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 7773X

2022

Why buy it

✅+73.1% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+500% larger total L3 cache (768 MB vs 128 MB).
✅Draws 280W instead of 350W, a 70W 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 9960X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.4 vs 61.9 PassMark/$ ($8,800 MSRP vs $1,499 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen Threadripper 9960X moves to sTR5 and DDR5.

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +37.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $7,301 less on MSRP ($1,499 MSRP vs $8,800 MSRP).
✅Delivers 496.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.9 vs 10.4 PassMark/$ ($1,499 MSRP vs $8,800 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (26,000 vs 45,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 768 MB).
❌25% higher power demand at 350W vs 280W.

EPYC 7773X

2022

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

2025

Why buy it

✅+73.1% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+500% larger total L3 cache (768 MB vs 128 MB).
✅Draws 280W instead of 350W, a 70W reduction.
✅45.5% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 88) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +37.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $7,301 less on MSRP ($1,499 MSRP vs $8,800 MSRP).
✅Delivers 496.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.9 vs 10.4 PassMark/$ ($1,499 MSRP vs $8,800 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 9960X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.4 vs 61.9 PassMark/$ ($8,800 MSRP vs $1,499 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen Threadripper 9960X moves to sTR5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (26,000 vs 45,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 768 MB).
❌25% higher power demand at 350W vs 280W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 9960X better than EPYC 7773X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is ahead with a 37.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7773X pulls ahead with 73.1% better Geekbench multi-core. EPYC 7773X also has the bigger cache pool with 500% larger total L3 cache (768 MB vs 128 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7773X is the better fit. You are getting 73.1% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 500% larger total L3 cache (768 MB vs 128 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is $7,301 cheaper on MSRP at $1,499 MSRP versus $8,800 MSRP, and it gives you a 37.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 7773X is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 73.1% better Geekbench multi-core. It is also 496.5% better value on MSRP (61.9 vs 10.4 PassMark/$), 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?

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022), a healthier platform with sTR5 and DDR5 instead of SP3, 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 7773X Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7773X	Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
1080p
low	197 FPS	314 FPS
medium	160 FPS	290 FPS
high	129 FPS	241 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	203 FPS
1440p
low	158 FPS	278 FPS
medium	124 FPS	231 FPS
high	96 FPS	179 FPS
ultra	76 FPS	158 FPS
4K
low	73 FPS	191 FPS
medium	61 FPS	158 FPS
high	47 FPS	121 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	107 FPS

Open EPYC 7773X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7773X	Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
1080p
low	257 FPS	826 FPS
medium	228 FPS	704 FPS
high	189 FPS	548 FPS
ultra	150 FPS	474 FPS
1440p
low	211 FPS	677 FPS
medium	192 FPS	601 FPS
high	164 FPS	482 FPS
ultra	126 FPS	390 FPS
4K
low	131 FPS	378 FPS
medium	121 FPS	341 FPS
high	106 FPS	311 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	272 FPS

Open EPYC 7773X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7773X	Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
1080p
low	850 FPS	893 FPS
medium	708 FPS	724 FPS
high	660 FPS	650 FPS
ultra	582 FPS	553 FPS
1440p
low	612 FPS	716 FPS
medium	508 FPS	581 FPS
high	466 FPS	509 FPS
ultra	407 FPS	428 FPS
4K
low	437 FPS	509 FPS
medium	341 FPS	420 FPS
high	305 FPS	376 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	312 FPS

Open EPYC 7773X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7773X	Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
1080p
low	955 FPS	1116 FPS
medium	867 FPS	1002 FPS
high	742 FPS	879 FPS
ultra	639 FPS	792 FPS
1440p
low	738 FPS	873 FPS
medium	642 FPS	769 FPS
high	547 FPS	675 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	588 FPS
4K
low	525 FPS	637 FPS
medium	468 FPS	568 FPS
high	409 FPS	505 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	437 FPS

Open EPYC 7773X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7773X and Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

EPYC 7773X

The EPYC 7773X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2022-03-22. It is based on the Milan-X (2022) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 768 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 91,340 points. Launch price was $8,800.

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

The Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 30 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Shimada Peak (2025) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 92,808 points. Launch price was $1,499.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 7773X packs 64 cores / 128 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the EPYC 7773X has 40 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the EPYC 7773X versus 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X — a 40.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X (base: 2.2 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The EPYC 7773X uses the Milan-X (2022) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X uses Shimada Peak (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7773X scores 91,340 against the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X's 92,808 — a 1.6% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,536 vs 3,200, a 70.3% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 45,000 vs 26,000 (53.5% advantage for the EPYC 7773X). L3 cache: 768 MB (total) on the EPYC 7773X vs 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X.

Feature	EPYC 7773X	Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
Cores / Threads	64 / 128+167%	24 / 48
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	5.3 GHz+51%
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	4.2 GHz+91%
L3 Cache	768 MB (total)+500%	128 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Milan-X (2022)	Shimada Peak (2025)
PassMark	91,340	92,808+2%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	41,000
Geekbench 6 Single	1,536	3,200+108%
Geekbench 6 Multi	45,000+73%	26,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7773X uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X uses sTR5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the EPYC 7773X versus DDR5-6400 on the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X — the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper 9960X supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 4 TB — 198.4% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7773X) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 9960X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7773X) vs 88 (Ryzen Threadripper 9960X) — the EPYC 7773X offers 40 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7773X) and TRX50 (Ryzen Threadripper 9960X).

Feature	EPYC 7773X	Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
Socket	SP3	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-6400+25%
Max RAM Capacity	4 TB+300%	1024 GB
RAM Channels	8+100%	4
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+45%	88

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (EPYC 7773X) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper 9960X). Primary use case: EPYC 7773X targets Server, Ryzen Threadripper 9960X targets Content Creation / Rendering. Direct competitor: EPYC 7773X rivals EPYC 9654; Ryzen Threadripper 9960X rivals Xeon w7-3555.

Feature	EPYC 7773X	Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	true
Target Use	Server	Content Creation / Rendering

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7773X launched at $8800 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X debuted at $1499. On MSRP ($8800 vs $1499), the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is $7301 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7773X delivers 10.4 pts/$ vs 61.9 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X — making the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X the 142.6% better value option.