AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Xeon 6724P Comparison
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
Xeon 6724P
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Xeon 6724P
FAQ
Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?
A: The Intel Xeon 6724P wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with a score of 43,643, beating the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X’s 40,924 by 6.6%. This is notable because the Ryzen 9 9950X wins most other multi-threaded benchmarks in this comparison.
Q: How large is the single-core performance gap between these two CPUs?
A: The Intel Xeon 6724P dominates single-core testing in Cinebench R23, scoring 6,161 versus the Ryzen 9 9950X’s 2,202 — a massive 179.8% advantage. However, in PassMark’s single-thread test, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X leads with 4,737 points versus Intel’s 3,279, a 30.8% difference favoring AMD.
Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?
A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has a higher average benchmark score of 74,640, compared to the Intel Xeon 6724P’s 72,396. Both CPUs sit at the 94th percentile among all tested CPUs.
Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications for each processor?
A: The Intel Xeon 6724P supports eight-channel DDR5 memory with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X uses dual-channel DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.
Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?
A: The Intel Xeon 6724P provides 88 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X offers 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only). This gives the Xeon a substantial expansion advantage.
Q: How do the processors compare in terms of thermal design power?
A: The Intel Xeon 6724P has a TDP of 210 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has a lower TDP of 170 watts. This indicates the AMD processor may be more power-efficient, though actual power draw depends on workload.
Architecture Differences
The Intel Xeon 6724P and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Xeon 6724P is built on Intel’s Granite Rapids architecture using a 5 nm process at Intel’s foundry, targeting server and workstation workloads. The Ryzen 9 9950X uses AMD’s Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm process fabricated by TSMC, aimed at desktop enthusiasts. Both chips have 16 cores and 32 threads, but their underlying designs diverge significantly.
The Xeon uses a larger L1 cache of 112 KB per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, while the Ryzen 9 9950X has 80 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core. The Xeon also features a larger shared L3 cache of 72 MB versus 64 MB on the AMD chip. The Ryzen 9 9950X has 16,630 million transistors spread across two 70.6 mm² dies, while transistor count and die size for the Xeon are not listed.
Memory architecture differs sharply: the Xeon 6724P supports eight-channel DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen 9 9950X uses dual-channel DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s. This four-fold bandwidth difference is critical for memory-intensive server workloads. The Xeon also provides 88 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus 24 on the AMD chip, enabling far more expansion devices.
The Ryzen 9 9950X includes integrated Radeon Graphics, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The Ryzen chip has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Xeon is locked. Process node, foundry, cache hierarchy, and memory subsystem differences all point to distinct target markets: the Xeon emphasizes scalability and bandwidth, while the Ryzen focuses on high clock speeds and desktop flexibility.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The head-to-head data reveals a split personality. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X wins 10 of 15 benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Xeon 6724P takes 5 wins. But the margin story is far more interesting than the raw win count.
Intel’s biggest victory comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Xeon scores 6,161 versus AMD’s 2,202 — a 179.8% lead. The Xeon also wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 620 versus 344, an 80.2% advantage. In PassMark physics, Intel leads 5,004 to 3,279, a 52.6% margin. The Xeon edges out AMD in Cinebench R23 multi-core (43,643 vs 40,924, +6.6%) and PassMark find prime numbers (372 vs 345, +7.8%).
AMD’s wins are concentrated in throughput-oriented tasks. The Ryzen 9 9950X leads PassMark data compression with 896,544 versus 627,185, a 30% advantage. In integer math, AMD scores 242,097 against Intel’s 172,216, a 28.9% lead. PassMark single-thread shows AMD ahead at 4,737 versus 3,279, a 30.8% margin. The Ryzen also wins multi-thread (66,030 vs 51,345, +22.2%), data encryption (44,366 vs 34,332, +22.6%), extended instructions (71,564 vs 54,101, +24.4%), random string sorting (94,368 vs 68,477, +27.4%), and floating point math (159,063 vs 135,404, +14.9%).
The Cinebench R15 multi-core result is striking: AMD wins with 6,335 versus Intel’s 4,399, a 30.6% margin, yet Intel wins the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test. This discrepancy suggests workload-specific scaling differences between the two architectures. Overall, AMD’s PassMark multi-thread score of 66,030 versus Intel’s 51,345 reinforces the Ryzen’s general multi-core strength outside Cinebench R23.
