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 9554P

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $7,652 less on MSRP ($7,104 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Delivers 78.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 14.8 vs 8.3 PassMark/$ ($7,104 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (104,920 vs 122,017).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (256 MB vs 1.1 GB).

EPYC 9684X

2023

Why buy it

✅+16.3% higher PassMark.
✅+350% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 256 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9554P across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.3 vs 14.8 PassMark/$ ($14,756 MSRP vs $7,104 MSRP).

EPYC 9554P

2022

EPYC 9684X

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $7,652 less on MSRP ($7,104 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Delivers 78.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 14.8 vs 8.3 PassMark/$ ($7,104 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+16.3% higher PassMark.
✅+350% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 256 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (104,920 vs 122,017).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (256 MB vs 1.1 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9554P across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.3 vs 14.8 PassMark/$ ($14,756 MSRP vs $7,104 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9684X better than EPYC 9554P?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, EPYC 9554P is ahead with a 10.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9684X pulls ahead with 16.3% better PassMark. EPYC 9684X also has the bigger cache pool with 350% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 256 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9684X is the better fit. You are getting 16.3% better PassMark, backed by 96 cores and 192 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 350% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 256 MB).

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

EPYC 9684X is still the faster CPU overall, but EPYC 9554P makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 9684X is 107.7% more expensive on MSRP at $14,756 MSRP versus $7,104 MSRP, and it gives you 16.3% better PassMark. The trade-off is that EPYC 9554P is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 10.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. EPYC 9554P is also 78.6% better value on MSRP (14.8 vs 8.3 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

EPYC 9684X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022), 350% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 256 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 96 cores / 192 threads instead of 64/128. 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 9554P Benchmark Check

EPYC 9684X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9554P	EPYC 9684X
1080p
low	171 FPS	169 FPS
medium	142 FPS	140 FPS
high	122 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	149 FPS	147 FPS
medium	120 FPS	119 FPS
high	97 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	69 FPS
medium	60 FPS	59 FPS
high	47 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	38 FPS

Open EPYC 9554P Open EPYC 9684X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9554P	EPYC 9684X
1080p
low	533 FPS	506 FPS
medium	465 FPS	442 FPS
high	373 FPS	353 FPS
ultra	303 FPS	287 FPS
1440p
low	438 FPS	416 FPS
medium	392 FPS	372 FPS
high	323 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	255 FPS	242 FPS
4K
low	270 FPS	256 FPS
medium	246 FPS	233 FPS
high	216 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	170 FPS

Open EPYC 9554P Open EPYC 9684X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9554P	EPYC 9684X
1080p
low	673 FPS	668 FPS
medium	562 FPS	558 FPS
high	523 FPS	519 FPS
ultra	455 FPS	452 FPS
1440p
low	511 FPS	509 FPS
medium	426 FPS	423 FPS
high	390 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	337 FPS	335 FPS
4K
low	377 FPS	374 FPS
medium	295 FPS	292 FPS
high	263 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	211 FPS	209 FPS

Open EPYC 9554P Open EPYC 9684X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9554P	EPYC 9684X
1080p
low	905 FPS	902 FPS
medium	823 FPS	822 FPS
high	709 FPS	708 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	623 FPS
1440p
low	726 FPS	721 FPS
medium	633 FPS	628 FPS
high	541 FPS	538 FPS
ultra	463 FPS	459 FPS
4K
low	521 FPS	517 FPS
medium	465 FPS	462 FPS
high	408 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	348 FPS

Open EPYC 9554P Open EPYC 9684X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9554P and EPYC 9684X

EPYC 9554P

The EPYC 9554P 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 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.75 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): 360 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 104,920 points. Launch price was $7,104.

EPYC 9684X

The EPYC 9684X 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 96 cores and 192 threads. Base frequency is 2.55 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 1152 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 400 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 122,017 points. Launch price was $14,756.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 9554P packs 64 cores / 128 threads, while the EPYC 9684X offers 96 cores / 192 threads — the EPYC 9684X has 32 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.75 GHz on the EPYC 9554P versus 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9684X — a 1.3% clock advantage for the EPYC 9554P (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.55 GHz). The EPYC 9554P uses the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the EPYC 9684X uses Genoa-X (2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9554P scores 104,920 against the EPYC 9684X's 122,017 — a 15.1% lead for the EPYC 9684X. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9554P vs 1152 MB (total) on the EPYC 9684X.

Feature	EPYC 9554P	EPYC 9684X
Cores / Threads	64 / 128	96 / 192+50%
Boost Clock	3.75 GHz+1%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+22%	2.55 GHz
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)	1152 MB (total)+350%
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	104,920	122,017+16%

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the SP5 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. Both support up to 6 TB of RAM. Both feature 12-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 128 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9554P) and SP5 (EPYC 9684X).

Feature	EPYC 9554P	EPYC 9684X
Socket	SP5	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	6 TB	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 9554P targets Data Center / Single Socket, EPYC 9684X targets HPC / Cache Sensitive Workloads. Direct competitor: EPYC 9554P rivals Xeon 8468; EPYC 9684X rivals Xeon 6979P.

Feature	EPYC 9554P	EPYC 9684X
Integrated GPU	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V, SEV-SNP	AMD-V, SEV-SNP
Target Use	Data Center / Single Socket	HPC / Cache Sensitive Workloads

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9554P launched at $7104 MSRP, while the EPYC 9684X debuted at $14756. On MSRP ($7104 vs $14756), the EPYC 9554P is $7652 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9554P delivers 14.8 pts/$ vs 8.3 pts/$ for the EPYC 9684X — making the EPYC 9554P the 56.4% better value option.