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 7401

2017

Why buy it

✅+153.1% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 36.9 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($1,500 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌138.5% higher power demand at 155W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,201 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $1,500 MSRP).
✅Delivers 98.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 36.9 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $1,500 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 155W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 55,280).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7401, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7401

2017

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅+153.1% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,201 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $1,500 MSRP).
✅Delivers 98.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 36.9 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $1,500 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 155W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 36.9 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($1,500 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌138.5% higher power demand at 155W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 55,280).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7401, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600X better than EPYC 7401?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7401 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 7401 is the better fit. You are getting 153.1% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (64 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 $1,201 cheaper on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $1,500 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 7401 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 153.1% better PassMark. It is also 98.2% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 36.9 PassMark/$), 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 5 5600X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2017). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 7401 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7401	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	187 FPS	203 FPS
medium	165 FPS	174 FPS
high	132 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	169 FPS
medium	127 FPS	141 FPS
high	97 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	71 FPS	85 FPS
medium	63 FPS	76 FPS
high	48 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	47 FPS

Open EPYC 7401 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7401	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	207 FPS	464 FPS
medium	188 FPS	387 FPS
high	160 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	131 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	178 FPS	397 FPS
medium	163 FPS	334 FPS
high	141 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	111 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	112 FPS	263 FPS
medium	103 FPS	226 FPS
high	92 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	171 FPS

Open EPYC 7401 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7401	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	620 FPS	546 FPS
medium	518 FPS	473 FPS
high	466 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	399 FPS	358 FPS
1440p
low	517 FPS	508 FPS
medium	432 FPS	413 FPS
high	378 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	325 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	383 FPS	348 FPS
medium	308 FPS	292 FPS
high	270 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	220 FPS	199 FPS

Open EPYC 7401 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7401	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	834 FPS	546 FPS
medium	758 FPS	546 FPS
high	651 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	561 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	667 FPS	546 FPS
medium	584 FPS	546 FPS
high	500 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	420 FPS	524 FPS
4K
low	475 FPS	529 FPS
medium	427 FPS	484 FPS
high	375 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	320 FPS	379 FPS

Open EPYC 7401 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7401 and Ryzen 5 5600X

EPYC 7401

The EPYC 7401 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 29 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Naples (2017−2018) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 170 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 55,280 points. Launch price was $1,850.

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 7401 packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the EPYC 7401 has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the EPYC 7401 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 42.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 2 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The EPYC 7401 uses the Naples (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7401 scores 55,280 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 86.7% lead for the EPYC 7401. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7401 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	EPYC 7401	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	24 / 48+300%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3 GHz	4.6 GHz+53%
Base Clock	2 GHz	3.7 GHz+85%
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)+100%	32 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-50%
Architecture	Naples (2017−2018)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	55,280+153%	21,845

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7401 uses the TR4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 2666 on the EPYC 7401 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X — the EPYC 7401 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7401 supports up to 2048 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7401) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 5600X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7401) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the EPYC 7401 offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7401) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).

Feature	EPYC 7401	Ryzen 5 5600X
Socket	TR4	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	2666+66550%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	2048	128 GB+6553500%
RAM Channels	8+300%	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+433%	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (EPYC 7401) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop. Direct competitor: EPYC 7401 rivals Xeon Silver 4114.

Feature	EPYC 7401	Ryzen 5 5600X
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7401 launched at $1500 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($1500 vs $299), the Ryzen 5 5600X is $1201 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7401 delivers 36.9 pts/$ vs 73.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 65.9% better value option.