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: +20.7% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+42.2% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 45 MB).
✅Costs $3,213 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $3,622 MSRP).
✅Delivers 779.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 13.0 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $3,622 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 270W, a 205W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (46,828 vs 47,176).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6444Y, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 80 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Gold 6444Y

2023

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 80 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅185.7% more PCIe lanes (80 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (45 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.0 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($3,622 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌315.4% higher power demand at 270W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

2023

Xeon Gold 6444Y

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +20.7% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+42.2% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 45 MB).
✅Costs $3,213 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $3,622 MSRP).
✅Delivers 779.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 13.0 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $3,622 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 270W, a 205W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 80 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅185.7% more PCIe lanes (80 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (46,828 vs 47,176).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6444Y, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 80 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (45 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.0 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($3,622 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌315.4% higher power demand at 270W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 better than Xeon Gold 6444Y?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 6444Y 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 Gold 6444Y is the better fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 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 $3,213 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $3,622 MSRP, and it gives you a 20.7% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon Gold 6444Y is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.7% better PassMark. It is also 779.0% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 13.0 PassMark/$), 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 42.2% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 45 MB). 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.

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6444Y Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945	Xeon Gold 6444Y
1080p
low	269 FPS	205 FPS
medium	244 FPS	163 FPS
high	209 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	183 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	260 FPS	165 FPS
medium	212 FPS	126 FPS
high	168 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	151 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	180 FPS	75 FPS
medium	147 FPS	61 FPS
high	110 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	39 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 Open Xeon Gold 6444Y

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945	Xeon Gold 6444Y
1080p
low	660 FPS	511 FPS
medium	567 FPS	443 FPS
high	426 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	368 FPS	293 FPS
1440p
low	555 FPS	430 FPS
medium	495 FPS	381 FPS
high	384 FPS	313 FPS
ultra	306 FPS	249 FPS
4K
low	313 FPS	267 FPS
medium	283 FPS	240 FPS
high	250 FPS	212 FPS
ultra	214 FPS	176 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 Open Xeon Gold 6444Y

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945	Xeon Gold 6444Y
1080p
low	1025 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	1118 FPS	1005 FPS
high	1041 FPS	949 FPS
ultra	875 FPS	862 FPS
1440p
low	940 FPS	880 FPS
medium	836 FPS	777 FPS
high	754 FPS	722 FPS
ultra	656 FPS	651 FPS
4K
low	574 FPS	561 FPS
medium	495 FPS	460 FPS
high	445 FPS	399 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	328 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 Open Xeon Gold 6444Y

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945	Xeon Gold 6444Y
1080p
low	1171 FPS	1179 FPS
medium	1015 FPS	1015 FPS
high	981 FPS	907 FPS
ultra	854 FPS	767 FPS
1440p
low	1019 FPS	934 FPS
medium	888 FPS	806 FPS
high	762 FPS	681 FPS
ultra	639 FPS	574 FPS
4K
low	754 FPS	684 FPS
medium	658 FPS	597 FPS
high	569 FPS	516 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	431 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 Open Xeon Gold 6444Y

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 and Xeon Gold 6444Y

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.

Xeon Gold 6444Y

The Xeon Gold 6444Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 270 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR5-4400. Passmark benchmark score: 47,176 points. Launch price was $1,517.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6444Y offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Xeon Gold 6444Y has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6444Y — a 29.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 uses the Raphael (2023−2025) architecture (5 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6444Y uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 scores 46,828 against the Xeon Gold 6444Y's 47,176 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon Gold 6444Y. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 vs 45 MB on the Xeon Gold 6444Y.

Feature	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945	Xeon Gold 6444Y
Cores / Threads	12 / 24	16 / 32+33%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+35%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+3%	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)+42%	45 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+100%
Process	5 nm-29%	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Raphael (2023−2025)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	46,828	47,176
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 Gold 6444Y uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 versus 5600 on the Xeon Gold 6444Y — the Xeon Gold 6444Y supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6444Y supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 9 PRO 7945) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 6444Y). PCIe lanes: 28 (Ryzen 9 PRO 7945) vs 80 (Xeon Gold 6444Y) — the Xeon Gold 6444Y offers 52 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 C741 (Xeon Gold 6444Y).

Feature	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945	Xeon Gold 6444Y
Socket	AM5	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5200	5600+111900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+3276700%	4096
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	28	80+186%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 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: true (Ryzen 9 PRO 7945) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6444Y). The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics), while the Xeon Gold 6444Y requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 rivals Core i9-13900; Xeon Gold 6444Y rivals EPYC 9384X.

Feature	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945	Xeon Gold 6444Y
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon Graphics	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 launched at $409 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6444Y debuted at $3622. On MSRP ($409 vs $3622), the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is $3213 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 13.0 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6444Y — making the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 the 159.1% better value option.