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 9734

2023

Why buy it

✅+3.2% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).
✅Draws 340W instead of 350W, a 10W reduction.
✅39.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 92) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 7970X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.7 vs 39.7 PassMark/$ ($9,600 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +63.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $7,101 less on MSRP ($2,499 MSRP vs $9,600 MSRP).
✅Delivers 272.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 39.7 vs 10.7 PassMark/$ ($2,499 MSRP vs $9,600 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (99,152 vs 102,286).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 256 MB).

EPYC 9734

2023

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

2023

Why buy it

✅+3.2% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).
✅Draws 340W instead of 350W, a 10W reduction.
✅39.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 92) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +63.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $7,101 less on MSRP ($2,499 MSRP vs $9,600 MSRP).
✅Delivers 272.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 39.7 vs 10.7 PassMark/$ ($2,499 MSRP vs $9,600 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 7970X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.7 vs 39.7 PassMark/$ ($9,600 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (99,152 vs 102,286).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 256 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9734 better than Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is ahead with a 63.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9734 pulls ahead with 3.2% better PassMark. EPYC 9734 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 9734 is the better fit. You are getting 3.2% better PassMark, backed by 112 cores and 224 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 9734 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen Threadripper 7970X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 9734 is 284.2% more expensive on MSRP at $9,600 MSRP versus $2,499 MSRP, and it gives you 3.2% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 63.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is also 272.4% better value on MSRP (39.7 vs 10.7 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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 9734 Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9734	Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
1080p
low	163 FPS	314 FPS
medium	134 FPS	289 FPS
high	113 FPS	240 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	203 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	278 FPS
medium	114 FPS	231 FPS
high	90 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	158 FPS
4K
low	68 FPS	191 FPS
medium	58 FPS	158 FPS
high	45 FPS	121 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	107 FPS

Open EPYC 9734 Open Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9734	Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
1080p
low	238 FPS	807 FPS
medium	211 FPS	688 FPS
high	174 FPS	535 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	467 FPS
1440p
low	195 FPS	666 FPS
medium	177 FPS	591 FPS
high	151 FPS	474 FPS
ultra	116 FPS	384 FPS
4K
low	121 FPS	372 FPS
medium	112 FPS	335 FPS
high	97 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	268 FPS

Open EPYC 9734 Open Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9734	Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
1080p
low	650 FPS	891 FPS
medium	541 FPS	723 FPS
high	481 FPS	649 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	552 FPS
1440p
low	503 FPS	714 FPS
medium	418 FPS	580 FPS
high	365 FPS	508 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	427 FPS
4K
low	371 FPS	508 FPS
medium	289 FPS	419 FPS
high	246 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	311 FPS

Open EPYC 9734 Open Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9734	Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
1080p
low	868 FPS	1116 FPS
medium	785 FPS	1002 FPS
high	672 FPS	879 FPS
ultra	582 FPS	792 FPS
1440p
low	692 FPS	872 FPS
medium	600 FPS	768 FPS
high	511 FPS	674 FPS
ultra	430 FPS	587 FPS
4K
low	493 FPS	636 FPS
medium	439 FPS	568 FPS
high	384 FPS	504 FPS
ultra	327 FPS	437 FPS

Open EPYC 9734 Open Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9734 and Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

EPYC 9734

The EPYC 9734 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 June 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Bergamo (2023) architecture. It features 112 cores and 224 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 340 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 102,286 points. Launch price was $9,600.

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

The Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 October 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Storm Peak (2023) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 99,152 points. Launch price was $2,499.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 9734 packs 112 cores / 224 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the EPYC 9734 has 80 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the EPYC 9734 versus 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X — a 55.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X (base: 2.2 GHz vs 4 GHz). The EPYC 9734 uses the Bergamo (2023) architecture (5 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X uses Storm Peak (2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9734 scores 102,286 against the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X's 99,152 — a 3.1% lead for the EPYC 9734. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9734 vs 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X.

Feature	EPYC 9734	Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
Cores / Threads	112 / 224+250%	32 / 64
Boost Clock	3 GHz	5.3 GHz+77%
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	4 GHz+82%
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)+100%	128 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	5 nm	5 nm
Architecture	Bergamo (2023)	Storm Peak (2023)
PassMark	102,286+3%	99,152
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	75,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,900
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	24,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9734 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X uses sTR5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper 7970X supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 6 TB — 197.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9734) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 7970X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9734) vs 92 (Ryzen Threadripper 7970X) — the EPYC 9734 offers 36 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9734) and TRX50 (Ryzen Threadripper 7970X).

Feature	EPYC 9734	Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
Socket	SP5	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	6 TB+500%	1024 GB
RAM Channels	12+200%	4
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+39%	92

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9734) vs AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper 7970X). Primary use case: EPYC 9734 targets Data Center / High Density, Ryzen Threadripper 7970X targets High-End Workstation. Direct competitor: EPYC 9734 rivals Xeon 6780E; Ryzen Threadripper 7970X rivals Xeon w7-2495X.

Feature	EPYC 9734	Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V, SEV-SNP	AMD-V
Target Use	Data Center / High Density	High-End Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9734 launched at $9600 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X debuted at $2499. On MSRP ($9600 vs $2499), the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is $7101 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9734 delivers 10.7 pts/$ vs 39.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X — making the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X the 115.3% better value option.