Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 vs Xeon E7-4880 v2

AMD

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

12 Cores24 Thrd65 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2023

Popular choices:

VS
Intel

Xeon E7-4880 v2

15 Cores30 Thrd130 WWMax: 3.1 GHz2014

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.

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

2023

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +37.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +70.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 38 MB).
  • Costs $6,210 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $6,619 MSRP).
  • Delivers 1464.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 7.3 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $6,619 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 130W, a 65W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (46,828 vs 48,435).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E7-4880 v2, which brings 15 cores / 30 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E7-4880 v2

2014

Why buy it

  • +3.4% higher PassMark.
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 15 cores / 30 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 28.
  • 42.9% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Smaller total L3 cache (38 MB vs 64 MB).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.3 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($6,619 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
  • 100% higher power demand at 130W vs 65W.
  • Older platform position on LGA2011, while Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 better than Xeon E7-4880 v2?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon E7-4880 v2 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 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, Xeon E7-4880 v2 is the better fit. You are getting 3.4% better PassMark, backed by 15 cores and 30 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is $6,210 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $6,619 MSRP, and it gives you a 37.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon E7-4880 v2 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 3.4% better PassMark. It is also 1464.6% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 7.3 PassMark/$), 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 PRO 7945 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2014), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA2011, 70.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 38 MB), 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetRyzen 9 PRO 7945Xeon E7-4880 v2
1080p
low269 FPS182 FPS
medium244 FPS145 FPS
high209 FPS115 FPS
ultra183 FPS90 FPS
1440p
low260 FPS150 FPS
medium212 FPS116 FPS
high168 FPS90 FPS
ultra151 FPS71 FPS
4K
low180 FPS70 FPS
medium147 FPS58 FPS
high110 FPS45 FPS
ultra98 FPS37 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetRyzen 9 PRO 7945Xeon E7-4880 v2
1080p
low660 FPS368 FPS
medium567 FPS324 FPS
high426 FPS269 FPS
ultra368 FPS215 FPS
1440p
low555 FPS317 FPS
medium495 FPS282 FPS
high384 FPS237 FPS
ultra306 FPS183 FPS
4K
low313 FPS198 FPS
medium283 FPS178 FPS
high250 FPS151 FPS
ultra214 FPS121 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetRyzen 9 PRO 7945Xeon E7-4880 v2
1080p
low1025 FPS912 FPS
medium1118 FPS797 FPS
high1041 FPS755 FPS
ultra875 FPS671 FPS
1440p
low940 FPS732 FPS
medium836 FPS631 FPS
high754 FPS597 FPS
ultra656 FPS531 FPS
4K
low574 FPS472 FPS
medium495 FPS372 FPS
high445 FPS332 FPS
ultra378 FPS271 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetRyzen 9 PRO 7945Xeon E7-4880 v2
1080p
low1171 FPS1088 FPS
medium1015 FPS960 FPS
high981 FPS813 FPS
ultra854 FPS677 FPS
1440p
low1019 FPS876 FPS
medium888 FPS750 FPS
high762 FPS632 FPS
ultra639 FPS521 FPS
4K
low754 FPS634 FPS
medium658 FPS552 FPS
high569 FPS476 FPS
ultra437 FPS397 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 and Xeon E7-4880 v2

AMD

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 June 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (2023−2025) 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. Passmark benchmark score: 46,828 points. Launch price was $499.

Intel

Xeon E7-4880 v2

The Xeon E7-4880 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 15 cores and 30 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 37.5 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 48,435 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon E7-4880 v2 offers 15 cores / 30 threads — the Xeon E7-4880 v2 has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 versus 3.1 GHz on the Xeon E7-4880 v2 — a 54.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is built on the Raphael (2023−2025) architecture. In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 scores 46,828 against the Xeon E7-4880 v2's 48,435 — a 3.4% lead for the Xeon E7-4880 v2. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 vs 37.5 MB on the Xeon E7-4880 v2.

FeatureRyzen 9 PRO 7945Xeon E7-4880 v2
Cores / Threads
12 / 24
15 / 30+25%
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz+74%
3.1 GHz
Base Clock
3.7 GHz+48%
2.5 GHz
L3 Cache
64 MB (total)+71%
37.5 MB
L2 Cache
1 MB (per core)
Process
5 nm-77%
22 nm
Architecture
Raphael (2023−2025)
PassMark
46,828
48,435+3%
Cinebench R23 Multi
28,905
Geekbench 6 Single
2,206
Geekbench 6 Multi
16,832
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon E7-4880 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 versus 1600 on the Xeon E7-4880 v2 — the Xeon E7-4880 v2 supports 198.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E7-4880 v2 supports up to 1536 of RAM compared to 128 GB 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 9 PRO 7945) vs 4 (Xeon E7-4880 v2). PCIe lanes: 28 (Ryzen 9 PRO 7945) vs 40 (Xeon E7-4880 v2) — the Xeon E7-4880 v2 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD X670E,AMD X670,AMD B650E,AMD B650,AMD A620 (Ryzen 9 PRO 7945) and C602-J (Xeon E7-4880 v2).

FeatureRyzen 9 PRO 7945Xeon E7-4880 v2
Socket
AM5
LGA2011
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+67%
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-5200
1600+31900%
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB+8738033%
1536
RAM Channels
2
4+100%
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
28
40+43%
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Ryzen 9 PRO 7945) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E7-4880 v2). The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics), while the Xeon E7-4880 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 rivals Core i9-13900; Xeon E7-4880 v2 rivals AMD Opteron 6380.

FeatureRyzen 9 PRO 7945Xeon E7-4880 v2
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Radeon Graphics
None
Unlocked
Yes
No
AVX-512
Yes
No
Virtualization
true
VT-x, VT-d
💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 launched at $409 MSRP, while the Xeon E7-4880 v2 debuted at $6619. On MSRP ($409 vs $6619), the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is $6210 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 7.3 pts/$ for the Xeon E7-4880 v2 — making the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 the 176% better value option.

FeatureRyzen 9 PRO 7945Xeon E7-4880 v2
MSRP
$409-94%
$6619
Performance per Dollar
114.5+1468%
7.3
Release Date
2023
2014