EPYC 9354 vs Xeon Platinum 8461V

CPU

GPU

EPYC 9354

32 Cores64 Thrd280 WWMax: 3.8 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Xeon Platinum 8461V

48 Cores96 Thrd300 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2023

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 Platinum 8461V

48 / 96

74,982

+1.5%

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

✅+162.6% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 98 MB).
✅Costs $1,071 less on MSRP ($3,420 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅Delivers 29.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.6 vs 16.7 PassMark/$ ($3,420 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅Draws 280W instead of 300W, a 20W reduction.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Platinum 8461V across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (73,892 vs 74,982).

Xeon Platinum 8461V

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (98 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 16.7 vs 21.6 PassMark/$ ($4,491 MSRP vs $3,420 MSRP).

EPYC 9354

2022

Xeon Platinum 8461V

2023

Why buy it

✅+162.6% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 98 MB).
✅Costs $1,071 less on MSRP ($3,420 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅Delivers 29.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.6 vs 16.7 PassMark/$ ($3,420 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅Draws 280W instead of 300W, a 20W reduction.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Platinum 8461V across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (73,892 vs 74,982).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (98 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 16.7 vs 21.6 PassMark/$ ($4,491 MSRP vs $3,420 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Platinum 8461V better than EPYC 9354?

Yes. Xeon Platinum 8461V is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 4.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.5% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon Platinum 8461V is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 4.1% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Platinum 8461V is the better fit. You are getting 1.5% better PassMark, backed by 48 cores and 96 threads.

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

Xeon Platinum 8461V is still the faster CPU overall, but EPYC 9354 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon Platinum 8461V is 31.3% more expensive on MSRP at $4,491 MSRP versus $3,420 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. EPYC 9354 is also 29.4% better value on MSRP (21.6 vs 16.7 PassMark/$), 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 Platinum 8461V is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022) and more multi-core headroom with 48 cores / 96 threads instead of 32/64. 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

Xeon Platinum 8461V Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9354	Xeon Platinum 8461V
1080p
low	176 FPS	191 FPS
medium	145 FPS	172 FPS
high	125 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	114 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	156 FPS
medium	123 FPS	132 FPS
high	99 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	71 FPS	71 FPS
medium	60 FPS	64 FPS
high	47 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	40 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open Xeon Platinum 8461V

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9354	Xeon Platinum 8461V
1080p
low	534 FPS	282 FPS
medium	466 FPS	250 FPS
high	374 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	304 FPS	169 FPS
1440p
low	439 FPS	230 FPS
medium	392 FPS	208 FPS
high	324 FPS	177 FPS
ultra	255 FPS	141 FPS
4K
low	270 FPS	143 FPS
medium	246 FPS	131 FPS
high	216 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	99 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open Xeon Platinum 8461V

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9354	Xeon Platinum 8461V
1080p
low	673 FPS	814 FPS
medium	562 FPS	737 FPS
high	523 FPS	703 FPS
ultra	455 FPS	624 FPS
1440p
low	511 FPS	723 FPS
medium	426 FPS	651 FPS
high	390 FPS	608 FPS
ultra	337 FPS	547 FPS
4K
low	377 FPS	486 FPS
medium	295 FPS	397 FPS
high	263 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	211 FPS	294 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open Xeon Platinum 8461V

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9354	Xeon Platinum 8461V
1080p
low	937 FPS	1027 FPS
medium	856 FPS	909 FPS
high	735 FPS	782 FPS
ultra	648 FPS	657 FPS
1440p
low	751 FPS	843 FPS
medium	658 FPS	721 FPS
high	561 FPS	618 FPS
ultra	480 FPS	515 FPS
4K
low	539 FPS	609 FPS
medium	484 FPS	533 FPS
high	423 FPS	471 FPS
ultra	366 FPS	395 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open Xeon Platinum 8461V

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9354 and Xeon Platinum 8461V

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 Platinum 8461V

The Xeon Platinum 8461V is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 48 cores and 96 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 97.5 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 300 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR5-4400. Passmark benchmark score: 74,982 points. Launch price was $4,491.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 9354 packs 32 cores / 64 threads, while the Xeon Platinum 8461V offers 48 cores / 96 threads — the Xeon Platinum 8461V has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the EPYC 9354 versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8461V — a 2.7% clock advantage for the EPYC 9354 (base: 3.25 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The EPYC 9354 uses the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Xeon Platinum 8461V uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9354 scores 73,892 against the Xeon Platinum 8461V's 74,982 — a 1.5% lead for the Xeon Platinum 8461V. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9354 vs 97.5 MB on the Xeon Platinum 8461V.

Feature	EPYC 9354	Xeon Platinum 8461V
Cores / Threads	32 / 64	48 / 96+50%
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz+3%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.25 GHz+48%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)+163%	97.5 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+100%
Process	5 nm, 6 nm-29%	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Genoa (2022−2023)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	73,892	74,982+1%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9354 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Platinum 8461V uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to 4800 memory speed. 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 Platinum 8461V). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9354) vs 80 (Xeon Platinum 8461V) — the EPYC 9354 offers 48 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9354) and C741 (Xeon Platinum 8461V).

Feature	EPYC 9354	Xeon Platinum 8461V
Socket	SP5	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	4800	4800
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 (Xeon Platinum 8461V). Direct competitor: EPYC 9354 rivals Xeon Platinum 8468; Xeon Platinum 8461V rivals EPYC 9454.

Feature	EPYC 9354	Xeon Platinum 8461V
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

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9354 launched at $3420 MSRP, while the Xeon Platinum 8461V debuted at $4491. On MSRP ($3420 vs $4491), the EPYC 9354 is $1071 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9354 delivers 21.6 pts/$ vs 16.7 pts/$ for the Xeon Platinum 8461V — making the EPYC 9354 the 25.6% better value option.