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 9354

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.7% higher average FPS across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,109 less on MSRP ($3,420 MSRP vs $5,529 MSRP).
✅Delivers 65.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.6 vs 13.0 PassMark/$ ($3,420 MSRP vs $5,529 MSRP).
✅Draws 280W instead of 320W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (256 MB vs 768 MB).

EPYC 9384X

2023

Why buy it

✅+200% larger total L3 cache (768 MB vs 256 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9354 across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (72,121 vs 73,892).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.0 vs 21.6 PassMark/$ ($5,529 MSRP vs $3,420 MSRP).

EPYC 9354

2022

EPYC 9384X

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.7% higher average FPS across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,109 less on MSRP ($3,420 MSRP vs $5,529 MSRP).
✅Delivers 65.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.6 vs 13.0 PassMark/$ ($3,420 MSRP vs $5,529 MSRP).
✅Draws 280W instead of 320W, a 40W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+200% larger total L3 cache (768 MB vs 256 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (256 MB vs 768 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9354 across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (72,121 vs 73,892).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.0 vs 21.6 PassMark/$ ($5,529 MSRP vs $3,420 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9354 better than EPYC 9384X?

Yes. EPYC 9354 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 4.7% average FPS lead across 31 shared CPU game tests in our data and 2.5% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 9354 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 4.7% more average FPS across 31 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9354 is the better fit. You are getting 2.5% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads.

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

EPYC 9354 is the smarter buy today. EPYC 9354 is $2,109 cheaper on MSRP at $3,420 MSRP versus $5,529 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.7% average FPS lead across 31 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 65.6% better value on MSRP (21.6 vs 13.0 PassMark/$), 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?

EPYC 9384X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022) and 200% larger total L3 cache (768 MB vs 256 MB). 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 9354 Benchmark Check

EPYC 9384X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9354	EPYC 9384X
1080p
low	176 FPS	171 FPS
medium	145 FPS	141 FPS
high	125 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	95 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	148 FPS
medium	123 FPS	120 FPS
high	99 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	71 FPS	70 FPS
medium	60 FPS	59 FPS
high	47 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	38 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open EPYC 9384X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9354	EPYC 9384X
1080p
low	534 FPS	507 FPS
medium	466 FPS	443 FPS
high	374 FPS	355 FPS
ultra	304 FPS	288 FPS
1440p
low	439 FPS	417 FPS
medium	392 FPS	373 FPS
high	324 FPS	308 FPS
ultra	255 FPS	243 FPS
4K
low	270 FPS	257 FPS
medium	246 FPS	234 FPS
high	216 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	171 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open EPYC 9384X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9354	EPYC 9384X
1080p
low	673 FPS	670 FPS
medium	562 FPS	559 FPS
high	523 FPS	521 FPS
ultra	455 FPS	453 FPS
1440p
low	511 FPS	510 FPS
medium	426 FPS	424 FPS
high	390 FPS	389 FPS
ultra	337 FPS	336 FPS
4K
low	377 FPS	376 FPS
medium	295 FPS	294 FPS
high	263 FPS	262 FPS
ultra	211 FPS	210 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open EPYC 9384X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9354	EPYC 9384X
1080p
low	937 FPS	904 FPS
medium	856 FPS	822 FPS
high	735 FPS	708 FPS
ultra	648 FPS	625 FPS
1440p
low	751 FPS	721 FPS
medium	658 FPS	629 FPS
high	561 FPS	538 FPS
ultra	480 FPS	460 FPS
4K
low	539 FPS	518 FPS
medium	484 FPS	462 FPS
high	423 FPS	406 FPS
ultra	366 FPS	349 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open EPYC 9384X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9354 and EPYC 9384X

EPYC 9354

The EPYC 9354 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 3.25 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 73,892 points. Launch price was $3,420.

EPYC 9384X

The EPYC 9384X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 June 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Genoa-X (2023) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 768 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 320 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 72,121 points. Launch price was $5,529.

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Processing Power

Both the EPYC 9354 and EPYC 9384X share an identical 32-core/64-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the EPYC 9354 versus 3.9 GHz on the EPYC 9384X — a 2.6% clock advantage for the EPYC 9384X (base: 3.25 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The EPYC 9354 uses the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the EPYC 9384X uses Genoa-X (2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9354 scores 73,892 against the EPYC 9384X's 72,121 — a 2.4% lead for the EPYC 9354. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9354 vs 768 MB (total) on the EPYC 9384X.

Feature	EPYC 9354	EPYC 9384X
Cores / Threads	32 / 64	32 / 64
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz	3.9 GHz+3%
Base Clock	3.25 GHz+5%	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)	768 MB (total)+200%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	5 nm, 6 nm	5 nm
Architecture	Genoa (2022−2023)	Genoa-X (2023)
PassMark	73,892+2%	72,121

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the SP5 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to 4800 memory speed. Both support up to 6144 of RAM. Both feature 12-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 128 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9354) and SP5 (EPYC 9384X).

Feature	EPYC 9354	EPYC 9384X
Socket	SP5	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	4800	4800
Max RAM Capacity	6144	6144
RAM Channels	12	12
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128	128

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Both support VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP virtualization. Direct competitor: EPYC 9354 rivals Xeon Platinum 8468; EPYC 9384X rivals Xeon Platinum 8468.

Feature	EPYC 9354	EPYC 9384X
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP	VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9354 launched at $3420 MSRP, while the EPYC 9384X debuted at $5529. On MSRP ($3420 vs $5529), the EPYC 9354 is $2109 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9354 delivers 21.6 pts/$ vs 13.0 pts/$ for the EPYC 9384X — making the EPYC 9354 the 49.4% better value option.