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 9255

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅357.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 30.4 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($2,495 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌90.5% higher power demand at 200W vs 105W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 7600X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,196 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
✅Delivers 211.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.7 vs 30.4 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 200W, a 95W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core), while EPYC 9255 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9255 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (28,325 vs 75,809).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9255, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 9255

2024

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅357.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,196 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
✅Delivers 211.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.7 vs 30.4 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 200W, a 95W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core), while EPYC 9255 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 30.4 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($2,495 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌90.5% higher power demand at 200W vs 105W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 7600X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9255 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (28,325 vs 75,809).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9255, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9255 better than Ryzen 5 7600X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 9255 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 7600X is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 9255 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 9.4% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 32 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9255 is the better fit. You are getting 167.6% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 32 MB).

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

EPYC 9255 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 7600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 9255 is 734.4% more expensive on MSRP at $2,495 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 9.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 7600X is also 211.8% better value on MSRP (94.7 vs 30.4 PassMark/$), 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 9255 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 128 MB L3 cache instead of 32 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 48 threads instead of 6/12. 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 9255 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 7600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9255	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	303 FPS	266 FPS
medium	280 FPS	246 FPS
high	231 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	179 FPS
1440p
low	268 FPS	226 FPS
medium	223 FPS	189 FPS
high	172 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	152 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	186 FPS	157 FPS
medium	154 FPS	131 FPS
high	117 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	87 FPS

Open EPYC 9255 Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9255	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	717 FPS	649 FPS
medium	614 FPS	524 FPS
high	485 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	421 FPS	386 FPS
1440p
low	573 FPS	544 FPS
medium	507 FPS	455 FPS
high	419 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	341 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	335 FPS	341 FPS
medium	298 FPS	290 FPS
high	270 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	239 FPS	232 FPS

Open EPYC 9255 Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9255	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	850 FPS	708 FPS
medium	691 FPS	652 FPS
high	625 FPS	571 FPS
ultra	530 FPS	484 FPS
1440p
low	677 FPS	708 FPS
medium	548 FPS	554 FPS
high	484 FPS	479 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	409 FPS
4K
low	483 FPS	463 FPS
medium	399 FPS	392 FPS
high	355 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	293 FPS	281 FPS

Open EPYC 9255 Open Ryzen 5 7600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9255	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	1083 FPS	708 FPS
medium	982 FPS	708 FPS
high	862 FPS	708 FPS
ultra	777 FPS	708 FPS
1440p
low	859 FPS	708 FPS
medium	761 FPS	708 FPS
high	668 FPS	658 FPS
ultra	582 FPS	571 FPS
4K
low	627 FPS	560 FPS
medium	562 FPS	502 FPS
high	500 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	391 FPS

Open EPYC 9255 Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9255 and Ryzen 5 7600X

EPYC 9255

The EPYC 9255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3.25 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 75,809 points. Launch price was $2,495.

Ryzen 5 7600X

The Ryzen 5 7600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 28,325 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 9255 packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the EPYC 9255 has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the EPYC 9255 versus 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X — a 9.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X (base: 3.25 GHz vs 4.7 GHz). The EPYC 9255 uses the Turin (2024) architecture (4 nm), while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9255 scores 75,809 against the Ryzen 5 7600X's 28,325 — a 91.2% lead for the EPYC 9255. L3 cache: 128 MB (total) on the EPYC 9255 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7600X.

Feature	EPYC 9255	Ryzen 5 7600X
Cores / Threads	24 / 48+300%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz	5.3 GHz+10%
Base Clock	3.25 GHz	4.7 GHz+45%
L3 Cache	128 MB (total)+300%	32 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	6 MB+500%
Process	4 nm-20%	5 nm, 6 nm
Architecture	Turin (2024)	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	75,809+168%	28,325
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	15,300
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,900
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	13,800

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Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9255 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the EPYC 9255 versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 5 7600X — the EPYC 9255 supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9255 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 191.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9255) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 7600X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9255) vs 28 (Ryzen 5 7600X) — the EPYC 9255 offers 100 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9255) and X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 5 7600X).

Feature	EPYC 9255	Ryzen 5 7600X
Socket	SP5	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+95900%	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	6144	128 GB+2184433%
RAM Channels	12+500%	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+357%	28

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 7600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9255) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 7600X). The Ryzen 5 7600X includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)), while the EPYC 9255 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 7600X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: EPYC 9255 rivals Xeon Platinum 8480+; Ryzen 5 7600X rivals Intel Core i5-13600K.

Feature	EPYC 9255	Ryzen 5 7600X
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9255 launched at $2495 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 7600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($2495 vs $299), the Ryzen 5 7600X is $2196 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9255 delivers 30.4 pts/$ vs 94.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 7600X — making the Ryzen 5 7600X the 102.9% better value option.