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AMD EPYC 9686F vs AMD EPYC 9996: Comparison
EPYC 9686F vs EPYC 9996 l3 cache compared
L3 cache is where these two genuinely part company, EPYC 9686F 384 MB against EPYC 9996 1024 MB, a 63% lead for EPYC 9996. There is a split on boost clock as well, 5 GHz on the EPYC 9686F versus 4.1 GHz on the EPYC 9996. There is a split on tdp as well, 500 W on the EPYC 9686F versus 600 W on the EPYC 9996. They differ on core count too, 96 cores on the EPYC 9686F versus 256 cores on the EPYC 9996. They differ on thread count too, 192 threads on the EPYC 9686F versus 512 threads on the EPYC 9996. Base clock is not the same on both, 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 9686F versus 2.55 GHz on the EPYC 9996. Launch price is not the same on both, $11,434 on the EPYC 9686F versus $14,904 on the EPYC 9996.
EPYC 9686F vs EPYC 9996: which one fits your build
Buy the EPYC 9686F for 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 9996 suits 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 9686F and EPYC 9996 have in common
The common ground is wider than the gap: configurable tdp max, memory channels, pcie lanes, cpu socket and product family are identical here. They match on 11 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Segment the same on the EPYC 9686F and EPYC 9996?
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 9686F
- AMD
- AMD EPYC 9996
- AMD
Model Number
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 9686F
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 9996
CPU Socket
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- SP7
- AMD EPYC 9996
- SP7
Product Family
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- EPYC 9006 Series
- AMD EPYC 9996
- EPYC 9006 Series
Segment
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- Data Center
- AMD EPYC 9996
- Data Center
Core Count
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 96 cores
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 256 cores
Thread Count
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 192 threads
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 512 threads
SMT Support
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- Yes
- AMD EPYC 9996
- Yes
Base Clock
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 3.4 GHz
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 2.55 GHz
Boost Clock
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 5 GHz
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 4.1 GHz
L3 Cache
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 384 MB-62%
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 1024 MBBest
Socket
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- SP7
- AMD EPYC 9996
- SP7
Multi-Socket Support
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- Dual Socket
- AMD EPYC 9996
- Dual Socket
Memory Channels
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 16 channels
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 16 channels
Memory Type
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- DDR5 RDIMM
- AMD EPYC 9996
- DDR5 RDIMM
Max Memory Speed
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 8000 MT/s
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 8000 MT/s
Registered Memory Required
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- Yes
- AMD EPYC 9996
- Yes
PCIe Lanes
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 96 lanes
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 96 lanes
PCIe Generation
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- PCIe 6.0
- AMD EPYC 9996
- PCIe 6.0
TDP
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 500 W
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 600 W
Configurable TDP Max
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 600 W
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 600 W
Launch Price
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- $11,434
- AMD EPYC 9996
- $14,904
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 1024 GB/s / 1638 GB/s
- AMD EPYC 9996
- 1024 GB/s / 1638 GB/s
PCIe
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- PCIe 6.0 x96
- AMD EPYC 9996
- PCIe 6.0 x96
Memory Support
- AMD EPYC 9686F
- 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 9686F 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 384 MB).