EPYC 9354 vs Xeon 6740E

CPU

GPU

EPYC 9354

32 Cores64 Thrd280 WWMax: 3.8 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Xeon 6740E

96 Cores96 Thrd250 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2024

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

EPYC 9354

32 / 64

73,892

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

Xeon 6740E

96 / 96

76,167

+3.1%

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 9354

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.2% higher average FPS across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 96 MB).
✅Costs $1,845 less on MSRP ($3,420 MSRP vs $5,265 MSRP).
✅Delivers 49.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.6 vs 14.5 PassMark/$ ($3,420 MSRP vs $5,265 MSRP).
✅60% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (73,892 vs 76,167).

Xeon 6740E

2024

Why buy it

✅+3.1% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 250W instead of 280W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9354 across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (96 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.5 vs 21.6 PassMark/$ ($5,265 MSRP vs $3,420 MSRP).

EPYC 9354

2022

Xeon 6740E

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.2% higher average FPS across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 96 MB).
✅Costs $1,845 less on MSRP ($3,420 MSRP vs $5,265 MSRP).
✅Delivers 49.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.6 vs 14.5 PassMark/$ ($3,420 MSRP vs $5,265 MSRP).
✅60% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+3.1% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 250W instead of 280W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (73,892 vs 76,167).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9354 across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (96 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.5 vs 21.6 PassMark/$ ($5,265 MSRP vs $3,420 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon 6740E better than EPYC 9354?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, EPYC 9354 is ahead with a 5.2% average FPS lead across 31 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon 6740E pulls ahead with 3.1% better PassMark. EPYC 9354 also has the bigger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 96 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon 6740E is the better fit. You are getting 3.1% better PassMark, backed by 96 cores and 96 threads.

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

Xeon 6740E is still the faster CPU overall, but EPYC 9354 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon 6740E is 53.9% more expensive on MSRP at $5,265 MSRP versus $3,420 MSRP, and it gives you 3.1% better PassMark. The trade-off is that EPYC 9354 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 5.2% average FPS lead across 31 shared CPU game tests in our data. EPYC 9354 is also 49.3% better value on MSRP (21.6 vs 14.5 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon 6740E is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022) and more multi-core headroom with 96 cores / 96 threads instead of 32/64. 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 9354 Benchmark Check

Xeon 6740E Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9354	Xeon 6740E
1080p
low	176 FPS	189 FPS
medium	145 FPS	152 FPS
high	125 FPS	121 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	95 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	153 FPS
medium	123 FPS	119 FPS
high	99 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	71 FPS	71 FPS
medium	60 FPS	59 FPS
high	47 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	38 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open Xeon 6740E

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9354	Xeon 6740E
1080p
low	534 FPS	437 FPS
medium	466 FPS	378 FPS
high	374 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	304 FPS	241 FPS
1440p
low	439 FPS	359 FPS
medium	392 FPS	319 FPS
high	324 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	255 FPS	203 FPS
4K
low	270 FPS	222 FPS
medium	246 FPS	201 FPS
high	216 FPS	168 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	135 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open Xeon 6740E

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9354	Xeon 6740E
1080p
low	673 FPS	934 FPS
medium	562 FPS	831 FPS
high	523 FPS	779 FPS
ultra	455 FPS	693 FPS
1440p
low	511 FPS	746 FPS
medium	426 FPS	655 FPS
high	390 FPS	614 FPS
ultra	337 FPS	546 FPS
4K
low	377 FPS	479 FPS
medium	295 FPS	378 FPS
high	263 FPS	334 FPS
ultra	211 FPS	272 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open Xeon 6740E

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9354	Xeon 6740E
1080p
low	937 FPS	918 FPS
medium	856 FPS	830 FPS
high	735 FPS	715 FPS
ultra	648 FPS	610 FPS
1440p
low	751 FPS	710 FPS
medium	658 FPS	620 FPS
high	561 FPS	530 FPS
ultra	480 FPS	450 FPS
4K
low	539 FPS	509 FPS
medium	484 FPS	455 FPS
high	423 FPS	400 FPS
ultra	366 FPS	344 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open Xeon 6740E

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9354 and Xeon 6740E

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.

Xeon 6740E

The Xeon 6740E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Sierra Forest (2024) architecture. It features 96 cores and 96 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 96 MB (total). L2 cache: 4 MB (per module). Built on Intel 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4710. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 76,167 points. Launch price was $5,265.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 9354 packs 32 cores / 64 threads, while the Xeon 6740E offers 96 cores / 96 threads — the Xeon 6740E has 64 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the EPYC 9354 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon 6740E — a 17.1% clock advantage for the EPYC 9354 (base: 3.25 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The EPYC 9354 uses the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Xeon 6740E uses Sierra Forest (2024) (Intel 3 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9354 scores 73,892 against the Xeon 6740E's 76,167 — a 3% lead for the Xeon 6740E. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9354 vs 96 MB (total) on the Xeon 6740E.

Feature	EPYC 9354	Xeon 6740E
Cores / Threads	32 / 64	96 / 96+200%
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz+19%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.25 GHz+35%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)+167%	96 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	4 MB (per module)+300%
Process	5 nm, 6 nm	Intel 3 nm-40%
Architecture	Genoa (2022−2023)	Sierra Forest (2024)
PassMark	73,892	76,167+3%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9354 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon 6740E uses LGA4710 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the EPYC 9354 versus 6400 on the Xeon 6740E — the Xeon 6740E supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9354 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 4096 — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9354) vs 8 (Xeon 6740E). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9354) vs 80 (Xeon 6740E) — the EPYC 9354 offers 48 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9354) and C741 (Xeon 6740E).

Feature	EPYC 9354	Xeon 6740E
Socket	SP5	LGA4710
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800	6400+33%
Max RAM Capacity	6144+50%	4096
RAM Channels	12+50%	8
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+60%	80

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9354) vs VT-x, VT-d, TDX (Xeon 6740E). Direct competitor: EPYC 9354 rivals Xeon Platinum 8468; Xeon 6740E rivals EPYC 9005.

Feature	EPYC 9354	Xeon 6740E
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, TDX

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9354 launched at $3420 MSRP, while the Xeon 6740E debuted at $5265. On MSRP ($3420 vs $5265), the EPYC 9354 is $1845 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9354 delivers 21.6 pts/$ vs 14.5 pts/$ for the Xeon 6740E — making the EPYC 9354 the 39.6% better value option.