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 9455P

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $6,986 less on MSRP ($4,819 MSRP vs $11,805 MSRP).
✅Delivers 140.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 24.3 vs 10.1 PassMark/$ ($4,819 MSRP vs $11,805 MSRP).
✅Draws 300W instead of 360W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (1,898 vs 20,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (256 MB vs 384 MB).

EPYC 9654

2022

Why buy it

✅+953.7% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (384 MB vs 256 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9455P across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.1 vs 24.3 PassMark/$ ($11,805 MSRP vs $4,819 MSRP).
❌20% higher power demand at 360W vs 300W.

EPYC 9455P

2024

EPYC 9654

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $6,986 less on MSRP ($4,819 MSRP vs $11,805 MSRP).
✅Delivers 140.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 24.3 vs 10.1 PassMark/$ ($4,819 MSRP vs $11,805 MSRP).
✅Draws 300W instead of 360W, a 60W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+953.7% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (384 MB vs 256 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (1,898 vs 20,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (256 MB vs 384 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9455P across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.1 vs 24.3 PassMark/$ ($11,805 MSRP vs $4,819 MSRP).
❌20% higher power demand at 360W vs 300W.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9455P better than EPYC 9654?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, EPYC 9455P is ahead with a 5.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9654 pulls ahead with 953.7% better Geekbench multi-core. EPYC 9654 also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (384 MB vs 256 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9654 is the better fit. You are getting 953.7% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 96 cores and 192 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (384 MB vs 256 MB).

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

EPYC 9455P is the smarter buy today. EPYC 9455P is $6,986 cheaper on MSRP at $4,819 MSRP versus $11,805 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 9654 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 953.7% better Geekbench multi-core. It is also 140.2% better value on MSRP (24.3 vs 10.1 PassMark/$), 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 9455P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022). 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 9455P Benchmark Check

EPYC 9654 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9455P	EPYC 9654
1080p
low	171 FPS	170 FPS
medium	142 FPS	141 FPS
high	122 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	150 FPS	148 FPS
medium	121 FPS	119 FPS
high	99 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	84 FPS	70 FPS
medium	73 FPS	59 FPS
high	57 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	47 FPS	39 FPS

Open EPYC 9455P Open EPYC 9654

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9455P	EPYC 9654
1080p
low	655 FPS	524 FPS
medium	566 FPS	457 FPS
high	459 FPS	365 FPS
ultra	397 FPS	296 FPS
1440p
low	546 FPS	431 FPS
medium	483 FPS	385 FPS
high	404 FPS	317 FPS
ultra	328 FPS	250 FPS
4K
low	331 FPS	265 FPS
medium	295 FPS	241 FPS
high	268 FPS	211 FPS
ultra	236 FPS	176 FPS

Open EPYC 9455P Open EPYC 9654

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9455P	EPYC 9654
1080p
low	747 FPS	671 FPS
medium	634 FPS	560 FPS
high	590 FPS	522 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	454 FPS
1440p
low	561 FPS	511 FPS
medium	474 FPS	425 FPS
high	434 FPS	389 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	337 FPS
4K
low	405 FPS	376 FPS
medium	326 FPS	293 FPS
high	288 FPS	262 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	210 FPS

Open EPYC 9455P Open EPYC 9654

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9455P	EPYC 9654
1080p
low	993 FPS	902 FPS
medium	892 FPS	822 FPS
high	767 FPS	708 FPS
ultra	692 FPS	623 FPS
1440p
low	799 FPS	724 FPS
medium	696 FPS	631 FPS
high	594 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	525 FPS	461 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	519 FPS
medium	503 FPS	464 FPS
high	441 FPS	407 FPS
ultra	387 FPS	350 FPS

Open EPYC 9455P Open EPYC 9654

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9455P and EPYC 9654

EPYC 9455P

The EPYC 9455P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 48 cores and 96 threads. Base frequency is 3.15 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 300 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 116,926 points. Launch price was $4,819.

EPYC 9654

The EPYC 9654 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 96 cores and 192 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 384 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 360 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 119,246 points. Launch price was $11,805.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 9455P packs 48 cores / 96 threads, while the EPYC 9654 offers 96 cores / 192 threads — the EPYC 9654 has 48 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the EPYC 9455P versus 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9654 — a 17.3% clock advantage for the EPYC 9455P (base: 3.15 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The EPYC 9455P uses the Turin (2024) architecture (4 nm), while the EPYC 9654 uses Genoa (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9455P scores 116,926 against the EPYC 9654's 119,246 — a 2% lead for the EPYC 9654. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,962 vs 1,250, a 44.3% lead for the EPYC 9455P that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 20,000 (165.3% advantage for the EPYC 9654). L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9455P vs 384 MB (total) on the EPYC 9654.

Feature	EPYC 9455P	EPYC 9654
Cores / Threads	48 / 96	96 / 192+100%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+19%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.15 GHz+31%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)	384 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	4 nm-20%	5 nm, 6 nm
Architecture	Turin (2024)	Genoa (2022−2023)
PassMark	116,926	119,246+2%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,962+57%	1,250
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	20,000+954%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the SP5 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-6000 memory speed. The EPYC 9455P supports up to 9 TB of RAM compared to 6 TB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 12-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 128 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9455P) and SP5 (EPYC 9654).

Feature	EPYC 9455P	EPYC 9654
Socket	SP5	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6000	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	9 TB+50%	6 TB
RAM Channels	12	12
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128	128

🔧

Advanced Features

Both support AMD-V, SEV-SNP virtualization. Primary use case: EPYC 9455P targets Data Center / Single Socket, EPYC 9654 targets Data Center. Direct competitor: EPYC 9455P rivals Xeon 6766E; EPYC 9654 rivals Xeon 8592+.

Feature	EPYC 9455P	EPYC 9654
Integrated GPU	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V, SEV-SNP	AMD-V, SEV-SNP
Target Use	Data Center / Single Socket	Data Center

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9455P launched at $4819 MSRP, while the EPYC 9654 debuted at $11805. On MSRP ($4819 vs $11805), the EPYC 9455P is $6986 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9455P delivers 24.3 pts/$ vs 10.1 pts/$ for the EPYC 9654 — making the EPYC 9455P the 82.4% better value option.