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.

EPYC 7303P

2023

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 9700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (36,487 vs 37,145).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.4 vs 103.5 PassMark/$ ($594 MSRP vs $359 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 130W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 9700X moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Ryzen 7 9700X

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +29.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $235 less on MSRP ($359 MSRP vs $594 MSRP).
✅Delivers 68.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 103.5 vs 61.4 PassMark/$ ($359 MSRP vs $594 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 130W, a 65W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7303P, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7303P

2023

Ryzen 7 9700X

2024

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +29.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $235 less on MSRP ($359 MSRP vs $594 MSRP).
✅Delivers 68.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 103.5 vs 61.4 PassMark/$ ($359 MSRP vs $594 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 130W, a 65W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 9700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (36,487 vs 37,145).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.4 vs 103.5 PassMark/$ ($594 MSRP vs $359 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 130W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 9700X moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7303P, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 9700X better than EPYC 7303P?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7303P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 7 9700X 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, Ryzen 7 9700X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 29.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 9700X is the better fit. You are getting 1.8% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Ryzen 7 9700X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 9700X is $235 cheaper on MSRP at $359 MSRP versus $594 MSRP, and it gives you a 29.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 68.4% better value on MSRP (103.5 vs 61.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Ryzen 7 9700X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2023), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of SP3, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 16/32. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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.

EPYC 7303P Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 9700X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7303P	Ryzen 7 9700X
1080p
low	159 FPS	265 FPS
medium	130 FPS	245 FPS
high	109 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	179 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	226 FPS
medium	113 FPS	188 FPS
high	89 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	71 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	68 FPS	157 FPS
medium	57 FPS	131 FPS
high	45 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	87 FPS

Open EPYC 7303P Open Ryzen 7 9700X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7303P	Ryzen 7 9700X
1080p
low	390 FPS	639 FPS
medium	346 FPS	526 FPS
high	283 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	392 FPS
1440p
low	329 FPS	545 FPS
medium	297 FPS	470 FPS
high	251 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	192 FPS	337 FPS
4K
low	203 FPS	319 FPS
medium	186 FPS	281 FPS
high	158 FPS	265 FPS
ultra	127 FPS	232 FPS

Open EPYC 7303P Open Ryzen 7 9700X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7303P	Ryzen 7 9700X
1080p
low	644 FPS	929 FPS
medium	526 FPS	744 FPS
high	469 FPS	650 FPS
ultra	411 FPS	558 FPS
1440p
low	499 FPS	736 FPS
medium	406 FPS	589 FPS
high	356 FPS	506 FPS
ultra	310 FPS	431 FPS
4K
low	368 FPS	508 FPS
medium	286 FPS	420 FPS
high	244 FPS	378 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	318 FPS

Open EPYC 7303P Open Ryzen 7 9700X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7303P	Ryzen 7 9700X
1080p
low	885 FPS	929 FPS
medium	806 FPS	929 FPS
high	696 FPS	850 FPS
ultra	610 FPS	756 FPS
1440p
low	696 FPS	889 FPS
medium	608 FPS	773 FPS
high	521 FPS	678 FPS
ultra	446 FPS	584 FPS
4K
low	498 FPS	582 FPS
medium	445 FPS	517 FPS
high	390 FPS	466 FPS
ultra	337 FPS	405 FPS

Open EPYC 7303P Open Ryzen 7 9700X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7303P and Ryzen 7 9700X

EPYC 7303P

The EPYC 7303P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 September 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 36,487 points. Launch price was $594.

Ryzen 7 9700X

The Ryzen 7 9700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 37,145 points. Launch price was $359.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 7303P packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 7 9700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the EPYC 7303P has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7303P versus 5.5 GHz on the Ryzen 7 9700X — a 47.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 9700X (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The EPYC 7303P uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 9700X uses Granite Ridge (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7303P scores 36,487 against the Ryzen 7 9700X's 37,145 — a 1.8% lead for the Ryzen 7 9700X. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7303P vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 9700X.

Feature	EPYC 7303P	Ryzen 7 9700X
Cores / Threads	16 / 32+100%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	5.5 GHz+62%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3.8 GHz+58%
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)+100%	32 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Milan (2021−2023)	Granite Ridge (2024−2025)
PassMark	36,487	37,145+2%

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Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7303P uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 9700X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the EPYC 7303P versus 5600 on the Ryzen 7 9700X — the Ryzen 7 9700X supports 54.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7303P supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 256 — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7303P) vs 2 (Ryzen 7 9700X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7303P) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 9700X) — the EPYC 7303P offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7303P) and X870E,X670E,B650 (Ryzen 7 9700X).

Feature	EPYC 7303P	Ryzen 7 9700X
Socket	SP3	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	3200	5600+75%
Max RAM Capacity	4096+1500%	256
RAM Channels	8+300%	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+433%	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 9700X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: AMD-V, IOMMU (EPYC 7303P) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen 7 9700X). The Ryzen 7 9700X includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)), while the EPYC 7303P requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: EPYC 7303P rivals Xeon Gold 6330; Ryzen 7 9700X rivals Core i7-14700K.

Feature	EPYC 7303P	Ryzen 7 9700X
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V, IOMMU	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7303P launched at $594 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 9700X debuted at $359. On MSRP ($594 vs $359), the Ryzen 7 9700X is $235 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7303P delivers 61.4 pts/$ vs 103.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 9700X — making the Ryzen 7 9700X the 51% better value option.