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 7453

2021

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 28 cores / 56 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅357.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7900 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 30.9 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($1,570 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).
❌246.2% higher power demand at 225W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 7900 moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 7900 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 9 7900

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +38.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,141 less on MSRP ($429 MSRP vs $1,570 MSRP).
✅Delivers 263.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 30.9 PassMark/$ ($429 MSRP vs $1,570 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 225W, a 160W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (48,168 vs 48,453).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7453, which brings 28 cores / 56 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7453

2021

Ryzen 9 7900

2023

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 28 cores / 56 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅357.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +38.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,141 less on MSRP ($429 MSRP vs $1,570 MSRP).
✅Delivers 263.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 30.9 PassMark/$ ($429 MSRP vs $1,570 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 225W, a 160W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7900 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 30.9 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($1,570 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).
❌246.2% higher power demand at 225W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 7900 moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 7900 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (48,168 vs 48,453).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7453, which brings 28 cores / 56 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 7900 better than EPYC 7453?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7453 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 7900 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 7453 is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 28 cores and 56 threads.

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

Ryzen 9 7900 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 7900 is $1,141 cheaper on MSRP at $429 MSRP versus $1,570 MSRP, and it gives you a 38.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 7453 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.6% better PassMark. It is also 263.8% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 30.9 PassMark/$), 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 9 7900 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of SP3. 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 7453 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 7900 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7453	Ryzen 9 7900
1080p
low	164 FPS	288 FPS
medium	135 FPS	259 FPS
high	114 FPS	218 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	270 FPS
medium	115 FPS	218 FPS
high	90 FPS	170 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	69 FPS	187 FPS
medium	58 FPS	151 FPS
high	45 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	101 FPS

Open EPYC 7453 Open Ryzen 9 7900

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7453	Ryzen 9 7900
1080p
low	395 FPS	706 FPS
medium	350 FPS	599 FPS
high	287 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	389 FPS
1440p
low	334 FPS	593 FPS
medium	301 FPS	522 FPS
high	255 FPS	406 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	322 FPS
4K
low	206 FPS	335 FPS
medium	189 FPS	298 FPS
high	161 FPS	264 FPS
ultra	129 FPS	226 FPS

Open EPYC 7453 Open Ryzen 9 7900

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7453	Ryzen 9 7900
1080p
low	649 FPS	876 FPS
medium	530 FPS	699 FPS
high	471 FPS	608 FPS
ultra	413 FPS	518 FPS
1440p
low	502 FPS	702 FPS
medium	409 FPS	562 FPS
high	358 FPS	481 FPS
ultra	311 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	371 FPS	499 FPS
medium	289 FPS	414 FPS
high	246 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	312 FPS

Open EPYC 7453 Open Ryzen 9 7900

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7453	Ryzen 9 7900
1080p
low	886 FPS	1125 FPS
medium	807 FPS	987 FPS
high	696 FPS	860 FPS
ultra	611 FPS	765 FPS
1440p
low	696 FPS	892 FPS
medium	608 FPS	774 FPS
high	522 FPS	677 FPS
ultra	447 FPS	580 FPS
4K
low	499 FPS	644 FPS
medium	445 FPS	570 FPS
high	390 FPS	503 FPS
ultra	338 FPS	434 FPS

Open EPYC 7453 Open Ryzen 9 7900

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7453 and Ryzen 9 7900

EPYC 7453

The EPYC 7453 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 28 cores and 56 threads. Base frequency is 2.75 GHz, with boost up to 3.45 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm+ process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 225 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 48,453 points. Launch price was $1,570.

Ryzen 9 7900

The Ryzen 9 7900 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 48,168 points. Launch price was $429.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 7453 packs 28 cores / 56 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7900 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the EPYC 7453 has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.45 GHz on the EPYC 7453 versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7900 — a 44.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7900 (base: 2.75 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The EPYC 7453 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm+), while the Ryzen 9 7900 uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7453 scores 48,453 against the Ryzen 9 7900's 48,168 — a 0.6% lead for the EPYC 7453. Both processors carry 64 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	EPYC 7453	Ryzen 9 7900
Cores / Threads	28 / 56+133%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	3.45 GHz	5.4 GHz+57%
Base Clock	2.75 GHz	3.7 GHz+35%
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)	64 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm+	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Milan (2021−2023)	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	48,453	48,168
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	24,600
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,800
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	18,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7453 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 9 7900 uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the EPYC 7453 versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 9 7900 — the EPYC 7453 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7453 supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7453) vs 2 (Ryzen 9 7900). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7453) vs 28 (Ryzen 9 7900) — the EPYC 7453 offers 100 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3,C621A (EPYC 7453) and AMD X670E,AMD X670,AMD B650E,AMD B650,AMD A620 (Ryzen 9 7900).

Feature	EPYC 7453	Ryzen 9 7900
Socket	SP3	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	3200+63900%	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	4096	128 GB+3276700%
RAM Channels	8+300%	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+357%	28

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 7900 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 (EPYC 7453) vs true (Ryzen 9 7900). The Ryzen 9 7900 includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics (Raphael)), while the EPYC 7453 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: EPYC 7453 rivals Xeon Platinum 8362; Ryzen 9 7900 rivals Core i9-13900.

Feature	EPYC 7453	Ryzen 9 7900
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	Radeon Graphics (Raphael)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7453 launched at $1570 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 7900 debuted at $429. On MSRP ($1570 vs $429), the Ryzen 9 7900 is $1141 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7453 delivers 30.9 pts/$ vs 112.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 7900 — making the Ryzen 9 7900 the 113.8% better value option.