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 7663

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 240W instead of 280W, a 40W reduction.
✅45.5% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 88) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X across 43 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (12,380 vs 22,045).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.9 vs 20.0 PassMark/$ ($6,366 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.1% higher average FPS across 43 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,376 less on MSRP ($3,990 MSRP vs $6,366 MSRP).
✅Delivers 55.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.0 vs 12.9 PassMark/$ ($3,990 MSRP vs $6,366 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌16.7% higher power demand at 280W vs 240W.

EPYC 7663

2021

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 240W instead of 280W, a 40W reduction.
✅45.5% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 88) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.1% higher average FPS across 43 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,376 less on MSRP ($3,990 MSRP vs $6,366 MSRP).
✅Delivers 55.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.0 vs 12.9 PassMark/$ ($3,990 MSRP vs $6,366 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X across 43 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (12,380 vs 22,045).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.9 vs 20.0 PassMark/$ ($6,366 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌16.7% higher power demand at 280W vs 240W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 3990X better than EPYC 7663?

Yes. Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 21.1% average FPS lead across 43 shared CPU game tests in our data and 78.1% better Geekbench multi-core, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 21.1% more average FPS across 43 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is the better fit. You are getting 78.1% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads.

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

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is $2,376 cheaper on MSRP at $3,990 MSRP versus $6,366 MSRP, and it gives you a 21.1% average FPS lead across 43 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 55.2% better value on MSRP (20.0 vs 12.9 PassMark/$), 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?

EPYC 7663 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2019). 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 7663 Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7663	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	190 FPS	181 FPS
medium	155 FPS	152 FPS
high	123 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	156 FPS	157 FPS
medium	123 FPS	125 FPS
high	94 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	72 FPS	85 FPS
medium	60 FPS	72 FPS
high	46 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	46 FPS

Open EPYC 7663 Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7663	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	238 FPS	584 FPS
medium	211 FPS	503 FPS
high	174 FPS	386 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	330 FPS
1440p
low	195 FPS	491 FPS
medium	177 FPS	433 FPS
high	151 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	116 FPS	277 FPS
4K
low	121 FPS	308 FPS
medium	112 FPS	275 FPS
high	97 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	204 FPS

Open EPYC 7663 Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7663	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	836 FPS	681 FPS
medium	696 FPS	563 FPS
high	649 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	573 FPS	428 FPS
1440p
low	602 FPS	582 FPS
medium	500 FPS	488 FPS
high	458 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	400 FPS	368 FPS
4K
low	430 FPS	424 FPS
medium	335 FPS	338 FPS
high	300 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	234 FPS

Open EPYC 7663 Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7663	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	954 FPS	942 FPS
medium	863 FPS	842 FPS
high	739 FPS	724 FPS
ultra	637 FPS	639 FPS
1440p
low	733 FPS	777 FPS
medium	636 FPS	677 FPS
high	542 FPS	580 FPS
ultra	466 FPS	502 FPS
4K
low	522 FPS	540 FPS
medium	464 FPS	489 FPS
high	406 FPS	429 FPS
ultra	353 FPS	373 FPS

Open EPYC 7663 Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7663 and Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

EPYC 7663

The EPYC 7663 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 56 cores and 112 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm+ process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 240 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 82,120 points. Launch price was $6,366.

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 79,889 points. Launch price was $3,999.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 7663 packs 56 cores / 112 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X offers 64 cores / 128 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the EPYC 7663 versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X — a 20.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X (base: 2 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The EPYC 7663 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm+), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7663 scores 82,120 against the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X's 79,889 — a 2.8% lead for the EPYC 7663. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,370 vs 1,961, a 35.5% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,380 vs 22,045 (56.2% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X). L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 7663 vs 256 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X.

Feature	EPYC 7663	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Cores / Threads	56 / 112	64 / 128+14%
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	4.3 GHz+23%
Base Clock	2 GHz	2.9 GHz+45%
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)	256 MB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm+	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Milan (2021−2023)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	82,120+3%	79,889
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	64,366
Geekbench 6 Single	1,370	1,961+43%
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,380	22,045+78%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7663 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The EPYC 7663 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 256 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7663) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7663) vs 88 (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X) — the EPYC 7663 offers 40 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7663) and TRX40 (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X).

Feature	EPYC 7663	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Socket	SP3	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	4096 GB+1500%	256 GB
RAM Channels	8+100%	4
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+45%	88

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (EPYC 7663) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X). Primary use case: EPYC 7663 targets Server. Direct competitor: EPYC 7663 rivals Xeon Platinum 8380; Ryzen Threadripper 3990X rivals Core i9-10980XE.

Feature	EPYC 7663	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	true
Target Use	Server	—

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7663 launched at $6366 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X debuted at $3990. On MSRP ($6366 vs $3990), the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is $2376 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7663 delivers 12.9 pts/$ vs 20.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X — making the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X the 43.3% better value option.