Intel Xeon 6774P vs Intel Xeon 6980P Comparison

The Intel Xeon 6980P and Intel Xeon 6774P are both active Granite Rapids server processors, but they target distinctly different workloads. The 6980P is a 128-core behemoth with a 504 MB L3 cache and twelve-channel memory, while the 6774P is a 64-core part with a 336 MB L3 cache and eight-channel memory. Benchmark data reveals a clear split: the 6774P wins 9 of 14 head-to-head tests, while the 6980P takes 5. The 6774P’s victories are decisive in multi-core and single-threaded tests, whereas the 6980P counters with wins in memory-bandwidth-sensitive and specialized instruction workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 6774P dominates in raw multi-threaded throughput. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 95,836 versus the 6980P’s 63,175, a 34.1% margin. The same 34.1% delta appears in Cinebench R15 (9,660 vs 6,367) and R20 (40,251 vs 26,533), indicating a consistent architecture-level advantage. PassMark multithread follows the pattern: 112,749 for the 6774P versus 74,324 for the 6980P, again 34.1% ahead. This suggests the 6774P’s higher base clock of 2.50 GHz versus 2.00 GHz, combined with its smaller core count, allows better sustained multi-core performance in these specific benchmarks.

Single-thread performance is another clear win for the 6774P. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3,047 is 44.8% higher than the 6980P’s 1,681. The 6774P also excels in PassMark physics (16,023 vs 3,350, a 79.1% advantage) and PassMark find prime numbers (1,264 vs 555, a 56.1% lead). These results indicate the 6774P’s core design is inherently more efficient per-thread, likely due to higher clock speeds and lower core-count contention.

The Intel Xeon 6980P wins where memory bandwidth and large caches matter. It takes PassMark data compression (2,364,519 vs 2,309,868, a 2.4% edge) and data encryption (125,246 vs 115,025, an 8.9% advantage). Its 21.2% lead in PassMark extended instructions (214,794 vs 177,273) suggests superiority in AVX-512-style workloads. It also edges ahead in floating-point math (501,720 vs 465,314, 7.8%) and integer math (637,476 vs 593,440, 7.4%). These wins align with its 504 MB L3 cache and 614.4 GB/s memory bandwidth versus the 6774P’s 336 MB and 409.6 GB/s.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Granite Rapids architecture and 5 nm Intel process node, but they are packaged differently. The 6980P uses a 3x 598 mm² die configuration, while the 6774P uses 2x 598 mm². This directly explains the core count disparity: 128 cores/256 threads versus 64 cores/128 threads. The 6980P’s larger L3 cache (504 MB shared) versus 336 MB shared is a direct consequence of the extra die.

Memory channels differ significantly. The 6980P supports twelve-channel DDR5 with 614.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the 6774P uses eight-channel DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s. This is a 50% bandwidth advantage for the 6980P, which explains its wins in data-heavy PassMark tests. Both support ECC memory and have identical per-core L1 (112 KB) and L2 (2 MB) caches.

Clock speeds diverge at the base: the 6980P runs at 2.00 GHz, the 6774P at 2.50 GHz. Boost clocks are identical at 3.90 GHz. The 6980P has a 500 W TDP versus 350 W for the 6774P. Socket compatibility differs—the 6980P uses Intel Socket 7529, while the 6774P uses Intel Socket 4710. PCIe lanes also differ: the 6980P has 96 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while the 6774P has 136 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only). The 6774P released on 2025-05-21, later than the 6980P’s 2024-09-23 launch.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Xeon 6774P as the better all-around performer for most server workloads. Its 34.1% lead across all Cinebench multicore tests is not a niche edge—it is systemic. The 79.1% advantage in PassMark physics and 44.8% lead in single-thread performance make it the obvious choice for virtualized environments, database servers, or any workload where per-core speed matters. Its 350 W TDP also suggests lower power draw per unit of performance, though exact efficiency ratios are not in the data.

