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AMD EPYC 9656 vs AMD EPYC 9686F: Comparison
What is the difference between EPYC 9656 and EPYC 9686F?
On l3 cache the spread is 25%, EPYC 9656 512 MB against EPYC 9686F 384 MB, so EPYC 9656 takes it. There is a split on boost clock as well, 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9656 versus 5 GHz on the EPYC 9686F. There is a split on tdp as well, 400 W on the EPYC 9656 versus 500 W on the EPYC 9686F. Configurable tdp max is not the same on both, 400 W on the EPYC 9656 versus 600 W on the EPYC 9686F. There is a split on base clock as well, 3.05 GHz on the EPYC 9656 versus 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 9686F. Launch price is not the same on both, $9,713 on the EPYC 9656 versus $11,434 on the EPYC 9686F.
Which should you buy, EPYC 9656 or EPYC 9686F?
Buy the EPYC 9656 for datacenter and cloud compute and virtualization-dense server workloads, though it is not the pick for consumer desktop builds and single-threaded latency-sensitive workloads on lower core-count SKUs. The EPYC 9686F 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.
Where the two are identical
Everything else lines up. Memory channels, pcie lanes, cpu socket, product family and segment read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 12 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core Count the same on the EPYC 9656 and EPYC 9686F?
It is. Both are listed at 96 cores, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- AMD EPYC 9656
- AMD
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- AMD
Model Number
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 9656
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 9686F
CPU Socket
- AMD EPYC 9656
- SP7
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- SP7
Product Family
- AMD EPYC 9656
- EPYC 9006 Series
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- EPYC 9006 Series
Segment
- AMD EPYC 9656
- Data Center
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- Data Center
Core Count
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 96 cores
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 96 cores
Thread Count
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 192 threads
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 192 threads
SMT Support
- AMD EPYC 9656
- Yes
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- Yes
Base Clock
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 3.05 GHz
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 3.4 GHz
Boost Clock
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 3.7 GHz
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 5 GHz
L3 Cache
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 512 MBBest
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 384 MB-25%
Socket
- AMD EPYC 9656
- SP7
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- SP7
Multi-Socket Support
- AMD EPYC 9656
- Dual Socket
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- Dual Socket
Memory Channels
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 16 channels
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 16 channels
Memory Type
- AMD EPYC 9656
- DDR5 RDIMM
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- DDR5 RDIMM
Max Memory Speed
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 8000 MT/s
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 8000 MT/s
Registered Memory Required
- AMD EPYC 9656
- Yes
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- Yes
PCIe Lanes
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 96 lanes
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 96 lanes
PCIe Generation
- AMD EPYC 9656
- PCIe 6.0
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- PCIe 6.0
TDP
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 400 W
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 500 W
Configurable TDP Max
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 400 W
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 600 W
Launch Price
- AMD EPYC 9656
- $9,713
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- $11,434
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 1024 GB/s / 1638 GB/s
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 1024 GB/s / 1638 GB/s
PCIe
- AMD EPYC 9656
- PCIe 6.0 x96
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- PCIe 6.0 x96
Memory Support
- AMD EPYC 9656
- DDR5 RDIMM | MRDIMM, 16-Channel, Up to 8000 MT/s / Up to 12800 MT/s
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- DDR5 RDIMM | MRDIMM, 16-Channel, Up to 8000 MT/s / Up to 12800 MT/s
Which one should you pick?
Choose 9656 if you want the higher L3 cache (512 MB vs 384 MB), the higher memory channels (16 channels vs 16 channels) and the higher PCIe lanes (96 lanes vs 96 lanes).
Choose 9686F if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.