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AMD EPYC 9256 vs AMD EPYC 9526: Comparison

EPYC 9256 vs EPYC 9526 l3 cache compared

L3 cache is where these two genuinely part company, EPYC 9256 96 MB against EPYC 9526 256 MB, a 63% lead for EPYC 9526. They differ on boost clock too, 4.5 GHz on the EPYC 9256 versus 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9526. They differ on tdp too, 190 W on the EPYC 9256 versus 220 W on the EPYC 9526. Core count is not the same on both, 24 cores on the EPYC 9256 versus 64 cores on the EPYC 9526. Thread count is not the same on both, 48 threads on the EPYC 9256 versus 128 threads on the EPYC 9526. There is a split on base clock as well, 2.85 GHz on the EPYC 9256 versus 2.75 GHz on the EPYC 9526.

Which should you buy, EPYC 9256 or EPYC 9526?

The EPYC 9256 suits datacenter and cloud compute and virtualization-dense server workloads, though it is not built for consumer desktop builds and single-threaded latency-sensitive workloads on lower core-count SKUs. The EPYC 9526 is the one to take for datacenter and cloud compute and virtualization-dense server workloads, though it is the wrong buy for consumer desktop builds and single-threaded latency-sensitive workloads on lower core-count SKUs.

What EPYC 9256 and EPYC 9526 have in common

Where they agree, they agree completely, configurable tdp max, memory channels, pcie lanes, cpu socket and product family included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 11 further specifications as well.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Segment the same on the EPYC 9256 and EPYC 9526?

It is. Both are listed at Data Center, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.

AMD EPYC 9256
AMD
AMD EPYC 9256AnnouncedAnnounced July 2026. Expected first half of 2027.
AMD EPYC 9526
AMD
AMD EPYC 9526AnnouncedAnnounced July 2026. Expected first half of 2027.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    AMD EPYC 9256
    AMD
    AMD EPYC 9526
    AMD
  • Model Number

    AMD EPYC 9256
    9256
    AMD EPYC 9526
    9526
  • CPU Socket

    AMD EPYC 9256
    SP8
    AMD EPYC 9526
    SP8
  • Product Family

    AMD EPYC 9256
    EPYC 9006 Series
    AMD EPYC 9526
    EPYC 9006 Series
  • Segment

    AMD EPYC 9256
    Data Center
    AMD EPYC 9526
    Data Center
  • Core Count

    AMD EPYC 9256
    24 cores
    AMD EPYC 9526
    64 cores
  • Thread Count

    AMD EPYC 9256
    48 threads
    AMD EPYC 9526
    128 threads
  • SMT Support

    AMD EPYC 9256
    Yes
    AMD EPYC 9526
    Yes
  • Base Clock

    AMD EPYC 9256
    2.85 GHz
    AMD EPYC 9526
    2.75 GHz
  • Boost Clock

    AMD EPYC 9256
    4.5 GHz
    AMD EPYC 9526
    3.7 GHz
  • L3 Cache

    AMD EPYC 9256
    96 MB-62%
    AMD EPYC 9526
    256 MBBest
  • Socket

    AMD EPYC 9256
    SP8
    AMD EPYC 9526
    SP8
  • Multi-Socket Support

    AMD EPYC 9256
    Dual Socket
    AMD EPYC 9526
    Dual Socket
  • Memory Channels

    AMD EPYC 9256
    8 channels
    AMD EPYC 9526
    8 channels
  • Memory Type

    AMD EPYC 9256
    DDR5 RDIMM
    AMD EPYC 9526
    DDR5 RDIMM
  • Max Memory Speed

    AMD EPYC 9256
    8000 MT/s
    AMD EPYC 9526
    8000 MT/s
  • Registered Memory Required

    AMD EPYC 9256
    Yes
    AMD EPYC 9526
    Yes
  • PCIe Lanes

    AMD EPYC 9256
    128 lanes
    AMD EPYC 9526
    128 lanes
  • PCIe Generation

    AMD EPYC 9256
    PCIe 6.0
    AMD EPYC 9526
    PCIe 6.0
  • TDP

    AMD EPYC 9256
    190 W
    AMD EPYC 9526
    220 W
  • Configurable TDP Max

    AMD EPYC 9256
    220 W
    AMD EPYC 9526
    220 W
  • Memory Bandwidth

    AMD EPYC 9256
    512 GB/s / 819.2 GB/s
    AMD EPYC 9526
    512 GB/s / 819.2 GB/s
  • PCIe

    AMD EPYC 9256
    PCIe 6.0 x128
    AMD EPYC 9526
    PCIe 6.0 x128
  • Memory Support

    AMD EPYC 9256
    DDR5 RDIMM | MRDIMM, 8-Channel, Up to 8000 MT/s / Up to 12800 MT/s
    AMD EPYC 9526
    DDR5 RDIMM | MRDIMM, 8-Channel, Up to 8000 MT/s / Up to 12800 MT/s

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose 9256 if you want the higher memory channels (8 channels vs 8 channels) and the higher PCIe lanes (128 lanes vs 128 lanes).

    Choose 9526 if you want the higher L3 cache (256 MB vs 96 MB).

    More comparisons in Server & Enthusiast CPUs