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 9654

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,951 less on MSRP ($11,805 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Delivers 22.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 10.1 vs 8.3 PassMark/$ ($11,805 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Draws 360W instead of 400W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (119,246 vs 122,017).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (384 MB vs 1.1 GB).

EPYC 9684X

2023

Why buy it

✅+2.3% higher PassMark.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 384 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.3 vs 10.1 PassMark/$ ($14,756 MSRP vs $11,805 MSRP).

EPYC 9654

2022

EPYC 9684X

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,951 less on MSRP ($11,805 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Delivers 22.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 10.1 vs 8.3 PassMark/$ ($11,805 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Draws 360W instead of 400W, a 40W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+2.3% higher PassMark.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 384 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (119,246 vs 122,017).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (384 MB vs 1.1 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.3 vs 10.1 PassMark/$ ($14,756 MSRP vs $11,805 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9684X better than EPYC 9654?

Yes. EPYC 9684X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 0.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 2.3% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, the two CPUs are effectively a wash in the available data.

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 2.3% better PassMark, backed by 96 cores and 192 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 384 MB).

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

EPYC 9684X is still the faster CPU overall, but EPYC 9654 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 9684X is 25.0% more expensive on MSRP at $14,756 MSRP versus $11,805 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. EPYC 9654 is also 22.2% better value on MSRP (10.1 vs 8.3 PassMark/$), 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), 200% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 384 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 96 cores / 192 threads instead of 96/192. 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 9654 Benchmark Check

EPYC 9684X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9654	EPYC 9684X
1080p
low	170 FPS	169 FPS
medium	141 FPS	140 FPS
high	122 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	148 FPS	147 FPS
medium	119 FPS	119 FPS
high	97 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	69 FPS
medium	59 FPS	59 FPS
high	47 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	38 FPS

Open EPYC 9654 Open EPYC 9684X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9654	EPYC 9684X
1080p
low	524 FPS	506 FPS
medium	457 FPS	442 FPS
high	365 FPS	353 FPS
ultra	296 FPS	287 FPS
1440p
low	431 FPS	416 FPS
medium	385 FPS	372 FPS
high	317 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	250 FPS	242 FPS
4K
low	265 FPS	256 FPS
medium	241 FPS	233 FPS
high	211 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	170 FPS

Open EPYC 9654 Open EPYC 9684X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9654	EPYC 9684X
1080p
low	671 FPS	668 FPS
medium	560 FPS	558 FPS
high	522 FPS	519 FPS
ultra	454 FPS	452 FPS
1440p
low	511 FPS	509 FPS
medium	425 FPS	423 FPS
high	389 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	337 FPS	335 FPS
4K
low	376 FPS	374 FPS
medium	293 FPS	292 FPS
high	262 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	210 FPS	209 FPS

Open EPYC 9654 Open EPYC 9684X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9654	EPYC 9684X
1080p
low	902 FPS	902 FPS
medium	822 FPS	822 FPS
high	708 FPS	708 FPS
ultra	623 FPS	623 FPS
1440p
low	724 FPS	721 FPS
medium	631 FPS	628 FPS
high	540 FPS	538 FPS
ultra	461 FPS	459 FPS
4K
low	519 FPS	517 FPS
medium	464 FPS	462 FPS
high	407 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	350 FPS	348 FPS

Open EPYC 9654 Open EPYC 9684X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9654 and EPYC 9684X

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.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the EPYC 9654 and EPYC 9684X share an identical 96-core/192-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9654 versus 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9684X — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.55 GHz). The EPYC 9654 uses the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the EPYC 9684X uses Genoa-X (2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9654 scores 119,246 against the EPYC 9684X's 122,017 — a 2.3% lead for the EPYC 9684X. L3 cache: 384 MB (total) on the EPYC 9654 vs 1152 MB (total) on the EPYC 9684X.

Feature	EPYC 9654	EPYC 9684X
Cores / Threads	96 / 192	96 / 192
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	2.55 GHz+6%
L3 Cache	384 MB (total)	1152 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	119,246	122,017+2%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,250	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	20,000	—

🧠

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 9654) and SP5 (EPYC 9684X).

Feature	EPYC 9654	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 9654 targets Data Center, EPYC 9684X targets HPC / Cache Sensitive Workloads. Direct competitor: EPYC 9654 rivals Xeon 8592+; EPYC 9684X rivals Xeon 6979P.

Feature	EPYC 9654	EPYC 9684X
Integrated GPU	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V, SEV-SNP	AMD-V, SEV-SNP
Target Use	Data Center	HPC / Cache Sensitive Workloads

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9654 launched at $11805 MSRP, while the EPYC 9684X debuted at $14756. On MSRP ($11805 vs $14756), the EPYC 9654 is $2951 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9654 delivers 10.1 pts/$ vs 8.3 pts/$ for the EPYC 9684X — making the EPYC 9654 the 19.9% better value option.