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 9754

2023

Why buy it

✅+350.7% higher PassMark.
✅+700% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 128 cores / 256 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Newer platform on SP5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.3 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($11,900 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌453.8% higher power demand at 360W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $11,601 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $11,900 MSRP).
✅Delivers 783.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 8.3 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $11,900 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 360W, a 295W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 98,450).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9754, which brings 128 cores / 256 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while EPYC 9754 moves to SP5 and DDR5.

EPYC 9754

2023

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅+350.7% higher PassMark.
✅+700% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 128 cores / 256 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Newer platform on SP5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $11,601 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $11,900 MSRP).
✅Delivers 783.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 8.3 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $11,900 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 360W, a 295W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.3 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($11,900 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌453.8% higher power demand at 360W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 98,450).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9754, which brings 128 cores / 256 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while EPYC 9754 moves to SP5 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600X better than EPYC 9754?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 9754 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 5600X is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9754 is the better fit. You are getting 350.7% better PassMark, backed by 128 cores and 256 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 700% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 32 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 5600X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 5600X is $11,601 cheaper on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $11,900 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 9754 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 350.7% better PassMark. It is also 783.1% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 8.3 PassMark/$), 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?

EPYC 9754 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with SP5 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 700% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 32 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 128 cores / 256 threads instead of 6/12. 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 9754 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9754	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	163 FPS	203 FPS
medium	134 FPS	174 FPS
high	113 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	169 FPS
medium	114 FPS	141 FPS
high	90 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	68 FPS	85 FPS
medium	58 FPS	76 FPS
high	45 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	47 FPS

Open EPYC 9754 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9754	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	238 FPS	464 FPS
medium	211 FPS	387 FPS
high	174 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	195 FPS	397 FPS
medium	177 FPS	334 FPS
high	151 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	116 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	121 FPS	263 FPS
medium	112 FPS	226 FPS
high	97 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	171 FPS

Open EPYC 9754 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9754	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	650 FPS	546 FPS
medium	541 FPS	473 FPS
high	481 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	358 FPS
1440p
low	503 FPS	508 FPS
medium	418 FPS	413 FPS
high	365 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	371 FPS	348 FPS
medium	289 FPS	292 FPS
high	246 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	199 FPS

Open EPYC 9754 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9754	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	876 FPS	546 FPS
medium	793 FPS	546 FPS
high	682 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	592 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	695 FPS	546 FPS
medium	602 FPS	546 FPS
high	515 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	435 FPS	524 FPS
4K
low	495 FPS	529 FPS
medium	441 FPS	484 FPS
high	387 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	379 FPS

Open EPYC 9754 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9754 and Ryzen 5 5600X

EPYC 9754

The EPYC 9754 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 June 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Bergamo (2023) architecture. It features 128 cores and 256 threads. Base frequency is 2.25 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 360 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 98,450 points. Launch price was $11,900.

Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 9754 packs 128 cores / 256 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the EPYC 9754 has 122 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the EPYC 9754 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 39% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 2.25 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The EPYC 9754 uses the Bergamo (2023) architecture (5 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9754 scores 98,450 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 127.4% lead for the EPYC 9754. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9754 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	EPYC 9754	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	128 / 256+2033%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3.1 GHz	4.6 GHz+48%
Base Clock	2.25 GHz	3.7 GHz+64%
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)+700%	32 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+100%	512K (per core)
Process	5 nm-29%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Bergamo (2023)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	98,450+351%	21,845
Cinebench R23 Multi	104,584	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,634	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	16,825	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9754 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the EPYC 9754 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X — the EPYC 9754 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 5600X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 6 TB — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9754) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 5600X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9754) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the EPYC 9754 offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9754) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).

Feature	EPYC 9754	Ryzen 5 5600X
Socket	SP5	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	6 TB+4700%	128 GB
RAM Channels	12+500%	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+433%	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9754) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). Primary use case: EPYC 9754 targets Data Center / Cloud Native, Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop. Direct competitor: EPYC 9754 rivals Xeon 6780E.

Feature	EPYC 9754	Ryzen 5 5600X
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	AMD-V, SEV-SNP	AMD-V
Target Use	Data Center / Cloud Native	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9754 launched at $11900 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($11900 vs $299), the Ryzen 5 5600X is $11601 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9754 delivers 8.3 pts/$ vs 73.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 159.3% better value option.