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 73F3

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅357.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.1 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($3,521 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌128.6% higher power demand at 240W vs 105W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 7600X moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 7600X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,222 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $3,521 MSRP).
✅Delivers 623.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.7 vs 13.1 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $3,521 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 240W, a 135W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core), while EPYC 73F3 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 73F3 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (28,325 vs 46,103).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 73F3, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 73F3

2021

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅357.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,222 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $3,521 MSRP).
✅Delivers 623.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.7 vs 13.1 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $3,521 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 240W, a 135W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core), while EPYC 73F3 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.1 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($3,521 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌128.6% higher power demand at 240W vs 105W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 7600X moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 7600X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 73F3 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (28,325 vs 46,103).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 73F3, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 73F3 better than Ryzen 5 7600X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 73F3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 7600X 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, EPYC 73F3 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 3.8% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 256 MB vs 32 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 73F3 is the better fit. You are getting 62.8% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 700% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 32 MB).

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

EPYC 73F3 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 7600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 73F3 is 1077.6% more expensive on MSRP at $3,521 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 3.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 7600X is also 623.5% better value on MSRP (94.7 vs 13.1 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 7600X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of SP3. 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 73F3 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 7600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 73F3	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	200 FPS	266 FPS
medium	159 FPS	246 FPS
high	128 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	179 FPS
1440p
low	166 FPS	226 FPS
medium	128 FPS	189 FPS
high	99 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	157 FPS
medium	61 FPS	131 FPS
high	48 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	87 FPS

Open EPYC 73F3 Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 73F3	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	510 FPS	649 FPS
medium	446 FPS	524 FPS
high	357 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	386 FPS
1440p
low	418 FPS	544 FPS
medium	375 FPS	455 FPS
high	309 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	244 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	257 FPS	341 FPS
medium	235 FPS	290 FPS
high	206 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	171 FPS	232 FPS

Open EPYC 73F3 Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 73F3	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	979 FPS	708 FPS
medium	819 FPS	652 FPS
high	760 FPS	571 FPS
ultra	678 FPS	484 FPS
1440p
low	675 FPS	708 FPS
medium	564 FPS	554 FPS
high	515 FPS	479 FPS
ultra	453 FPS	409 FPS
4K
low	482 FPS	463 FPS
medium	382 FPS	392 FPS
high	338 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	281 FPS

Open EPYC 73F3 Open Ryzen 5 7600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 73F3	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	1146 FPS	708 FPS
medium	1015 FPS	708 FPS
high	873 FPS	708 FPS
ultra	758 FPS	708 FPS
1440p
low	842 FPS	708 FPS
medium	733 FPS	708 FPS
high	620 FPS	658 FPS
ultra	539 FPS	571 FPS
4K
low	608 FPS	560 FPS
medium	542 FPS	502 FPS
high	471 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	407 FPS	391 FPS

Open EPYC 73F3 Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 73F3 and Ryzen 5 7600X

EPYC 73F3

The EPYC 73F3 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 15 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm+ process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 240 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 46,103 points. Launch price was $3,521.

Ryzen 5 7600X

The Ryzen 5 7600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 28,325 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 73F3 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the EPYC 73F3 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the EPYC 73F3 versus 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X — a 28% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X (base: 3.5 GHz vs 4.7 GHz). The EPYC 73F3 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm+), while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 73F3 scores 46,103 against the Ryzen 5 7600X's 28,325 — a 47.8% lead for the EPYC 73F3. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 73F3 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7600X.

Feature	EPYC 73F3	Ryzen 5 7600X
Cores / Threads	16 / 32+167%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4 GHz	5.3 GHz+32%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	4.7 GHz+34%
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)+700%	32 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	6 MB+1100%
Process	7 nm+	5 nm, 6 nm-29%
Architecture	Milan (2021−2023)	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	46,103+63%	28,325
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	15,300
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,900
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	13,800

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 73F3 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the EPYC 73F3 versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 5 7600X — the EPYC 73F3 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 73F3 supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 73F3) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 7600X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 73F3) vs 28 (Ryzen 5 7600X) — the EPYC 73F3 offers 100 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3,C621A (EPYC 73F3) and X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 5 7600X).

Feature	EPYC 73F3	Ryzen 5 7600X
Socket	SP3	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	3200+63900%	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	4096	128 GB+3276700%
RAM Channels	8+300%	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+357%	28

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 7600X 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: VT-x, VT-d (EPYC 73F3) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 7600X). The Ryzen 5 7600X includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)), while the EPYC 73F3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 7600X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: EPYC 73F3 rivals Xeon Platinum 8362; Ryzen 5 7600X rivals Intel Core i5-13600K.

Feature	EPYC 73F3	Ryzen 5 7600X
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 73F3 launched at $3521 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 7600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($3521 vs $299), the Ryzen 5 7600X is $3222 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 73F3 delivers 13.1 pts/$ vs 94.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 7600X — making the Ryzen 5 7600X the 151.4% better value option.