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AMD EPYC 9656 vs AMD EPYC 9846: Comparison
What is the difference between EPYC 9656 and EPYC 9846?
The gap that matters here is l3 cache: EPYC 9656 512 MB against EPYC 9846 768 MB, which puts EPYC 9846 33% ahead. Tdp is not the same on both, 400 W on the EPYC 9656 versus 500 W on the EPYC 9846. They differ on configurable tdp max too, 400 W on the EPYC 9656 versus 500 W on the EPYC 9846. There is a split on core count as well, 96 cores on the EPYC 9656 versus 168 cores on the EPYC 9846. Thread count is not the same on both, 192 threads on the EPYC 9656 versus 336 threads on the EPYC 9846. They differ on base clock too, 3.05 GHz on the EPYC 9656 versus 2.85 GHz on the EPYC 9846. There is a split on launch price as well, $9,713 on the EPYC 9656 versus $13,114 on the EPYC 9846.
EPYC 9656 vs EPYC 9846: which one fits your build
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 9846 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. Boost clock, memory channels, pcie lanes, cpu socket and product family read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 11 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Segment the same on the EPYC 9656 and EPYC 9846?
It is. Both are listed at Data Center, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- AMD EPYC 9656
- AMD
- AMD EPYC 9846
- AMD
Model Number
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 9656
- AMD EPYC 9846
- 9846
CPU Socket
- AMD EPYC 9656
- SP7
- AMD EPYC 9846
- SP7
Product Family
- AMD EPYC 9656
- EPYC 9006 Series
- AMD EPYC 9846
- EPYC 9006 Series
Segment
- AMD EPYC 9656
- Data Center
- AMD EPYC 9846
- Data Center
Core Count
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 96 cores
- AMD EPYC 9846
- 168 cores
Thread Count
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 192 threads
- AMD EPYC 9846
- 336 threads
SMT Support
- AMD EPYC 9656
- Yes
- AMD EPYC 9846
- Yes
Base Clock
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 3.05 GHz
- AMD EPYC 9846
- 2.85 GHz
Boost Clock
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 3.7 GHz
- AMD EPYC 9846
- 3.7 GHz
L3 Cache
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 512 MB-33%
- AMD EPYC 9846
- 768 MBBest
Socket
- AMD EPYC 9656
- SP7
- AMD EPYC 9846
- SP7
Multi-Socket Support
- AMD EPYC 9656
- Dual Socket
- AMD EPYC 9846
- Dual Socket
Memory Channels
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 16 channels
- AMD EPYC 9846
- 16 channels
Memory Type
- AMD EPYC 9656
- DDR5 RDIMM
- AMD EPYC 9846
- DDR5 RDIMM
Max Memory Speed
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 8000 MT/s
- AMD EPYC 9846
- 8000 MT/s
Registered Memory Required
- AMD EPYC 9656
- Yes
- AMD EPYC 9846
- Yes
PCIe Lanes
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 96 lanes
- AMD EPYC 9846
- 96 lanes
PCIe Generation
- AMD EPYC 9656
- PCIe 6.0
- AMD EPYC 9846
- PCIe 6.0
TDP
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 400 W
- AMD EPYC 9846
- 500 W
Configurable TDP Max
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 400 W
- AMD EPYC 9846
- 500 W
Launch Price
- AMD EPYC 9656
- $9,713
- AMD EPYC 9846
- $13,114
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 1024 GB/s / 1638 GB/s
- AMD EPYC 9846
- 1024 GB/s / 1638 GB/s
PCIe
- AMD EPYC 9656
- PCIe 6.0 x96
- AMD EPYC 9846
- 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 9846
- 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 memory channels (16 channels vs 16 channels) and the higher PCIe lanes (96 lanes vs 96 lanes).
Choose 9846 if you want the higher L3 cache (768 MB vs 512 MB).