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 7702P

2019

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).
✅Costs $66 less on MSRP ($4,425 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅Draws 200W instead of 280W, a 80W reduction.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 64) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +73.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (62,946 vs 63,692).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 256 MB).
❌
1.5% HIGHER MSRP
$4,491 MSRPvs$4,425 MSRP
❌40% higher power demand at 280W vs 200W.

EPYC 7702P

2019

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

2019

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).
✅Costs $66 less on MSRP ($4,425 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅Draws 200W instead of 280W, a 80W reduction.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 64) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +73.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (62,946 vs 63,692).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 256 MB).
❌
1.5% HIGHER MSRP
$4,491 MSRPvs$4,425 MSRP
❌40% higher power demand at 280W vs 200W.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 7702P better than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is ahead with a 73.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7702P pulls ahead with 1.2% better PassMark. EPYC 7702P also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7702P is the better fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).

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

EPYC 7702P is the smarter buy today. EPYC 7702P is $66 cheaper on MSRP at $4,425 MSRP versus $4,491 MSRP, and it gives you 1.2% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 73.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 2.7% better value on MSRP (14.4 vs 14.0 PassMark/$), 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?

EPYC 7702P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 64 cores / 128 threads instead of 32/64. That extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

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 7702P Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7702P	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
1080p
low	192 FPS	270 FPS
medium	172 FPS	222 FPS
high	138 FPS	183 FPS
ultra	110 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	157 FPS	211 FPS
medium	132 FPS	164 FPS
high	101 FPS	130 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	96 FPS
4K
low	72 FPS	98 FPS
medium	65 FPS	81 FPS
high	50 FPS	63 FPS
ultra	40 FPS	51 FPS

Open EPYC 7702P Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7702P	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
1080p
low	247 FPS	806 FPS
medium	221 FPS	681 FPS
high	183 FPS	528 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	457 FPS
1440p
low	202 FPS	652 FPS
medium	186 FPS	565 FPS
high	158 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	373 FPS
4K
low	126 FPS	381 FPS
medium	118 FPS	333 FPS
high	103 FPS	296 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	261 FPS

Open EPYC 7702P Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7702P	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
1080p
low	629 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	536 FPS	927 FPS
high	486 FPS	862 FPS
ultra	415 FPS	765 FPS
1440p
low	524 FPS	776 FPS
medium	446 FPS	644 FPS
high	394 FPS	580 FPS
ultra	338 FPS	506 FPS
4K
low	389 FPS	539 FPS
medium	312 FPS	428 FPS
high	274 FPS	381 FPS
ultra	224 FPS	306 FPS

Open EPYC 7702P Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7702P	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
1080p
low	904 FPS	1325 FPS
medium	823 FPS	1015 FPS
high	706 FPS	1073 FPS
ultra	610 FPS	875 FPS
1440p
low	711 FPS	1031 FPS
medium	620 FPS	900 FPS
high	530 FPS	778 FPS
ultra	450 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	503 FPS	744 FPS
medium	452 FPS	662 FPS
high	398 FPS	579 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	437 FPS

Open EPYC 7702P Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7702P and Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

EPYC 7702P

The EPYC 7702P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.35 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 63,692 points. Launch price was $4,425.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

The Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 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 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 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: 62,946 points. Launch price was $1,999.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 7702P packs 64 cores / 128 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the EPYC 7702P has 32 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.35 GHz on the EPYC 7702P versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X — a 29.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X (base: 2 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The EPYC 7702P uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (7 nm, 14 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7702P scores 63,692 against the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X's 62,946 — a 1.2% lead for the EPYC 7702P. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 7702P vs 128 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X.

Feature	EPYC 7702P	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Cores / Threads	64 / 128+100%	32 / 64
Boost Clock	3.35 GHz	4.5 GHz+34%
Base Clock	2 GHz	3.7 GHz+85%
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)+100%	128 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm, 14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Zen 2 (2017−2020)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	63,692+1%	62,946
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	44,510
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,664
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	13,739

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the TR4 socket with PCIe 4.0. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the EPYC 7702P versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X — the EPYC 7702P supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7702P supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 256 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7702P) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7702P) vs 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X) — the EPYC 7702P offers 64 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7702P) and TRX40 (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X).

Feature	EPYC 7702P	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Socket	TR4	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	3200+79900%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	4096	256 GB+6553500%
RAM Channels	8+100%	4
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+100%	64

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (EPYC 7702P) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X). Direct competitor: EPYC 7702P rivals Xeon Platinum 8380; Ryzen Threadripper 3970X rivals Core i9-10980XE.

Feature	EPYC 7702P	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7702P launched at $4425 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X debuted at $4491. On MSRP ($4425 vs $4491), the EPYC 7702P is $66 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7702P delivers 14.4 pts/$ vs 14.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X — making the EPYC 7702P the 2.7% better value option.