Specification Differences
The two CPUs differ across nearly every specification category. The Intel Xeon 6724P has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X runs higher at 4.30 GHz base and 5.70 GHz boost. TDP differs: 210 watts for Intel versus 170 watts for AMD.
Socket and platform: Intel uses Socket 4710, AMD uses Socket AM5. The Xeon is Granite Rapids-SP (Xeon 6 generation), while the Ryzen 9 9950X belongs to the 9000 series (Zen 5, Granite Ridge). Process node: Intel 5 nm versus TSMC 4 nm. Foundry: Intel versus TSMC. Transistors: not listed for Intel, 16,630 million for AMD. Die size: not listed for Intel, 2x 70.6 mm² for AMD.
Cache configuration: Intel has 112 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core versus AMD’s 80 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core. L3 cache: 72 MB shared on Intel versus 64 MB on AMD. Memory bus: eight-channel on Intel versus dual-channel on AMD. Memory bandwidth: 409.6 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. PCIe lanes: 88 Gen 5 lanes versus 24 Gen 5 lanes.
Integrated graphics: none on Intel, Radeon Graphics on AMD. Market segment: Server/Workstation versus Desktop. Multiplier: locked on Intel, unlocked on AMD. Launch dates: Intel released 2025-02-23, AMD released 2024-08-14. Launch MSRP: Intel $3622, AMD $649. Part numbers: SRVUA versus 100-000001277.
The Verdict
The data indicates two distinct performance profiles. The Intel Xeon 6724P is the clear winner for single-core Cinebench workloads, physics calculations, and prime number finding — tasks where its architecture excels. Its 179.8% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is extraordinary. The Xeon also holds a 6.6% edge in Cinebench R23 multi-core, suggesting strong scaling in that specific benchmark.
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X dominates the broader PassMark suite, winning 8 of 11 PassMark tests. Its 30.8% lead in single-thread PassMark directly contradicts Intel’s Cinebench single-core advantage, indicating benchmark-specific behavior. AMD’s wins in data compression, encryption, integer math, and floating point math point to a well-rounded throughput processor. The Ryzen’s 22.2% lead in PassMark multi-thread is substantial.
For server and workstation buyers, the Xeon 6724P offers eight-channel memory (409.6 GB/s), 88 PCIe lanes, and ECC support — features essential for high-bandwidth enterprise workloads. Its launch MSRP is $3622. For desktop users, the Ryzen 9 9950X provides higher boost clocks (5.70 GHz), a lower TDP (170W), integrated graphics, and an unlocked multiplier at a launch MSRP of $649. The average benchmark scores favor AMD (74,640 vs 72,396), but the Xeon’s nearest rival performance (0.1% delta from the Xeon 6517P) shows tight competition in its class.
Where Each One Wins
Intel Xeon 6724P wins in: Cinebench R23 multi-core (6.6% over AMD), Cinebench R23 single-core (179.8% over AMD), Cinebench R15 single-core (80.2% over AMD), PassMark physics (52.6% over AMD), and PassMark find prime numbers (7.8% over AMD). The Xeon also offers eight-channel memory with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth and 88 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, making it the choice for memory-bandwidth-heavy server tasks, large-scale virtualization, and workloads requiring massive expansion capability. Its 72 MB L3 cache and 2 MB L2 per core support cache-sensitive enterprise applications.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X wins in: PassMark data compression (30% over Intel), data encryption (22.6% over Intel), extended instructions (24.4% over Intel), floating point math (14.9% over Intel), integer math (28.9% over Intel), multithread (22.2% over Intel), random string sorting (27.4% over Intel), and single-thread tests (30.8% over Intel). The Ryzen also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (30.6% over Intel). With higher boost clocks (5.70 GHz), a lower TDP (170W), and an unlocked multiplier, the Ryzen 9 9950X suits desktop productivity, content creation, encryption-heavy workflows, and general-purpose computing where single-thread responsiveness and power efficiency matter. Its integrated Radeon Graphics provide display output without a discrete GPU, and its dual-channel memory suffices for most desktop applications.