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 9684X

2023

Why buy it

✅+350% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 256 MB).
✅45.5% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 88) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 7980X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (122,017 vs 135,949).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.3 vs 27.2 PassMark/$ ($14,756 MSRP vs $4,999 MSRP).

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +31.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $9,757 less on MSRP ($4,999 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Delivers 228.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 27.2 vs 8.3 PassMark/$ ($4,999 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Draws 350W instead of 400W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (256 MB vs 1.1 GB).

EPYC 9684X

2023

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

2023

Why buy it

✅+350% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 256 MB).
✅45.5% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 88) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +31.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $9,757 less on MSRP ($4,999 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Delivers 228.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 27.2 vs 8.3 PassMark/$ ($4,999 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Draws 350W instead of 400W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 7980X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (122,017 vs 135,949).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.3 vs 27.2 PassMark/$ ($14,756 MSRP vs $4,999 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (256 MB vs 1.1 GB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 7980X better than EPYC 9684X?

Yes. Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 31.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 11.4% 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, Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 31.6% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the better fit. You are getting 11.4% better PassMark, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads.

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

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is $9,757 cheaper on MSRP at $4,999 MSRP versus $14,756 MSRP, and it gives you a 31.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 228.9% better value on MSRP (27.2 vs 8.3 PassMark/$), 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?

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 64 cores / 128 threads instead of 96/192 and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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 9684X Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
1080p
low	169 FPS	302 FPS
medium	140 FPS	279 FPS
high	120 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	94 FPS	195 FPS
1440p
low	147 FPS	268 FPS
medium	119 FPS	223 FPS
high	95 FPS	171 FPS
ultra	76 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	69 FPS	185 FPS
medium	59 FPS	154 FPS
high	46 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	104 FPS

Open EPYC 9684X Open Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
1080p
low	506 FPS	787 FPS
medium	442 FPS	672 FPS
high	353 FPS	529 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	462 FPS
1440p
low	416 FPS	649 FPS
medium	372 FPS	577 FPS
high	306 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	380 FPS
4K
low	256 FPS	363 FPS
medium	233 FPS	327 FPS
high	204 FPS	302 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	265 FPS

Open EPYC 9684X Open Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
1080p
low	668 FPS	889 FPS
medium	558 FPS	728 FPS
high	519 FPS	654 FPS
ultra	452 FPS	556 FPS
1440p
low	509 FPS	693 FPS
medium	423 FPS	567 FPS
high	388 FPS	498 FPS
ultra	335 FPS	419 FPS
4K
low	374 FPS	490 FPS
medium	292 FPS	407 FPS
high	261 FPS	365 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	303 FPS

Open EPYC 9684X Open Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
1080p
low	902 FPS	1131 FPS
medium	822 FPS	1014 FPS
high	708 FPS	889 FPS
ultra	623 FPS	802 FPS
1440p
low	721 FPS	890 FPS
medium	628 FPS	783 FPS
high	538 FPS	688 FPS
ultra	459 FPS	599 FPS
4K
low	517 FPS	649 FPS
medium	462 FPS	579 FPS
high	405 FPS	514 FPS
ultra	348 FPS	437 FPS

Open EPYC 9684X Open Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9684X and Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

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.

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 October 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Storm Peak (2023) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 135,949 points. Launch price was $4,999.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 9684X packs 96 cores / 192 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X offers 64 cores / 128 threads — the EPYC 9684X has 32 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9684X versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X — a 31.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X (base: 2.55 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The EPYC 9684X uses the Genoa-X (2023) architecture (5 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X uses Storm Peak (2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9684X scores 122,017 against the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X's 135,949 — a 10.8% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. L3 cache: 1152 MB (total) on the EPYC 9684X vs 256 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X.

Feature	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
Cores / Threads	96 / 192+50%	64 / 128
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	5.1 GHz+38%
Base Clock	2.55 GHz	3.2 GHz+25%
L3 Cache	1152 MB (total)+350%	256 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	5 nm	5 nm
Architecture	Genoa-X (2023)	Storm Peak (2023)
PassMark	122,017	135,949+11%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	98,427
Geekbench 6 Single	—	3,050
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	26,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9684X uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X uses sTR5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 6 TB — 197.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9684X) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 7980X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9684X) vs 88 (Ryzen Threadripper 7980X) — the EPYC 9684X offers 40 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9684X) and TRX50 (Ryzen Threadripper 7980X).

Feature	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
Socket	SP5	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	6 TB+500%	1024 GB
RAM Channels	12+200%	4
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+45%	88

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9684X) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper 7980X). Primary use case: EPYC 9684X targets HPC / Cache Sensitive Workloads, Ryzen Threadripper 7980X targets High-end Desktop / Content Creation. Direct competitor: EPYC 9684X rivals Xeon 6979P; Ryzen Threadripper 7980X rivals Xeon w7-3465X.

Feature	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
Integrated GPU	No	No
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V, SEV-SNP	true
Target Use	HPC / Cache Sensitive Workloads	High-end Desktop / Content Creation

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9684X launched at $14756 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X debuted at $4999. On MSRP ($14756 vs $4999), the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is $9757 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9684X delivers 8.3 pts/$ vs 27.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X — making the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X the 106.7% better value option.