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 4344P

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +30.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads, plus 28 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Costs $220 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 66.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 102.8 vs 61.8 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (33,821 vs 33,912).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).

Ryzen 9 5900

2021

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 4344P across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 4344P, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads and 28 PCIe lanes.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.8 vs 102.8 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while EPYC 4344P moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while EPYC 4344P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

EPYC 4344P

2024

Ryzen 9 5900

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +30.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads, plus 28 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Costs $220 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 66.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 102.8 vs 61.8 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (33,821 vs 33,912).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 4344P across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 4344P, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads and 28 PCIe lanes.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.8 vs 102.8 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while EPYC 4344P moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while EPYC 4344P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 4344P better than Ryzen 9 5900?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 4344P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 5900 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, Ryzen 9 5900 is the better fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 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?

EPYC 4344P is the smarter buy today. EPYC 4344P is $220 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $549 MSRP, and it gives you a 30.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen 9 5900 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.3% better PassMark. It is also 66.4% better value on MSRP (102.8 vs 61.8 PassMark/$), 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 4344P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2021), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 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 4344P Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 5900 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 4344P	Ryzen 9 5900
1080p
low	248 FPS	164 FPS
medium	231 FPS	135 FPS
high	200 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	172 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	218 FPS	150 FPS
medium	183 FPS	120 FPS
high	152 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	152 FPS	84 FPS
medium	127 FPS	72 FPS
high	99 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	47 FPS

Open EPYC 4344P Open Ryzen 9 5900

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 4344P	Ryzen 9 5900
1080p
low	616 FPS	734 FPS
medium	516 FPS	625 FPS
high	427 FPS	495 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	437 FPS
1440p
low	525 FPS	608 FPS
medium	461 FPS	529 FPS
high	387 FPS	440 FPS
ultra	331 FPS	361 FPS
4K
low	308 FPS	358 FPS
medium	276 FPS	314 FPS
high	259 FPS	286 FPS
ultra	228 FPS	253 FPS

Open EPYC 4344P Open Ryzen 9 5900

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 4344P	Ryzen 9 5900
1080p
low	846 FPS	805 FPS
medium	846 FPS	627 FPS
high	846 FPS	543 FPS
ultra	846 FPS	449 FPS
1440p
low	846 FPS	690 FPS
medium	846 FPS	543 FPS
high	788 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	656 FPS	393 FPS
4K
low	581 FPS	490 FPS
medium	499 FPS	404 FPS
high	449 FPS	359 FPS
ultra	379 FPS	296 FPS

Open EPYC 4344P Open Ryzen 9 5900

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 4344P	Ryzen 9 5900
1080p
low	846 FPS	848 FPS
medium	846 FPS	848 FPS
high	846 FPS	836 FPS
ultra	846 FPS	744 FPS
1440p
low	846 FPS	848 FPS
medium	846 FPS	760 FPS
high	765 FPS	665 FPS
ultra	646 FPS	570 FPS
4K
low	680 FPS	626 FPS
medium	599 FPS	559 FPS
high	530 FPS	494 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	426 FPS

Open EPYC 4344P Open Ryzen 9 5900

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 4344P and Ryzen 9 5900

EPYC 4344P

The EPYC 4344P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 May 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raphael (2023−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 33,821 points. Launch price was $329.

Ryzen 9 5900

The Ryzen 9 5900 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 33,912 points. Launch price was $499.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 4344P packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.3 GHz on the EPYC 4344P versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900 — a 12% clock advantage for the EPYC 4344P (base: 3.8 GHz vs 3 GHz). The EPYC 4344P uses the Raphael (2023−2025) architecture (5 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 4344P scores 33,821 against the Ryzen 9 5900's 33,912 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 4344P vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900.

Feature	EPYC 4344P	Ryzen 9 5900
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	12 / 24+50%
Boost Clock	5.3 GHz+13%	4.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.8 GHz+27%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	64 MB+100%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+100%	512K (per core)
Process	5 nm-29%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Raphael (2023−2025)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	33,821	33,912
Cinebench R23 Multi	19,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,960	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,896	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 4344P uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5200 on the EPYC 4344P versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 5900 — the EPYC 4344P supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 4344P supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 28 (EPYC 4344P) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5900) — the EPYC 4344P offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	EPYC 4344P	Ryzen 9 5900
Socket	AM5	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5200+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	28+17%	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 5900 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the EPYC 4344P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V, AMD-Vi (EPYC 4344P) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900). The EPYC 4344P includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics), while the Ryzen 9 5900 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: EPYC 4344P targets Entry Server, Ryzen 9 5900 targets OEM Gaming. Direct competitor: EPYC 4344P rivals Xeon E-2468.

Feature	EPYC 4344P	Ryzen 9 5900
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon Graphics	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	AMD-V, AMD-Vi	AMD-V
Target Use	Entry Server	OEM Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 4344P launched at $329 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5900 debuted at $549. On MSRP ($329 vs $549), the EPYC 4344P is $220 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 4344P delivers 102.8 pts/$ vs 61.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5900 — making the EPYC 4344P the 49.9% better value option.