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 Threadripper 3970X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +42.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,049 less on MSRP ($4,491 MSRP vs $6,540 MSRP).
✅Delivers 47.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 14.0 vs 9.5 PassMark/$ ($4,491 MSRP vs $6,540 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Xeon Platinum 8454H moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon Platinum 8454H

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 270W instead of 280W, a 10W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (80 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.
❌Lower PassMark (62,347 vs 62,946).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.5 vs 14.0 PassMark/$ ($6,540 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

2019

Xeon Platinum 8454H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +42.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,049 less on MSRP ($4,491 MSRP vs $6,540 MSRP).
✅Delivers 47.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 14.0 vs 9.5 PassMark/$ ($4,491 MSRP vs $6,540 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Draws 270W instead of 280W, a 10W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (80 vs 64) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Xeon Platinum 8454H moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (62,347 vs 62,946).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.5 vs 14.0 PassMark/$ ($6,540 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 3970X better than Xeon Platinum 8454H?

Yes. Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 42.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 42.8% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 83 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is the better fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 55.2% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 83 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is $2,049 cheaper on MSRP at $4,491 MSRP versus $6,540 MSRP, and it gives you a 42.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 47.0% better value on MSRP (14.0 vs 9.5 PassMark/$), 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?

Xeon Platinum 8454H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2019), a healthier platform with LGA4677 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.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X Benchmark Check

Xeon Platinum 8454H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Xeon Platinum 8454H
1080p
low	270 FPS	186 FPS
medium	222 FPS	168 FPS
high	183 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	131 FPS	109 FPS
1440p
low	211 FPS	153 FPS
medium	164 FPS	129 FPS
high	130 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	98 FPS	71 FPS
medium	81 FPS	63 FPS
high	63 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	51 FPS	40 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X Open Xeon Platinum 8454H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Xeon Platinum 8454H
1080p
low	806 FPS	250 FPS
medium	681 FPS	224 FPS
high	528 FPS	186 FPS
ultra	457 FPS	148 FPS
1440p
low	652 FPS	205 FPS
medium	565 FPS	187 FPS
high	458 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	124 FPS
4K
low	381 FPS	128 FPS
medium	333 FPS	119 FPS
high	296 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	83 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X Open Xeon Platinum 8454H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Xeon Platinum 8454H
1080p
low	1025 FPS	811 FPS
medium	927 FPS	735 FPS
high	862 FPS	700 FPS
ultra	765 FPS	624 FPS
1440p
low	776 FPS	724 FPS
medium	644 FPS	651 FPS
high	580 FPS	608 FPS
ultra	506 FPS	547 FPS
4K
low	539 FPS	486 FPS
medium	428 FPS	397 FPS
high	381 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	306 FPS	294 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X Open Xeon Platinum 8454H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Xeon Platinum 8454H
1080p
low	1325 FPS	1084 FPS
medium	1015 FPS	965 FPS
high	1073 FPS	823 FPS
ultra	875 FPS	679 FPS
1440p
low	1031 FPS	891 FPS
medium	900 FPS	765 FPS
high	778 FPS	650 FPS
ultra	656 FPS	536 FPS
4K
low	744 FPS	646 FPS
medium	662 FPS	567 FPS
high	579 FPS	496 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	415 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X Open Xeon Platinum 8454H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Xeon Platinum 8454H

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.

Xeon Platinum 8454H

The Xeon Platinum 8454H 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 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 82.5 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: 62,347 points. Launch price was $6,540.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Xeon Platinum 8454H share an identical 32-core/64-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8454H — a 27.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Ryzen Threadripper 3970X uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon Platinum 8454H uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X scores 62,946 against the Xeon Platinum 8454H's 62,347 — a 1% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X. L3 cache: 128 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X vs 82.5 MB on the Xeon Platinum 8454H.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Xeon Platinum 8454H
Cores / Threads	32 / 64	32 / 64
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+32%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+76%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	128 MB+55%	82.5 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	2 MB (per core)+300%
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	62,946	62,347
Cinebench R23 Multi	44,510	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,664	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,739	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen Threadripper 3970X uses the TR4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Platinum 8454H uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X versus 4800 on the Xeon Platinum 8454H — the Xeon Platinum 8454H supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Platinum 8454H supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 256 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X) vs 8 (Xeon Platinum 8454H). PCIe lanes: 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X) vs 80 (Xeon Platinum 8454H) — the Xeon Platinum 8454H offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: TRX40 (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X) and C741 (Xeon Platinum 8454H).

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Xeon Platinum 8454H
Socket	TR4	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	4800+119900%
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB+6553500%	4096
RAM Channels	4	8+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	64	80+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Platinum 8454H supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Platinum 8454H). Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper 3970X rivals Core i9-10980XE; Xeon Platinum 8454H rivals EPYC 9354.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Xeon Platinum 8454H
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen Threadripper 3970X launched at $4491 MSRP, while the Xeon Platinum 8454H debuted at $6540. On MSRP ($4491 vs $6540), the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is $2049 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X delivers 14.0 pts/$ vs 9.5 pts/$ for the Xeon Platinum 8454H — making the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X the 38.1% better value option.