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 9224

2022

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅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

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7900 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 26.6 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($1,825 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).
❌207.7% higher power demand at 200W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 7900 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 7900.

Ryzen 9 7900

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +28.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,396 less on MSRP ($429 MSRP vs $1,825 MSRP).
✅Delivers 321.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 26.6 PassMark/$ ($429 MSRP vs $1,825 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 200W, a 135W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics (Raphael), while EPYC 9224 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (48,168 vs 48,573).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9224, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 9224

2022

Ryzen 9 7900

2023

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅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

✅Better for gaming: +28.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,396 less on MSRP ($429 MSRP vs $1,825 MSRP).
✅Delivers 321.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 26.6 PassMark/$ ($429 MSRP vs $1,825 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 200W, a 135W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics (Raphael), while EPYC 9224 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7900 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 26.6 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($1,825 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).
❌207.7% higher power demand at 200W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 7900 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 7900.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (48,168 vs 48,573).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9224, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 7900 better than EPYC 9224?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 9224 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 9224 is the better fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 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 $1,396 cheaper on MSRP at $429 MSRP versus $1,825 MSRP, and it gives you a 28.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 9224 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.8% better PassMark. It is also 321.9% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 26.6 PassMark/$), 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 2022). 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 9224 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 7900 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9224	Ryzen 9 7900
1080p
low	168 FPS	288 FPS
medium	139 FPS	259 FPS
high	120 FPS	218 FPS
ultra	94 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	146 FPS	270 FPS
medium	118 FPS	218 FPS
high	95 FPS	170 FPS
ultra	76 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	69 FPS	187 FPS
medium	59 FPS	151 FPS
high	46 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	101 FPS

Open EPYC 9224 Open Ryzen 9 7900

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9224	Ryzen 9 7900
1080p
low	500 FPS	706 FPS
medium	439 FPS	599 FPS
high	353 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	291 FPS	389 FPS
1440p
low	422 FPS	593 FPS
medium	377 FPS	522 FPS
high	313 FPS	406 FPS
ultra	248 FPS	322 FPS
4K
low	260 FPS	335 FPS
medium	237 FPS	298 FPS
high	209 FPS	264 FPS
ultra	175 FPS	226 FPS

Open EPYC 9224 Open Ryzen 9 7900

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9224	Ryzen 9 7900
1080p
low	644 FPS	876 FPS
medium	527 FPS	699 FPS
high	490 FPS	608 FPS
ultra	426 FPS	518 FPS
1440p
low	501 FPS	702 FPS
medium	408 FPS	562 FPS
high	374 FPS	481 FPS
ultra	323 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	371 FPS	499 FPS
medium	289 FPS	414 FPS
high	258 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	207 FPS	312 FPS

Open EPYC 9224 Open Ryzen 9 7900

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9224	Ryzen 9 7900
1080p
low	850 FPS	1125 FPS
medium	781 FPS	987 FPS
high	675 FPS	860 FPS
ultra	594 FPS	765 FPS
1440p
low	680 FPS	892 FPS
medium	601 FPS	774 FPS
high	516 FPS	677 FPS
ultra	441 FPS	580 FPS
4K
low	491 FPS	644 FPS
medium	441 FPS	570 FPS
high	388 FPS	503 FPS
ultra	333 FPS	434 FPS

Open EPYC 9224 Open Ryzen 9 7900

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9224 and Ryzen 9 7900

EPYC 9224

The EPYC 9224 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 November 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 48,573 points. Launch price was $1,825.

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 9224 packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7900 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the EPYC 9224 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9224 versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7900 — a 37.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7900 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The EPYC 9224 uses the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Ryzen 9 7900 uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9224 scores 48,573 against the Ryzen 9 7900's 48,168 — a 0.8% lead for the EPYC 9224. Both processors carry 64 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	EPYC 9224	Ryzen 9 7900
Cores / Threads	24 / 48+100%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	5.4 GHz+46%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.7 GHz+48%
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)	64 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	5 nm, 6 nm	5 nm
Architecture	Genoa (2022−2023)	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	48,573	48,168
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	24,600
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,800
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	18,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9224 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 7900 uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the EPYC 9224 versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 9 7900 — the EPYC 9224 supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9224 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 191.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9224) vs 2 (Ryzen 9 7900). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9224) vs 28 (Ryzen 9 7900) — the EPYC 9224 offers 100 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9224) and AMD X670E,AMD X670,AMD B650E,AMD B650,AMD A620 (Ryzen 9 7900).

Feature	EPYC 9224	Ryzen 9 7900
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 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, AMD-V (EPYC 9224) vs true (Ryzen 9 7900). The Ryzen 9 7900 includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics (Raphael)), while the EPYC 9224 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: EPYC 9224 rivals Xeon Platinum 8468X; Ryzen 9 7900 rivals Core i9-13900.

Feature	EPYC 9224	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, AMD-V	true

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9224 launched at $1825 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 7900 debuted at $429. On MSRP ($1825 vs $429), the Ryzen 9 7900 is $1396 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9224 delivers 26.6 pts/$ vs 112.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 7900 — making the Ryzen 9 7900 the 123.4% better value option.