
EPYC 7763
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Xeon Max 9480
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Performance Spectrum - CPU
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 7763
2021Why buy it
- ✅+1.8% higher PassMark.
- ✅+127.6% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 113 MB).
- ✅Costs $5,090 less on MSRP ($7,890 MSRP vs $12,980 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 67.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 10.7 vs 6.4 PassMark/$ ($7,890 MSRP vs $12,980 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 280W instead of 350W, a 70W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Xeon Max 9480 moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.
- ❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.
Xeon Max 9480
2023Why buy it
- ✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.
- ✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (82,913 vs 84,440).
- ❌Smaller total L3 cache (113 MB vs 256 MB).
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.4 vs 10.7 PassMark/$ ($12,980 MSRP vs $7,890 MSRP).
- ❌25% higher power demand at 350W vs 280W.
EPYC 7763
2021Xeon Max 9480
2023Why buy it
- ✅+1.8% higher PassMark.
- ✅+127.6% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 113 MB).
- ✅Costs $5,090 less on MSRP ($7,890 MSRP vs $12,980 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 67.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 10.7 vs 6.4 PassMark/$ ($7,890 MSRP vs $12,980 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 280W instead of 350W, a 70W reduction.
Why buy it
- ✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.
- ✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.
Trade-offs
- ❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Xeon Max 9480 moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.
- ❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (82,913 vs 84,440).
- ❌Smaller total L3 cache (113 MB vs 256 MB).
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.4 vs 10.7 PassMark/$ ($12,980 MSRP vs $7,890 MSRP).
- ❌25% higher power demand at 350W vs 280W.
Quick Answers
So, is EPYC 7763 better than Xeon Max 9480?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Games Benchmarks
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.

Path of Exile 2
| Preset | EPYC 7763 | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 190 FPS | 186 FPS |
| medium | 155 FPS | 168 FPS |
| high | 123 FPS | 135 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 109 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 156 FPS | 153 FPS |
| medium | 123 FPS | 129 FPS |
| high | 94 FPS | 98 FPS |
| ultra | 75 FPS | 81 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 72 FPS | 71 FPS |
| medium | 60 FPS | 63 FPS |
| high | 46 FPS | 48 FPS |
| ultra | 38 FPS | 40 FPS |

Counter-Strike 2
| Preset | EPYC 7763 | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 418 FPS | 246 FPS |
| medium | 367 FPS | 221 FPS |
| high | 299 FPS | 184 FPS |
| ultra | 234 FPS | 146 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 344 FPS | 205 FPS |
| medium | 310 FPS | 187 FPS |
| high | 259 FPS | 160 FPS |
| ultra | 197 FPS | 124 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 211 FPS | 128 FPS |
| medium | 194 FPS | 119 FPS |
| high | 163 FPS | 103 FPS |
| ultra | 131 FPS | 83 FPS |

League of Legends
| Preset | EPYC 7763 | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 836 FPS | 815 FPS |
| medium | 696 FPS | 738 FPS |
| high | 649 FPS | 704 FPS |
| ultra | 573 FPS | 624 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 602 FPS | 725 FPS |
| medium | 500 FPS | 652 FPS |
| high | 458 FPS | 609 FPS |
| ultra | 400 FPS | 548 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 430 FPS | 487 FPS |
| medium | 335 FPS | 398 FPS |
| high | 300 FPS | 354 FPS |
| ultra | 242 FPS | 294 FPS |

Valorant
| Preset | EPYC 7763 | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 975 FPS | 1066 FPS |
| medium | 885 FPS | 953 FPS |
| high | 761 FPS | 813 FPS |
| ultra | 655 FPS | 670 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 745 FPS | 885 FPS |
| medium | 648 FPS | 761 FPS |
| high | 554 FPS | 646 FPS |
| ultra | 476 FPS | 532 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 531 FPS | 644 FPS |
| medium | 473 FPS | 565 FPS |
| high | 414 FPS | 494 FPS |
| ultra | 360 FPS | 413 FPS |
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7763 and Xeon Max 9480

EPYC 7763
EPYC 7763
The EPYC 7763 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 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 2.45 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm+ process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 84,440 points. Launch price was $7,890.

Xeon Max 9480
Xeon Max 9480
The Xeon Max 9480 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) architecture. It features 56 cores and 112 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 112.5 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 82,913 points. Launch price was $12,980.
Processing Power
The EPYC 7763 packs 64 cores / 128 threads, while the Xeon Max 9480 offers 56 cores / 112 threads — the EPYC 7763 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the EPYC 7763 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon Max 9480 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.45 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The EPYC 7763 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm+), while the Xeon Max 9480 uses Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7763 scores 84,440 against the Xeon Max 9480's 82,913 — a 1.8% lead for the EPYC 7763. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 7763 vs 112.5 MB on the Xeon Max 9480.
| Feature | EPYC 7763 | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 64 / 128+14% | 56 / 112 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.45 GHz+29% | 1.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 256 MB (total)+128% | 112.5 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 7 nm+-30% | 10 nm |
| Architecture | Milan (2021−2023) | Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) |
| PassMark | 84,440+2% | 82,913 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,900 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 55,000 |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 7763 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Max 9480 uses LGA4677 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the EPYC 7763 versus DDR5-4800 on the Xeon Max 9480 — the EPYC 7763 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 7763) vs 80 (Xeon Max 9480) — the EPYC 7763 offers 48 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7763) and C741 (Xeon Max 9480).
| Feature | EPYC 7763 | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP3 | LGA4677 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| 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+60% | 80 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Max 9480 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, SEV (EPYC 7763) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Max 9480). Primary use case: Xeon Max 9480 targets HPC Server. Direct competitor: EPYC 7763 rivals Xeon Platinum 8380; Xeon Max 9480 rivals EPYC 9684X.
| Feature | EPYC 7763 | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, SEV | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | HPC Server |
Value Analysis
The EPYC 7763 launched at $7890 MSRP, while the Xeon Max 9480 debuted at $12980. On MSRP ($7890 vs $12980), the EPYC 7763 is $5090 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7763 delivers 10.7 pts/$ vs 6.4 pts/$ for the Xeon Max 9480 — making the EPYC 7763 the 50.5% better value option.
| Feature | EPYC 7763 | Xeon Max 9480 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $7890-39% | $12980 |
| Performance per Dollar | 10.7+67% | 6.4 |
| Release Date | 2021 | 2023 |
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