EPYC 7742 vs Xeon w7-3555

CPU

GPU

EPYC 7742

64 Cores128 Thrd225 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2019

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Xeon w7-3555

28 Cores56 Thrd325 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2024

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

EPYC 7742

64 / 128

69,448

+2.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

Xeon w7-3555

28 / 56

67,754

0.0%

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.

EPYC 7742

2019

Why buy it

✅+2.5% higher PassMark.
✅+241.3% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 75 MB).
✅Draws 225W instead of 325W, a 100W reduction.
✅14.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 112) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon w7-3555 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.0 vs 24.6 PassMark/$ ($6,950 MSRP vs $2,749 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Xeon w7-3555 moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.

Xeon w7-3555

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +76.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $4,201 less on MSRP ($2,749 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Delivers 146.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 24.6 vs 10.0 PassMark/$ ($2,749 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (67,754 vs 69,448).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (75 MB vs 256 MB).
❌44.4% higher power demand at 325W vs 225W.

EPYC 7742

2019

Xeon w7-3555

2024

Why buy it

✅+2.5% higher PassMark.
✅+241.3% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 75 MB).
✅Draws 225W instead of 325W, a 100W reduction.
✅14.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 112) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +76.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $4,201 less on MSRP ($2,749 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Delivers 146.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 24.6 vs 10.0 PassMark/$ ($2,749 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon w7-3555 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.0 vs 24.6 PassMark/$ ($6,950 MSRP vs $2,749 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Xeon w7-3555 moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (67,754 vs 69,448).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (75 MB vs 256 MB).
❌44.4% higher power demand at 325W vs 225W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon w7-3555 better than EPYC 7742?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Xeon w7-3555 is ahead with a 76.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7742 pulls ahead with 2.5% better PassMark. EPYC 7742 also has the bigger cache pool with 241.3% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 75 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7742 is the better fit. You are getting 2.5% better PassMark, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 241.3% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 75 MB).

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

Xeon w7-3555 is the smarter buy today. Xeon w7-3555 is $4,201 cheaper on MSRP at $2,749 MSRP versus $6,950 MSRP, and it gives you a 76.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 7742 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 2.5% better PassMark. It is also 146.7% better value on MSRP (24.6 vs 10.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Xeon w7-3555 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2019), a healthier platform with LGA4677 and DDR5 instead of TR4, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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 7742 Benchmark Check

Xeon w7-3555 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7742	Xeon w7-3555
1080p
low	192 FPS	311 FPS
medium	172 FPS	301 FPS
high	138 FPS	242 FPS
ultra	110 FPS	204 FPS
1440p
low	157 FPS	270 FPS
medium	132 FPS	233 FPS
high	101 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	154 FPS
4K
low	72 FPS	184 FPS
medium	65 FPS	157 FPS
high	50 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	40 FPS	106 FPS

Open EPYC 7742 Open Xeon w7-3555

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7742	Xeon w7-3555
1080p
low	247 FPS	682 FPS
medium	221 FPS	593 FPS
high	183 FPS	482 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	427 FPS
1440p
low	202 FPS	551 FPS
medium	186 FPS	489 FPS
high	158 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	341 FPS
4K
low	126 FPS	324 FPS
medium	118 FPS	288 FPS
high	103 FPS	267 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	234 FPS

Open EPYC 7742 Open Xeon w7-3555

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7742	Xeon w7-3555
1080p
low	629 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	536 FPS	1057 FPS
high	486 FPS	974 FPS
ultra	415 FPS	834 FPS
1440p
low	524 FPS	1001 FPS
medium	446 FPS	888 FPS
high	394 FPS	802 FPS
ultra	338 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	389 FPS	600 FPS
medium	312 FPS	517 FPS
high	274 FPS	461 FPS
ultra	224 FPS	397 FPS

Open EPYC 7742 Open Xeon w7-3555

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7742	Xeon w7-3555
1080p
low	906 FPS	1212 FPS
medium	828 FPS	1015 FPS
high	713 FPS	925 FPS
ultra	618 FPS	809 FPS
1440p
low	711 FPS	980 FPS
medium	623 FPS	845 FPS
high	534 FPS	736 FPS
ultra	454 FPS	635 FPS
4K
low	503 FPS	727 FPS
medium	454 FPS	632 FPS
high	401 FPS	557 FPS
ultra	346 FPS	437 FPS

Open EPYC 7742 Open Xeon w7-3555

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7742 and Xeon w7-3555

EPYC 7742

The EPYC 7742 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 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 2.25 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 225 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 69,448 points. Launch price was $6,950.

Xeon w7-3555

The Xeon w7-3555 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 28 cores and 56 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 75 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 325 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 67,754 points. Launch price was $2,339.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 7742 packs 64 cores / 128 threads, while the Xeon w7-3555 offers 28 cores / 56 threads — the EPYC 7742 has 36 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7742 versus 4.8 GHz on the Xeon w7-3555 — a 34.1% clock advantage for the Xeon w7-3555 (base: 2.25 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The EPYC 7742 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (7 nm, 14 nm), while the Xeon w7-3555 uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7742 scores 69,448 against the Xeon w7-3555's 67,754 — a 2.5% lead for the EPYC 7742. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 7742 vs 75 MB on the Xeon w7-3555.

Feature	EPYC 7742	Xeon w7-3555
Cores / Threads	64 / 128+129%	28 / 56
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	4.8 GHz+41%
Base Clock	2.25 GHz	2.7 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)+241%	75 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	2 MB (per core)+300%
Process	7 nm, 14 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Zen 2 (2017−2020)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	69,448+3%	67,754
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,300
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	17,120

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7742 uses the TR4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon w7-3555 uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the EPYC 7742 versus DDR5-4800 on the Xeon w7-3555 — the EPYC 7742 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 4096 of RAM. Both feature 8-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7742) vs 112 (Xeon w7-3555) — the EPYC 7742 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7742) and W790 (Xeon w7-3555).

Feature	EPYC 7742	Xeon w7-3555
Socket	TR4	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	3200+63900%	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	4096	4096 GB+104857500%
RAM Channels	8	8
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+14%	112

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Xeon w7-3555 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon w7-3555 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (EPYC 7742) vs true (Xeon w7-3555). Direct competitor: EPYC 7742 rivals Xeon Platinum 8280; Xeon w7-3555 rivals Threadripper PRO 7965WX.

Feature	EPYC 7742	Xeon w7-3555
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7742 launched at $6950 MSRP, while the Xeon w7-3555 debuted at $2749. On MSRP ($6950 vs $2749), the Xeon w7-3555 is $4201 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7742 delivers 10.0 pts/$ vs 24.6 pts/$ for the Xeon w7-3555 — making the Xeon w7-3555 the 84.6% better value option.