AMD's 192-core EPYC 9965 CPU gets 60% price cut on eBay

One of AMD's most powerful server CPUs, the EPYC 9965, is now selling on eBay for under $6,000. This represents a discount of over 60% from its original launch price of $14,813. The processor features 192 Zen 5c cores and 384 threads, making it the highest core count in any x86 CPU. It also includes 384 MB of L3 cache, support for twelve channels of DDR5 memory, and 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes. With a 500W TDP, it is AMD's most power-hungry chip, designed primarily for hyperscalers and cloud providers.

The reasons for such a steep discount are not entirely clear. Possible explanations include excess inventory, canceled orders, or a shift in industry spending towards GPUs and memory. Server-grade CPUs often trade below MSRP due to OEM discounts, but the EPYC 9965 has no direct successor yet, ruling out decommissioned data center sales.

Another factor could be AMD's PSB (Platform Secure Boot) locking feature, which locks CPUs to specific vendors. This makes third-party purchases risky, as buyers might end up with a vendor-locked CPU that is difficult to test or return. Consequently, enterprise customers prefer direct OEM solutions, reducing demand on the secondary market.

The industry's increasing focus on GPUs and memory for AI workloads may also be affecting CPU prices. As spending shifts away from traditional server CPUs, prices for high-end chips like the EPYC 9965 may drop. However, enterprise consumers are still buying this CPU for their data centers.

Overall, the low price on eBay likely results from a combination of factors: excess inventory, OEM pricing dynamics, PSB locking risks, and changing market priorities. Despite the discount, the EPYC 9965 remains a powerful and capable processor for demanding workloads.