Is the EPYC 9654 worth it over the 64-core EPYC 9534?

If your workloads scale with cores, such as virtualization hosts or rendering farms, the 9654's 96 cores and larger cache give noticeably more aggregate throughput. For license-bound or lightly threaded software, the 64-core part can be the better fit.

What motherboard socket does it use?

It uses AMD's SP5 (LGA 6096) socket, found on 4th Gen EPYC server boards. It will not fit TR4, sTRX4 or consumer AM5 boards.

What memory does it support?

It supports 12 channels of DDR5 memory, with registered DIMMs typical in servers. It also supports DDR5-4800 speeds, and memory capacity per socket is far higher than consumer platforms.

How much cooling and power does it need?

The 360 W default TDP calls for a server-grade heatsink or cold plate and a chassis and PSU sized for sustained load. It can be configured to a lower TDP in the BIOS, at the cost of peak performance.

Does it work in a normal desktop PC?

No. It needs an SP5 server motherboard, registered DDR5 memory and a server chassis. There is no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU or BMC video is required.

What comes in the box?

The processor is typically sold as the CPU alone, without a cooler. Confirm the part number 100-000000789 and that the seller includes any carrier or installation hardware your socket requires.