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 4545P

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $850 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $1,399 MSRP).
✅Delivers 152.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 98.8 vs 39.1 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $1,399 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics, while Ryzen Threadripper 3960X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (54,255 vs 54,763).

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +22.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅214.3% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 39.1 vs 98.8 PassMark/$ ($1,399 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while EPYC 4545P moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while EPYC 4545P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

EPYC 4545P

2025

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $850 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $1,399 MSRP).
✅Delivers 152.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 98.8 vs 39.1 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $1,399 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics, while Ryzen Threadripper 3960X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +22.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅214.3% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (54,255 vs 54,763).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 39.1 vs 98.8 PassMark/$ ($1,399 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while EPYC 4545P moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while EPYC 4545P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 3960X better than EPYC 4545P?

Yes. Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 22.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.9% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 22.6% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 64 MB.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is the better fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 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 Threadripper 3960X is still the faster CPU overall, but EPYC 4545P makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is 154.8% more expensive on MSRP at $1,399 MSRP versus $549 MSRP, and it gives you a 22.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. EPYC 4545P is also 152.5% better value on MSRP (98.8 vs 39.1 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

EPYC 4545P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2019), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of TR4, 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.

EPYC 4545P Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 4545P	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
1080p
low	286 FPS	270 FPS
medium	262 FPS	222 FPS
high	215 FPS	183 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	262 FPS	211 FPS
medium	218 FPS	164 FPS
high	167 FPS	130 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	96 FPS
4K
low	182 FPS	98 FPS
medium	151 FPS	81 FPS
high	115 FPS	63 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	51 FPS

Open EPYC 4545P Open Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 4545P	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
1080p
low	674 FPS	835 FPS
medium	580 FPS	706 FPS
high	434 FPS	547 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	474 FPS
1440p
low	567 FPS	677 FPS
medium	506 FPS	587 FPS
high	392 FPS	476 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	387 FPS
4K
low	320 FPS	396 FPS
medium	289 FPS	345 FPS
high	255 FPS	307 FPS
ultra	219 FPS	271 FPS

Open EPYC 4545P Open Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 4545P	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
1080p
low	850 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	679 FPS	927 FPS
high	601 FPS	862 FPS
ultra	515 FPS	765 FPS
1440p
low	679 FPS	777 FPS
medium	543 FPS	645 FPS
high	469 FPS	581 FPS
ultra	398 FPS	506 FPS
4K
low	484 FPS	540 FPS
medium	401 FPS	428 FPS
high	360 FPS	381 FPS
ultra	302 FPS	306 FPS

Open EPYC 4545P Open Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 4545P	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
1080p
low	1072 FPS	1325 FPS
medium	966 FPS	1015 FPS
high	843 FPS	1074 FPS
ultra	760 FPS	875 FPS
1440p
low	842 FPS	1032 FPS
medium	747 FPS	900 FPS
high	652 FPS	778 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	619 FPS	744 FPS
medium	553 FPS	662 FPS
high	487 FPS	579 FPS
ultra	421 FPS	437 FPS

Open EPYC 4545P Open Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 4545P and Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

EPYC 4545P

The EPYC 4545P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 May 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Grado (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 54,255 points. Launch price was $549.

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

The Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 November 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 54,763 points. Launch price was $1,399.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 4545P packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the EPYC 4545P versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X — a 18.2% clock advantage for the EPYC 4545P (base: 3 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The EPYC 4545P uses the Grado (2025) architecture (4 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 4545P scores 54,255 against the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X's 54,763 — a 0.9% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 4545P vs 128 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X.

Feature	EPYC 4545P	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Cores / Threads	16 / 32	24 / 48+50%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+20%	4.5 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.8 GHz+27%
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)	128 MB+100%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+100%	512K (per core)
Process	4 nm-43%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Grado (2025)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	54,255	54,763
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	34,260
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,270

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 4545P uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5600 on the EPYC 4545P versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X — the EPYC 4545P supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper 3960X supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 192 — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (EPYC 4545P) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 3960X). PCIe lanes: 28 (EPYC 4545P) vs 88 (Ryzen Threadripper 3960X) — the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X offers 60 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM5 (EPYC 4545P) and AMD TRX40 (Ryzen Threadripper 3960X).

Feature	EPYC 4545P	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Socket	AM5	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	5600+139900%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192	256 GB+139810033%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	28	88+214%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the EPYC 4545P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (EPYC 4545P) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper 3960X). The EPYC 4545P includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: EPYC 4545P rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Ryzen Threadripper 3960X rivals Core i9-10900X.

Feature	EPYC 4545P	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	AMD Radeon Graphics	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V	true

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 4545P launched at $549 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X debuted at $1399. On MSRP ($549 vs $1399), the EPYC 4545P is $850 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 4545P delivers 98.8 pts/$ vs 39.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X — making the EPYC 4545P the 86.5% better value option.