5 memory and ECC memory, but the memory channels differ: AMD uses dual-channel with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel uses eight-channel with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe connectivity favors the Xeon, which offers Gen 5 with 88 lanes, versus AMD's Gen 5 with 24 lanes. The Xeon is also a server/workstation part with a locked multiplier, while the Ryzen is a desktop part with an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The two processors share the same core and thread counts: 16 cores and 32 threads each. Beyond that, the specifications diverge on nearly every measurable field. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz, while the Intel Xeon 6724P operates at 3.60 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. The AMD chip's clocks are higher by 0.70 GHz at base and 1.40 GHz at boost. The Xeon carries a higher thermal design power at 210 W, compared to AMD's 170 W.

Memory bandwidth is a major differentiator. The Xeon's eight-channel memory bus delivers 409.6 GB/s, while the Ryzen's dual-channel configuration provides only 89.6 GB/s. That is a 4.6x bandwidth advantage for Intel, which may explain the Xeon's strong Cinebench single-core scores. The cache hierarchy also differs, as noted above: AMD offers 128 MB of L3, Intel offers 72 MB, but Intel's per-core L1 and L2 are larger.

PCIe lane count is another clear split, with the Xeon providing 88 Gen 5 lanes versus AMD's 24. The AMD processor includes integrated Radeon Graphics; the Xeon has none. Market segments reflect their intended uses: AMD targets desktop, Intel targets server/workstation. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel chip is locked. Release dates are close, with AMD launching on 2025-01-05 and Intel on 2025-02-23. The launch MSRP for AMD is $699, while Intel's is $3622, though pricing is not otherwise discussed here.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D boosts to 5.70 GHz, while the Intel Xeon 6724P boosts to 4.30 GHz.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 128 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Xeon 6724P has 72 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Xeon 6724P supports eight-channel memory with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D supports dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor wins in PassMark multi-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D wins, scoring 70255 versus 51345 for the Intel Xeon 6724P, a 36.8% advantage.

Q: How do the processors compare in Cinebench R23 single-core?

A: The Intel Xeon 6724P wins decisively, scoring 6161 versus 2259 for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, a 63.3% lead.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Intel Xeon 6724P support ECC memory.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D wins in 12 of the 15 tested benchmarks, making it the superior choice for the vast majority of workloads. Its wins span PassMark data compression (908421 versus 627185), data encryption (44536 versus 34332), extended instructions (73011 versus 54101), find prime numbers (613 versus 372), floating point math (159724 versus 135404), integer math (243209 versus 172216), multithread (70255 versus 51345), physics (5670 versus 5004), random string sorting (95423 versus 68477), and both PassMark single-thread tests (4737 versus 3279). It also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (6536 versus 4399). These results indicate strength in encryption, compression, sorting, and general math operations, making the Ryzen 9 9950X3D the pick for content creation, software development, and mixed-use desktop workloads.

The Intel Xeon 6724P wins only three benchmarks, all within Cinebench: R15 single-core (620 versus 350), R23 single-core (6161 versus 2259), and R23 multi-core (43643 versus 42018). The single-core wins are massive, at 43.5% and 63.3% respectively, while the multi-core win is narrow at 3.7%. This suggests the Xeon 6724P excels in rendering workloads that rely on single-thread performance, particularly in Cinebench's specific test harness. Its eight-channel memory bandwidth and larger per-core L1 and L2 caches may contribute to this advantage. For users running Cinebench or similar rendering tasks, the Xeon offers a measurable edge, especially in single-thread scenarios. However, the overall benchmark balance strongly favors AMD for general-purpose computing.