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AMD EPYC 9656 vs AMD EPYC 9996: Comparison
EPYC 9656 vs EPYC 9996: the l3 cache difference
On l3 cache the spread is 50%, EPYC 9656 512 MB against EPYC 9996 1024 MB, so EPYC 9996 takes it. There is a split on boost clock as well, 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9656 versus 4.1 GHz on the EPYC 9996. There is a split on tdp as well, 400 W on the EPYC 9656 versus 600 W on the EPYC 9996. Configurable tdp max is not the same on both, 400 W on the EPYC 9656 versus 600 W on the EPYC 9996. There is a split on core count as well, 96 cores on the EPYC 9656 versus 256 cores on the EPYC 9996. Thread count is not the same on both, 192 threads on the EPYC 9656 versus 512 threads on the EPYC 9996. Base clock is not the same on both, 3.05 GHz on the EPYC 9656 versus 2.55 GHz on the EPYC 9996. They differ on launch price too, $9,713 on the EPYC 9656 versus $14,904 on the EPYC 9996.
Which should you buy, EPYC 9656 or EPYC 9996?
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 9996 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
The common ground is wider than the gap: memory channels, pcie lanes, cpu socket, product family and segment are identical here. They match on 10 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Is the SMT Support the same on the EPYC 9656 and EPYC 9996?
It is. Both are listed at Yes, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- AMD EPYC 9656
- AMD
- AMD EPYC 9996
- AMD
Model Number
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 9656
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 9996
CPU Socket
- AMD EPYC 9656
- SP7
- AMD EPYC 9996
- SP7
Product Family
- AMD EPYC 9656
- EPYC 9006 Series
- AMD EPYC 9996
- EPYC 9006 Series
Segment
- AMD EPYC 9656
- Data Center
- AMD EPYC 9996
- Data Center
Core Count
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 96 cores
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 256 cores
Thread Count
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 192 threads
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 512 threads
SMT Support
- AMD EPYC 9656
- Yes
- AMD EPYC 9996
- Yes
Base Clock
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 3.05 GHz
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 2.55 GHz
Boost Clock
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 3.7 GHz
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 4.1 GHz
L3 Cache
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 512 MB-50%
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 1024 MBBest
Socket
- AMD EPYC 9656
- SP7
- AMD EPYC 9996
- SP7
Multi-Socket Support
- AMD EPYC 9656
- Dual Socket
- AMD EPYC 9996
- Dual Socket
Memory Channels
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 16 channels
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 16 channels
Memory Type
- AMD EPYC 9656
- DDR5 RDIMM
- AMD EPYC 9996
- DDR5 RDIMM
Max Memory Speed
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 8000 MT/s
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 8000 MT/s
Registered Memory Required
- AMD EPYC 9656
- Yes
- AMD EPYC 9996
- Yes
PCIe Lanes
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 96 lanes
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 96 lanes
PCIe Generation
- AMD EPYC 9656
- PCIe 6.0
- AMD EPYC 9996
- PCIe 6.0
TDP
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 400 W
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 600 W
Configurable TDP Max
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 400 W
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 600 W
Launch Price
- AMD EPYC 9656
- $9,713
- AMD EPYC 9996
- $14,904
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD EPYC 9656
- 1024 GB/s / 1638 GB/s
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 1024 GB/s / 1638 GB/s
PCIe
- AMD EPYC 9656
- PCIe 6.0 x96
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 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 9996
- 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 9996 if you want the higher L3 cache (1024 MB vs 512 MB).