The Intel Xeon 6980P is the pick only when massive memory bandwidth and cache are non-negotiable. Its 614.4 GB/s memory bandwidth and 504 MB L3 cache deliver wins in data encryption (8.9%), extended instructions (21.2%), and floating-point math (7.8%). For large in-memory databases, HPC simulations, or AI inference with large batch sizes, the 6980P’s 128 cores may compensate for its lower per-core speed. However, the 6980P’s average benchmark score of 251,516 sits below the 6774P’s 300,372, and the 6774P ranks within 3.3% of the AMD EPYC 9734 while the 6980P trails the AMD EPYC 9684X by 5.8%.

Choose the 6774P for general-purpose compute, high-frequency trading, or web serving. Choose the 6980P for memory-bound analytics or encryption-heavy workloads where the 50% bandwidth advantage is worth the multicore deficit.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded tasks?

A: The Intel Xeon 6774P is significantly faster, scoring 3,047 in PassMark single-thread versus 1,681 for the 6980P, a 44.8% advantage.

Q: Why does the 6980P have more cores but lose in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The 6980P has 128 cores versus 64, but its lower base clock (2.00 GHz vs 2.50 GHz) and the Cinebench benchmark results show the 6774P delivering 34.1% higher scores, indicating the 6774P scales better in those specific workloads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The 6980P supports twelve-channel DDR5 with 614.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the 6774P uses eight-channel DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s—a 50% advantage for the 6980P.

Q: Which chip has more PCIe lanes?

A: The 6774P has 136 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only) versus 96 lanes for the 6980P.

Q: Are they on the same socket?

A: No. The 6980P uses Intel Socket 7529, while the 6774P uses Intel Socket 4710.

Q: How do they compare to AMD rivals?

A: The 6774P’s average score is 3.3% behind the AMD EPYC 9734 and 3.7% behind the EPYC 9575F, but 4.6% ahead of the EPYC 9555P. The 6980P is 3% ahead of the AMD EPYC 9634 but 5.8% behind the EPYC 9684X.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the 34.1% sweep in Cinebench. Across R15, R20, and R23 multicore, the 6774P wins by the exact same margin: 9,660 vs 6,367, 40,251 vs 26,533, and 95,836 vs 63,175. This consistency indicates a fixed performance ceiling for the 6980P in these tests, likely due to its lower base clock and higher core count causing thermal or scheduling overhead.

PassMark physics is the largest single gap. The 6774P scores 16,023 against the 6980P’s 3,350, a 79.1% deficit for the 6980P. This test measures rigid body physics, which is highly latency-sensitive. The 6774P’s higher base clock and fewer cores reduce contention, yielding nearly five times the score.

Single-thread performance shows a 44.8% gap. The 6774P’s 3,047 versus 1,681 means the 6980P’s per-core efficiency is substantially lower. This is also visible in PassMark find prime numbers, where the 6774P scores 1,264 versus 555—a 56.1% lead. Random string sorting favors the 6774P by 8.2% (262,417 vs 240,792), a workload that benefits from faster per-core integer execution.

The 6980P’s wins are narrower but meaningful. Its 21.2% lead in extended instructions (214,794 vs 177,273) is the largest of its victories, reflecting the 504 MB L3 cache’s ability to feed AVX-512 pipelines. Data encryption shows an 8.9% edge (125,246 vs 115,025), and floating-point math is 7.8% higher (501,720 vs 465,314). Integer math is 7.4% better (637,476 vs 593,440), while data compression is nearly tied at 2.4% (2,364,519 vs 2,309,868).

The 6980P’s five wins all involve memory-heavy or vectorized operations, confirming the architectural split. Its 614.4 GB/s bandwidth versus 409.6 GB/s gives it a 50% theoretical advantage, yet it only translates to single-digit percentage wins in most tests. The 6774P’s nine wins, including all three Cinebench tests and the multithread PassMark, show that core count alone does not determine multi-core performance—clock speed and per-core efficiency dominate in these benchmarks.