AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 vs Intel Xeon 6527P Comparison

The benchmark data presents a clear picture: the Intel Xeon 6527P is the dominant performer in almost every measured workload, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 claims a decisive victory in single-threaded tasks. The database records 9 wins for the Intel part and 2 for the AMD part, with the margins in the Intel wins often being massive.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in the PassMark physics test, where the Intel Xeon 6527P scores 8037 against the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945's 2902, a margin of 176.9%. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and indicates a fundamental difference in how the two processors handle this specific computational load. The Intel processor's advantage here is not incremental; it is a category-level difference.

Similarly, in random string sorting, the Intel Xeon 6527P posts a score of 131597, which is 110.7% higher than the AMD's 62458. This suggests the Intel architecture is far more efficient at handling memory-intensive, pointer-chasing workloads that are common in data processing and database applications. The Intel part also shows a strong lead in floating-point math, scoring 195005 versus 107340, a difference of 81.7%. This workload is critical for scientific computing, simulations, and any application that relies heavily on non-integer calculations.

The Intel Xeon 6527P also leads in data compression, scoring 1030818 against the AMD's 579972, a 77.7% advantage. Data encryption shows an even larger gap, with the Intel part scoring 60333 versus 30450, a 98.1% lead. The extended instructions test, which measures the performance of CPU instruction set extensions like AES and AVX, also goes to Intel by a margin of 61.4% (71600 vs 44374). The Intel Xeon 6527P wins the integer math test with a score of 268985, which is 57.1% higher than the AMD's 171175. The multithread benchmark, a general measure of overall throughput, shows the Intel part scoring 74445, a 53% lead over the AMD's 48664. Even in the prime number-finding test, which can sometimes favor higher single-thread performance, the Intel Xeon 6527P wins with a score of 508 versus 342, a 48.5% advantage.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945's single victory is significant. In the single-thread test, it scores 4619, which is 23.4% higher than the Intel Xeon 6527P's 3539. This is a substantial lead and points to the AMD part's superior per-core performance, which is a result of its high boost clock and Zen 5 architecture. This single-thread advantage is crucial for lightly-threaded workloads, but it does not compensate for the Intel part's overwhelming lead in every multi-threaded and specialized test.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Xeon 6527P is significantly faster. It leads by 53% in the PassMark multithread test, and the deltas are even larger in other multi-core-sensitive tests like physics (176.9% ahead) and floating-point math (81.7% ahead). The data consistently shows the Intel part is the superior choice for heavily parallelized tasks.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 have any performance advantage?

A: Yes, in single-threaded performance. The AMD part scores 4619 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 23.4% higher than the Intel Xeon 6527P's 3539. This is its only benchmark win out of 11 recorded tests, but it is a notable one for applications that rely on a single core.

Q: How do the core counts compare between the two CPUs?

A: The Intel Xeon 6527P has 24 cores and 48 threads. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel part has exactly double the core and thread count of the AMD part.

Q: What is the difference in their power consumption?

A: The Intel Xeon 6527P has a TDP of 255, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has a TDP of 65. This indicates a very large difference in their power requirements and thermal output.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has a significantly higher boost clock of 5.40 compared to the Intel Xeon 6527P's 4.20. This explains the AMD part's advantage in single-threaded tests.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon 6527P and the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 have ECC memory support listed as true in their specifications.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and manufacturing processes. The Intel Xeon 6527P is based on the Granite Rapids architecture, manufactured on a 5 nm process by Intel, and belongs to the Xeon 6 (Granite Rapids-SP) generation. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 uses the Granite Ridge architecture, which is part of the Zen 5 generation, and is manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The AMD part integrates 16,630 million transistors across a die size of 2x 70.6 mm², while the Intel part has a significantly larger die size of 598 mm².

The cache hierarchies are also distinct. The Intel Xeon 6527P has a much larger L3 cache at 144 MB (shared), compared to the AMD's 64 MB. The per-core cache sizes differ as well, with the Intel part having 112 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core, while the AMD part has 80 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core. This larger cache allocation on the Intel part, especially the shared L3, is a key factor in its strong showing in data-heavy benchmarks like compression and sorting.

Memory support also diverges. While both support DDR5, the Intel Xeon 6527P features an eight-channel memory bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 409.6 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has a dual-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. This is a massive difference and is likely the primary driver behind the Intel part's dominance in memory-bandwidth-sensitive tasks. The Intel part also has a far greater number of PCIe lanes, with 88 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), compared to the AMD's 24 Gen 5 lanes.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is in core and thread count. The Intel Xeon 6527P has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has 12 cores and 24 threads. This is a direct 2:1 ratio. The clock speeds also differ substantially. The Intel part has a base clock of 3.00 and a boost clock of 4.20. The AMD part has a higher base clock of 3.40 and a much higher boost clock of 5.40.

The TDP is a major differentiator. The Intel Xeon 6527P is rated at 255, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 is rated at 65. This reflects the Intel part's higher core count and more powerful memory controller, but also its higher power draw. The sockets are incompatible: the Intel part uses Intel Socket 4710, and the AMD part uses AMD Socket AM5. The integrated graphics also differ, with the Intel part having none (N/A) and the AMD part featuring Radeon Graphics. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $2878, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. The Intel part's process node is 5 nm, while the AMD part's is 4 nm.

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal. The Intel Xeon 6527P is the far more powerful processor for almost all workloads. Its wins in 9 out of 11 benchmarks, with margins ranging from 48.5% to 176.9%, demonstrate a commanding lead in raw throughput, memory bandwidth, and data-processing capabilities. Its 24 cores, 48 threads, and 144 MB of L3 cache provide a massive advantage in any parallel task. The eight-channel memory bus, with a bandwidth of 409.6 GB/s, is a decisive advantage over the AMD part's dual-channel 89.6 GB/s.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 is the choice for workloads that are strictly single-threaded. Its 23.4% lead in the single-thread test, driven by its 5.40 boost clock and Zen 5 architecture, is substantial. Its 65 TDP also makes it a far more power-efficient option. However, for any server or workstation role that involves multi-threading, large data sets, or heavy math, the Intel Xeon 6527P is the clear winner based on the recorded data.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 6527P wins in:

• Heavy multi-threaded workloads: Its 53% lead in the multithread test and 176.9% lead in physics show it excels when all cores are engaged.
• Data compression and encryption: It scores 77.7% and 98.1% higher, respectively, making it the better choice for storage servers and secure communications.
• Floating-point and integer math: With leads of 81.7% and 57.1%, it is superior for scientific simulations, financial modeling, and complex calculations.
• Memory-bandwidth-intensive tasks: Its 409.6 GB/s memory bandwidth is 4.5 times that of the AMD part, giving it a huge edge in data sorting and other operations that depend on fast memory access.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 wins in:

• Single-threaded applications: Its 23.4% lead in the single-thread test makes it the better option for legacy software or tasks that cannot be parallelized.
• Power-constrained environments: With a 65 TDP compared to the Intel part's 255, it is the clear choice for systems where power consumption and heat generation are critical factors.