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

✅+12.6% higher PassMark.
✅+800% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 128 MB).
✅39.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 92) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 9970X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.3 vs 43.4 PassMark/$ ($14,756 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $12,257 less on MSRP ($2,499 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Delivers 424.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 43.4 vs 8.3 PassMark/$ ($2,499 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Draws 350W instead of 400W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (108,377 vs 122,017).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 1.1 GB).

EPYC 9684X

2023

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

2025

Why buy it

✅+12.6% higher PassMark.
✅+800% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 128 MB).
✅39.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 92) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $12,257 less on MSRP ($2,499 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Delivers 424.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 43.4 vs 8.3 PassMark/$ ($2,499 MSRP vs $14,756 MSRP).
✅Draws 350W instead of 400W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 9970X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.3 vs 43.4 PassMark/$ ($14,756 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (108,377 vs 122,017).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 1.1 GB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 9970X better than EPYC 9684X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is ahead with a 34.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9684X pulls ahead with 12.6% better PassMark. EPYC 9684X also has the bigger cache pool with 800% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 128 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 12.6% better PassMark, backed by 96 cores and 192 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 800% larger total L3 cache (1.1 GB vs 128 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is $12,257 cheaper on MSRP at $2,499 MSRP versus $14,756 MSRP, and it gives you a 34.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 9684X is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 12.6% better PassMark. It is also 424.5% better value on MSRP (43.4 vs 8.3 PassMark/$), 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 9970X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2023) and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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 9684X Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
1080p
low	169 FPS	314 FPS
medium	140 FPS	289 FPS
high	120 FPS	240 FPS
ultra	94 FPS	203 FPS
1440p
low	147 FPS	278 FPS
medium	119 FPS	231 FPS
high	95 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	76 FPS	158 FPS
4K
low	69 FPS	191 FPS
medium	59 FPS	158 FPS
high	46 FPS	121 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	107 FPS

Open EPYC 9684X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
1080p
low	506 FPS	818 FPS
medium	442 FPS	697 FPS
high	353 FPS	542 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	416 FPS	674 FPS
medium	372 FPS	599 FPS
high	306 FPS	480 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	388 FPS
4K
low	256 FPS	377 FPS
medium	233 FPS	339 FPS
high	204 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	271 FPS

Open EPYC 9684X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
1080p
low	668 FPS	891 FPS
medium	558 FPS	723 FPS
high	519 FPS	649 FPS
ultra	452 FPS	552 FPS
1440p
low	509 FPS	714 FPS
medium	423 FPS	580 FPS
high	388 FPS	508 FPS
ultra	335 FPS	427 FPS
4K
low	374 FPS	508 FPS
medium	292 FPS	419 FPS
high	261 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	311 FPS

Open EPYC 9684X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
1080p
low	902 FPS	1116 FPS
medium	822 FPS	1002 FPS
high	708 FPS	879 FPS
ultra	623 FPS	792 FPS
1440p
low	721 FPS	872 FPS
medium	628 FPS	768 FPS
high	538 FPS	674 FPS
ultra	459 FPS	587 FPS
4K
low	517 FPS	636 FPS
medium	462 FPS	568 FPS
high	405 FPS	504 FPS
ultra	348 FPS	437 FPS

Open EPYC 9684X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9684X and Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

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 9970X

The Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 30 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Shimada Peak (2025) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 108,377 points. Launch price was $2,499.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 9684X packs 96 cores / 192 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the EPYC 9684X has 64 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9684X versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X — a 37.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X (base: 2.55 GHz vs 4 GHz). The EPYC 9684X uses the Genoa-X (2023) architecture (5 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X uses Shimada Peak (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9684X scores 122,017 against the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X's 108,377 — a 11.8% lead for the EPYC 9684X. L3 cache: 1152 MB (total) on the EPYC 9684X vs 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X.

Feature	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
Cores / Threads	96 / 192+200%	32 / 64
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	5.4 GHz+46%
Base Clock	2.55 GHz	4 GHz+57%
L3 Cache	1152 MB (total)+800%	128 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	5 nm	4 nm-20%
Architecture	Genoa-X (2023)	Shimada Peak (2025)
PassMark	122,017+13%	108,377
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	76,136
Geekbench 6 Single	—	3,220
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	29,244

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9684X uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X uses sTR5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The EPYC 9684X supports up to 6 TB of RAM compared to 1 TB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9684X) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 9970X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9684X) vs 92 (Ryzen Threadripper 9970X) — the EPYC 9684X offers 36 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9684X) and TRX50 (Ryzen Threadripper 9970X).

Feature	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
Socket	SP5	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	6 TB+500%	1 TB
RAM Channels	12+200%	4
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+39%	92

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9684X) vs AMD-V, SVM (Ryzen Threadripper 9970X). Primary use case: EPYC 9684X targets HPC / Cache Sensitive Workloads, Ryzen Threadripper 9970X targets HEDT / Workstation. Direct competitor: EPYC 9684X rivals Xeon 6979P; Ryzen Threadripper 9970X rivals Xeon w7-3465X.

Feature	EPYC 9684X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V, SEV-SNP	AMD-V, SVM
Target Use	HPC / Cache Sensitive Workloads	HEDT / Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9684X launched at $14756 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X debuted at $2499. On MSRP ($14756 vs $2499), the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is $12257 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9684X delivers 8.3 pts/$ vs 43.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X — making the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X the 135.9% better value option.