Core i9-14900K vs EPYC 9135

CPU

GPU

Core i9-14900K

24 Cores32 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.8 GHz2023

Popular choices:

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EPYC 9135

16 Cores32 Thrd200 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2024

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i9-14900K

24 / 32

58,544

+1.3%

57,808

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

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 i9-14900K

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +23.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $625 less on MSRP ($589 MSRP vs $1,214 MSRP).
✅Delivers 108.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 99.4 vs 47.6 PassMark/$ ($589 MSRP vs $1,214 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 200W, a 75W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 9135 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9135, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

EPYC 9135

2024

Why buy it

✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-14900K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (57,808 vs 58,544).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 47.6 vs 99.4 PassMark/$ ($1,214 MSRP vs $589 MSRP).
❌60% higher power demand at 200W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-14900K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i9-14900K

2023

EPYC 9135

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +23.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $625 less on MSRP ($589 MSRP vs $1,214 MSRP).
✅Delivers 108.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 99.4 vs 47.6 PassMark/$ ($589 MSRP vs $1,214 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 200W, a 75W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 9135 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9135, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-14900K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (57,808 vs 58,544).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 47.6 vs 99.4 PassMark/$ ($1,214 MSRP vs $589 MSRP).
❌60% higher power demand at 200W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-14900K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-14900K better than EPYC 9135?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 9135 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-14900K 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 i9-14900K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 23.9% 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, Core i9-14900K is the better fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 32 threads.

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

Core i9-14900K is the smarter buy today. Core i9-14900K is $625 cheaper on MSRP at $589 MSRP versus $1,214 MSRP, and it gives you a 23.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 108.7% better value on MSRP (99.4 vs 47.6 PassMark/$), 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?

EPYC 9135 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2023), 77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB), 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.

Core i9-14900K Benchmark Check

EPYC 9135 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-14900K	EPYC 9135
1080p
low	325 FPS	172 FPS
medium	314 FPS	139 FPS
high	246 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	207 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	281 FPS	152 FPS
medium	241 FPS	120 FPS
high	177 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	156 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	194 FPS	81 FPS
medium	165 FPS	69 FPS
high	122 FPS	55 FPS
ultra	110 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i9-14900K Open EPYC 9135

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-14900K	EPYC 9135
1080p
low	792 FPS	496 FPS
medium	688 FPS	439 FPS
high	550 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	293 FPS
1440p
low	664 FPS	427 FPS
medium	597 FPS	382 FPS
high	490 FPS	309 FPS
ultra	400 FPS	248 FPS
4K
low	369 FPS	267 FPS
medium	336 FPS	242 FPS
high	312 FPS	211 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	183 FPS

Open Core i9-14900K Open EPYC 9135

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-14900K	EPYC 9135
1080p
low	794 FPS	729 FPS
medium	660 FPS	607 FPS
high	572 FPS	552 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	489 FPS
1440p
low	711 FPS	559 FPS
medium	599 FPS	463 FPS
high	512 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	450 FPS	362 FPS
4K
low	522 FPS	407 FPS
medium	463 FPS	325 FPS
high	412 FPS	287 FPS
ultra	352 FPS	232 FPS

Open Core i9-14900K Open EPYC 9135

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-14900K	EPYC 9135
1080p
low	1091 FPS	929 FPS
medium	975 FPS	846 FPS
high	853 FPS	732 FPS
ultra	760 FPS	660 FPS
1440p
low	900 FPS	735 FPS
medium	791 FPS	652 FPS
high	690 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	607 FPS	493 FPS
4K
low	662 FPS	524 FPS
medium	592 FPS	475 FPS
high	523 FPS	417 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	365 FPS

Open Core i9-14900K Open EPYC 9135

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-14900K and EPYC 9135

Core i9-14900K

The Core i9-14900K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 17 October 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.8 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 58,544 points. Launch price was $589.

EPYC 9135

The EPYC 9135 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.65 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 57,808 points. Launch price was $1,214.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-14900K packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the EPYC 9135 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-14900K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.8 GHz on the Core i9-14900K versus 4.3 GHz on the EPYC 9135 — a 29.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-14900K (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.65 GHz). The Core i9-14900K uses the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 9135 uses Turin (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-14900K scores 58,544 against the EPYC 9135's 57,808 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i9-14900K. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-14900K vs 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 9135.

Feature	Core i9-14900K	EPYC 9135
Cores / Threads	24 / 32+50%	16 / 32
Boost Clock	5.8 GHz+35%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz	3.65 GHz+14%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+78%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)	Turin (2024)
PassMark	58,544+1%	57,808

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-14900K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 9135 uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5600 on the Core i9-14900K versus 6000 on the EPYC 9135 — the EPYC 9135 supports 6.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9135 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 192 — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-14900K) vs 12 (EPYC 9135). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-14900K) vs 128 (EPYC 9135) — the EPYC 9135 offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z790,Z690 (Core i9-14900K) and SP5 (EPYC 9135).

Feature	Core i9-14900K	EPYC 9135
Socket	LGA1700	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	5600	6000+7%
Max RAM Capacity	192	6144+3100%
RAM Channels	2	12+500%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-14900K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the EPYC 9135 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i9-14900K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the EPYC 9135 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i9-14900K rivals Ryzen 9 7950X; EPYC 9135 rivals Xeon Platinum 8558P.

Feature	Core i9-14900K	EPYC 9135
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-14900K launched at $589 MSRP, while the EPYC 9135 debuted at $1214. On MSRP ($589 vs $1214), the Core i9-14900K is $625 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-14900K delivers 99.4 pts/$ vs 47.6 pts/$ for the EPYC 9135 — making the Core i9-14900K the 70.4% better value option.