Core i9-9960X vs EPYC 7282

CPU

GPU

Core i9-9960X

16 Cores32 Thrd165 WWMax: 4.5 GHz2018

Popular choices:

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EPYC 7282

16 Cores32 Thrd120 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2019

Popular choices:

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Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i9-9960X

16 / 32

29,927

0.0%

30,201

+0.9%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i9-9960X

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +33.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (22 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7282, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.8 vs 46.5 PassMark/$ ($1,684 MSRP vs $650 MSRP).
❌37.5% higher power demand at 165W vs 120W.

EPYC 7282

2019

Why buy it

✅+190.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 22 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 44.
✅Costs $1,034 less on MSRP ($650 MSRP vs $1,684 MSRP).
✅Delivers 161.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 46.5 vs 17.8 PassMark/$ ($650 MSRP vs $1,684 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 165W, a 45W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9960X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (7,638 vs 10,700).
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Core i9-9960X

2018

EPYC 7282

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +33.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Why buy it

✅+190.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 22 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 44.
✅Costs $1,034 less on MSRP ($650 MSRP vs $1,684 MSRP).
✅Delivers 161.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 46.5 vs 17.8 PassMark/$ ($650 MSRP vs $1,684 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 165W, a 45W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (22 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7282, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.8 vs 46.5 PassMark/$ ($1,684 MSRP vs $650 MSRP).
❌37.5% higher power demand at 165W vs 120W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9960X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (7,638 vs 10,700).
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9960X better than EPYC 7282?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7282 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-9960X is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-9960X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 33.5% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9960X is the better fit. You are getting 40.1% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i9-9960X is still the faster CPU overall, but EPYC 7282 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-9960X is 159.1% more expensive on MSRP at $1,684 MSRP versus $650 MSRP, and it gives you a 33.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. EPYC 7282 is also 161.4% better value on MSRP (46.5 vs 17.8 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

EPYC 7282 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2018) and 190.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 22 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i9-9960X Benchmark Check

EPYC 7282 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-9960X	EPYC 7282
1080p
low	168 FPS	159 FPS
medium	148 FPS	129 FPS
high	118 FPS	108 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	86 FPS
1440p
low	139 FPS	140 FPS
medium	120 FPS	112 FPS
high	96 FPS	89 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	76 FPS	68 FPS
medium	70 FPS	57 FPS
high	55 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i9-9960X Open EPYC 7282

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-9960X	EPYC 7282
1080p
low	498 FPS	419 FPS
medium	429 FPS	371 FPS
high	366 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	332 FPS	245 FPS
1440p
low	430 FPS	353 FPS
medium	377 FPS	319 FPS
high	325 FPS	270 FPS
ultra	283 FPS	208 FPS
4K
low	266 FPS	219 FPS
medium	233 FPS	201 FPS
high	219 FPS	171 FPS
ultra	189 FPS	138 FPS

Open Core i9-9960X Open EPYC 7282

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-9960X	EPYC 7282
1080p
low	748 FPS	632 FPS
medium	748 FPS	514 FPS
high	728 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	645 FPS	402 FPS
1440p
low	734 FPS	493 FPS
medium	659 FPS	400 FPS
high	624 FPS	351 FPS
ultra	554 FPS	305 FPS
4K
low	492 FPS	367 FPS
medium	414 FPS	285 FPS
high	371 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	306 FPS	197 FPS

Open Core i9-9960X Open EPYC 7282

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-9960X	EPYC 7282
1080p
low	748 FPS	755 FPS
medium	748 FPS	755 FPS
high	748 FPS	664 FPS
ultra	679 FPS	581 FPS
1440p
low	748 FPS	663 FPS
medium	737 FPS	584 FPS
high	639 FPS	501 FPS
ultra	558 FPS	427 FPS
4K
low	579 FPS	475 FPS
medium	525 FPS	428 FPS
high	469 FPS	376 FPS
ultra	409 FPS	323 FPS

Open Core i9-9960X Open EPYC 7282

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-9960X and EPYC 7282

Core i9-9960X

The Core i9-9960X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 29,927 points. Launch price was $1,684.

EPYC 7282

The EPYC 7282 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 30,201 points. Launch price was $650.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i9-9960X and EPYC 7282 share an identical 16-core/32-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i9-9960X versus 3.2 GHz on the EPYC 7282 — a 33.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-9960X (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i9-9960X uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the EPYC 7282 uses Zen 2 (2017−2020) (7 nm, 14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9960X scores 29,927 against the EPYC 7282's 30,201 — a 0.9% lead for the EPYC 7282. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,650 vs 1,086, a 41.2% lead for the Core i9-9960X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,700 vs 7,638 (33.4% advantage for the Core i9-9960X). L3 cache: 22 MB (total) on the Core i9-9960X vs 64 MB on the EPYC 7282.

Feature	Core i9-9960X	EPYC 7282
Cores / Threads	16 / 32	16 / 32
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+41%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+11%	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	22 MB (total)	64 MB+191%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	8 MB+700%
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 14 nm-50%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Zen 2 (2017−2020)
PassMark	29,927	30,201
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	13,500
Geekbench 6 Single	1,650+52%	1,086
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,700+40%	7,638

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9960X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 7282 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The EPYC 7282 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Core i9-9960X) vs 8 (EPYC 7282). PCIe lanes: 44 (Core i9-9960X) vs 128 (EPYC 7282) — the EPYC 7282 offers 84 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X299 (Core i9-9960X) and SP3,Rome (EPYC 7282).

Feature	Core i9-9960X	EPYC 7282
Socket	LGA2066	SP3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	4096 GB+3100%
RAM Channels	4	8+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	44	128+191%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-9960X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i9-9960X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-9960X) vs AMD-V, SEV (EPYC 7282). Primary use case: Core i9-9960X targets HEDT, EPYC 7282 targets Edge Server / Entry Server. Direct competitor: EPYC 7282 rivals Xeon Silver 4216.

Feature	Core i9-9960X	EPYC 7282
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	—
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V, SEV
Target Use	HEDT	Edge Server / Entry Server

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-9960X launched at $1684 MSRP, while the EPYC 7282 debuted at $650. On MSRP ($1684 vs $650), the EPYC 7282 is $1034 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-9960X delivers 17.8 pts/$ vs 46.5 pts/$ for the EPYC 7282 — making the EPYC 7282 the 89.3% better value option.