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 9254

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.8% higher average FPS across 27 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 200W instead of 210W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (64,344 vs 65,568).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.1 vs 21.9 PassMark/$ ($3,761 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).

EPYC 9334

2022

Why buy it

✅+1.9% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $771 less on MSRP ($2,990 MSRP vs $3,761 MSRP).
✅Delivers 28.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.9 vs 17.1 PassMark/$ ($2,990 MSRP vs $3,761 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9254 across 27 shared CPU benchmark tests.

EPYC 9254

2022

EPYC 9334

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.8% higher average FPS across 27 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 200W instead of 210W, a 10W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+1.9% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $771 less on MSRP ($2,990 MSRP vs $3,761 MSRP).
✅Delivers 28.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.9 vs 17.1 PassMark/$ ($2,990 MSRP vs $3,761 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (64,344 vs 65,568).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.1 vs 21.9 PassMark/$ ($3,761 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9254 across 27 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9334 better than EPYC 9254?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, EPYC 9254 is ahead with a 5.8% average FPS lead across 27 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9334 pulls ahead with 1.9% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9334 is the better fit. You are getting 1.9% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads.

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

EPYC 9334 is the smarter buy today. EPYC 9334 is $771 cheaper on MSRP at $2,990 MSRP versus $3,761 MSRP, and it gives you 1.9% better PassMark. The trade-off is that EPYC 9254 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 5.8% average FPS lead across 27 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 28.2% better value on MSRP (21.9 vs 17.1 PassMark/$), 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 9334 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 24/48. That extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

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 9254 Benchmark Check

EPYC 9334 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9254	EPYC 9334
1080p
low	171 FPS	170 FPS
medium	142 FPS	141 FPS
high	123 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	149 FPS	148 FPS
medium	120 FPS	120 FPS
high	97 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	70 FPS
medium	60 FPS	59 FPS
high	47 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	39 FPS

Open EPYC 9254 Open EPYC 9334

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9254	EPYC 9334
1080p
low	603 FPS	533 FPS
medium	529 FPS	465 FPS
high	429 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	303 FPS
1440p
low	507 FPS	438 FPS
medium	453 FPS	392 FPS
high	379 FPS	323 FPS
ultra	314 FPS	255 FPS
4K
low	315 FPS	270 FPS
medium	285 FPS	246 FPS
high	257 FPS	216 FPS
ultra	230 FPS	179 FPS

Open EPYC 9254 Open EPYC 9334

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9254	EPYC 9334
1080p
low	716 FPS	646 FPS
medium	608 FPS	538 FPS
high	552 FPS	501 FPS
ultra	486 FPS	436 FPS
1440p
low	549 FPS	502 FPS
medium	465 FPS	417 FPS
high	415 FPS	382 FPS
ultra	359 FPS	330 FPS
4K
low	400 FPS	374 FPS
medium	321 FPS	291 FPS
high	283 FPS	260 FPS
ultra	227 FPS	208 FPS

Open EPYC 9254 Open EPYC 9334

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9254	EPYC 9334
1080p
low	868 FPS	856 FPS
medium	793 FPS	786 FPS
high	684 FPS	678 FPS
ultra	605 FPS	598 FPS
1440p
low	695 FPS	689 FPS
medium	610 FPS	605 FPS
high	523 FPS	518 FPS
ultra	453 FPS	443 FPS
4K
low	502 FPS	494 FPS
medium	451 FPS	445 FPS
high	397 FPS	391 FPS
ultra	340 FPS	336 FPS

Open EPYC 9254 Open EPYC 9334

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9254 and EPYC 9334

EPYC 9254

The EPYC 9254 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 November 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.15 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 64,344 points. Launch price was $2,299.

EPYC 9334

The EPYC 9334 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 November 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 210 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 65,568 points. Launch price was $2,990.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 9254 packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the EPYC 9334 offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the EPYC 9334 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.15 GHz on the EPYC 9254 versus 3.9 GHz on the EPYC 9334 — a 6.2% clock advantage for the EPYC 9254 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). Both are built on the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture using a 5 nm, 6 nm process. In PassMark, the EPYC 9254 scores 64,344 against the EPYC 9334's 65,568 — a 1.9% lead for the EPYC 9334. Both processors carry 128 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	EPYC 9254	EPYC 9334
Cores / Threads	24 / 48	32 / 64+33%
Boost Clock	4.15 GHz+6%	3.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+7%	2.7 GHz
L3 Cache	128 MB (total)	128 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	5 nm, 6 nm	5 nm, 6 nm
Architecture	Genoa (2022−2023)	Genoa (2022−2023)
PassMark	64,344	65,568+2%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,233	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,023	—

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the SP5 socket with PCIe 5.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the EPYC 9254 versus 4800 on the EPYC 9334 — the EPYC 9334 supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 6144 GB of RAM. Both feature 12-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 128 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9254) and SP5 (EPYC 9334).

Feature	EPYC 9254	EPYC 9334
Socket	SP5	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	4800+95900%
Max RAM Capacity	6144 GB+104857500%	6144
RAM Channels	12	12
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128	128

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: AMD-V (EPYC 9254) vs VT-x, VT-d (EPYC 9334). Primary use case: EPYC 9254 targets Enterprise Server. Direct competitor: EPYC 9254 rivals Xeon Platinum 8468; EPYC 9334 rivals Xeon Platinum 8468.

Feature	EPYC 9254	EPYC 9334
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Enterprise Server	—

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Value Analysis

The EPYC 9254 launched at $3761 MSRP, while the EPYC 9334 debuted at $2990. On MSRP ($3761 vs $2990), the EPYC 9334 is $771 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9254 delivers 17.1 pts/$ vs 21.9 pts/$ for the EPYC 9334 — making the EPYC 9334 the 24.7% better value option.