EPYC 7663 vs Ryzen 7 5800X

AMD

EPYC 7663

56 Cores112 Thrd240 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2021

Popular choices:

Ryzen 7 5800X
VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 5800X

8 Cores16 Thrd105 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2020

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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 7663

2021

Why buy it

  • +196.3% higher PassMark.
  • +700% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 32 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 56 cores / 112 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
  • 433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5800X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.9 vs 61.7 PassMark/$ ($6,366 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
  • 128.6% higher power demand at 240W vs 105W.

Ryzen 7 5800X

2020

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +16.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Costs $5,917 less on MSRP ($449 MSRP vs $6,366 MSRP).
  • Delivers 378.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.7 vs 12.9 PassMark/$ ($449 MSRP vs $6,366 MSRP).
  • Draws 105W instead of 240W, a 135W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (27,712 vs 82,120).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 256 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7663, which brings 56 cores / 112 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 7663 better than Ryzen 7 5800X?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7663 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 7 5800X 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 7663 is the better fit. You are getting 196.3% better PassMark, backed by 56 cores and 112 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?
EPYC 7663 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 7 5800X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 7663 is 1317.8% more expensive on MSRP at $6,366 MSRP versus $449 MSRP, and it gives you 196.3% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Ryzen 7 5800X is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 16.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 7 5800X is also 378.5% better value on MSRP (61.7 vs 12.9 PassMark/$), 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 7663 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020), 700% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 32 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 56 cores / 112 threads instead of 8/16. 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetEPYC 7663Ryzen 7 5800X
1080p
low190 FPS206 FPS
medium155 FPS178 FPS
high123 FPS146 FPS
ultra96 FPS110 FPS
1440p
low156 FPS170 FPS
medium123 FPS142 FPS
high94 FPS115 FPS
ultra75 FPS88 FPS
4K
low72 FPS83 FPS
medium60 FPS74 FPS
high46 FPS59 FPS
ultra38 FPS46 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetEPYC 7663Ryzen 7 5800X
1080p
low238 FPS662 FPS
medium211 FPS558 FPS
high174 FPS466 FPS
ultra138 FPS417 FPS
1440p
low195 FPS563 FPS
medium177 FPS493 FPS
high151 FPS423 FPS
ultra116 FPS361 FPS
4K
low121 FPS350 FPS
medium112 FPS308 FPS
high97 FPS288 FPS
ultra79 FPS250 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetEPYC 7663Ryzen 7 5800X
1080p
low836 FPS693 FPS
medium696 FPS651 FPS
high649 FPS570 FPS
ultra573 FPS464 FPS
1440p
low602 FPS693 FPS
medium500 FPS573 FPS
high458 FPS498 FPS
ultra400 FPS413 FPS
4K
low430 FPS484 FPS
medium335 FPS410 FPS
high300 FPS363 FPS
ultra242 FPS302 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetEPYC 7663Ryzen 7 5800X
1080p
low954 FPS693 FPS
medium863 FPS693 FPS
high739 FPS693 FPS
ultra637 FPS693 FPS
1440p
low733 FPS693 FPS
medium636 FPS693 FPS
high542 FPS672 FPS
ultra466 FPS593 FPS
4K
low522 FPS604 FPS
medium464 FPS550 FPS
high406 FPS495 FPS
ultra353 FPS436 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7663 and Ryzen 7 5800X

AMD

EPYC 7663

The EPYC 7663 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 15 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 56 cores and 112 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm+ process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 240 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 82,120 points. Launch price was $6,366.

AMD

Ryzen 7 5800X

The Ryzen 7 5800X 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 27,712 points. Launch price was $449.

Processing Power

The EPYC 7663 packs 56 cores / 112 threads, while the Ryzen 7 5800X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the EPYC 7663 has 48 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the EPYC 7663 versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5800X — a 29.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 5800X (base: 2 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The EPYC 7663 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm+), while the Ryzen 7 5800X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7663 scores 82,120 against the Ryzen 7 5800X's 27,712 — a 99.1% lead for the EPYC 7663. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 7663 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 5800X.

FeatureEPYC 7663Ryzen 7 5800X
Cores / Threads
56 / 112+600%
8 / 16
Boost Clock
3.5 GHz
4.7 GHz+34%
Base Clock
2 GHz
3.8 GHz+90%
L3 Cache
256 MB (total)+700%
32 MB
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)
512K (per core)
Process
7 nm+
7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture
Milan (2021−2023)
Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark
82,120+196%
27,712
Geekbench 6 Single
1,370
Geekbench 6 Multi
12,380
🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7663 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 5800X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The EPYC 7663 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7663) vs 2 (Ryzen 7 5800X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7663) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 5800X) — the EPYC 7663 offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7663) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 5800X).

FeatureEPYC 7663Ryzen 7 5800X
Socket
SP3
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-3200
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
4096 GB+3100%
128 GB
RAM Channels
8+300%
2
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
128+433%
24
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 5800X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Primary use case: EPYC 7663 targets Server, Ryzen 7 5800X targets Desktop. Direct competitor: EPYC 7663 rivals Xeon Platinum 8380.

FeatureEPYC 7663Ryzen 7 5800X
Integrated GPU
No
No
IGPU Model
None
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
AMD-V
Target Use
Server
Desktop
💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7663 launched at $6366 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 5800X debuted at $449. On MSRP ($6366 vs $449), the Ryzen 7 5800X is $5917 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7663 delivers 12.9 pts/$ vs 61.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5800X — making the Ryzen 7 5800X the 130.9% better value option.

FeatureEPYC 7663Ryzen 7 5800X
MSRP
$6366
$449-93%
Performance per Dollar
12.9
61.7+378%
Release Date
2021
2020