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 7343

2021

Why buy it

✅+1.1% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 64 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 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 AI Max PRO 390 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 27.9 vs 72.0 PassMark/$ ($1,565 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).
❌245.5% higher power demand at 190W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 moves to FP11 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +40.6% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $965 less on MSRP ($600 MSRP vs $1,565 MSRP).
✅Delivers 158.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 72.0 vs 27.9 PassMark/$ ($600 MSRP vs $1,565 MSRP).
✅Draws 55W instead of 190W, a 135W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP11 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (43,174 vs 43,644).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (64 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7343, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7343

2021

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

2025

Why buy it

✅+1.1% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 64 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 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: +40.6% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $965 less on MSRP ($600 MSRP vs $1,565 MSRP).
✅Delivers 158.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 72.0 vs 27.9 PassMark/$ ($600 MSRP vs $1,565 MSRP).
✅Draws 55W instead of 190W, a 135W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP11 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 27.9 vs 72.0 PassMark/$ ($1,565 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).
❌245.5% higher power demand at 190W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 moves to FP11 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (43,174 vs 43,644).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (64 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7343, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 better than EPYC 7343?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7343 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 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 7343 is the better fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 64 MB).

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

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is $965 cheaper on MSRP at $600 MSRP versus $1,565 MSRP, and it gives you a 40.6% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 7343 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.1% better PassMark. It is also 158.0% better value on MSRP (72.0 vs 27.9 PassMark/$), 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 AI Max PRO 390 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with FP11 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 7343 Benchmark Check

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7343	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	167 FPS	286 FPS
medium	137 FPS	253 FPS
high	116 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	185 FPS
1440p
low	147 FPS	266 FPS
medium	118 FPS	211 FPS
high	95 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	147 FPS
4K
low	69 FPS	184 FPS
medium	59 FPS	147 FPS
high	46 FPS	108 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	97 FPS

Open EPYC 7343 Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7343	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	506 FPS	778 FPS
medium	442 FPS	656 FPS
high	354 FPS	517 FPS
ultra	288 FPS	459 FPS
1440p
low	415 FPS	654 FPS
medium	372 FPS	572 FPS
high	307 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	256 FPS	368 FPS
medium	233 FPS	326 FPS
high	205 FPS	300 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	264 FPS

Open EPYC 7343 Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7343	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	665 FPS	1021 FPS
medium	555 FPS	783 FPS
high	518 FPS	685 FPS
ultra	451 FPS	580 FPS
1440p
low	504 FPS	818 FPS
medium	419 FPS	635 FPS
high	385 FPS	551 FPS
ultra	333 FPS	469 FPS
4K
low	372 FPS	565 FPS
medium	290 FPS	460 FPS
high	260 FPS	409 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	342 FPS

Open EPYC 7343 Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7343	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	936 FPS	1079 FPS
medium	856 FPS	1015 FPS
high	734 FPS	912 FPS
ultra	648 FPS	811 FPS
1440p
low	747 FPS	895 FPS
medium	654 FPS	788 FPS
high	558 FPS	689 FPS
ultra	477 FPS	605 FPS
4K
low	536 FPS	658 FPS
medium	481 FPS	582 FPS
high	421 FPS	514 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	437 FPS

Open EPYC 7343 Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7343 and Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

EPYC 7343

The EPYC 7343 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 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm+ process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 190 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 43,644 points. Launch price was $1,565.

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

The Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Strix Halo (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP11. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 43,174 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 7343 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the EPYC 7343 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the EPYC 7343 versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — a 24.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The EPYC 7343 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm+), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses Strix Halo (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7343 scores 43,644 against the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390's 43,174 — a 1.1% lead for the EPYC 7343. L3 cache: 128 MB (total) on the EPYC 7343 vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390.

Feature	EPYC 7343	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
Cores / Threads	16 / 32+33%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz	5 GHz+28%
Base Clock	3.2 GHz	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	128 MB (total)+100%	64 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm+	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Milan (2021−2023)	Strix Halo (2025)
PassMark	43,644+1%	43,174

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7343 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses FP11 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the EPYC 7343 versus 8000 on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 supports 85.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7343 supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 128 — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7343) vs 4 (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7343) vs 28 (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390) — the EPYC 7343 offers 100 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7343) and Strix Halo (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390).

Feature	EPYC 7343	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
Socket	SP3	FP11
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	3200	8000+150%
Max RAM Capacity	4096+3100%	128
RAM Channels	8+100%	4
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+357%	28

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 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. Both support VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V virtualization. The Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon 8050S), while the EPYC 7343 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: EPYC 7343 rivals Xeon Gold 6248; Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 rivals Apple M4 Max.

Feature	EPYC 7343	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	AMD Radeon 8050S
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7343 launched at $1565 MSRP, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 debuted at $600. On MSRP ($1565 vs $600), the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is $965 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7343 delivers 27.9 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — making the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 the 88.3% better value option.