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 7742

2019

Why buy it

✅+2.8% higher PassMark.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 64 MB).
✅Draws 225W instead of 350W, a 125W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.0 vs 157.5 PassMark/$ ($6,950 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX moves to sTR5 and DDR5.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +67.2% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $6,521 less on MSRP ($429 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1476.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 157.5 vs 10.0 PassMark/$ ($429 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (67,561 vs 69,448).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (64 MB vs 256 MB).
❌55.6% higher power demand at 350W vs 225W.

EPYC 7742

2019

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

2025

Why buy it

✅+2.8% higher PassMark.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 64 MB).
✅Draws 225W instead of 350W, a 125W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +67.2% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $6,521 less on MSRP ($429 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1476.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 157.5 vs 10.0 PassMark/$ ($429 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.0 vs 157.5 PassMark/$ ($6,950 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX moves to sTR5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (67,561 vs 69,448).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (64 MB vs 256 MB).
❌55.6% higher power demand at 350W vs 225W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX better than EPYC 7742?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is ahead with a 67.2% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7742 pulls ahead with 2.8% better PassMark. EPYC 7742 also has the bigger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 64 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7742 is the better fit. You are getting 2.8% better PassMark, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 64 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is the smarter buy today. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is $6,521 cheaper on MSRP at $429 MSRP versus $6,950 MSRP, and it gives you a 67.2% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 7742 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 2.8% better PassMark. It is also 1476.0% better value on MSRP (157.5 vs 10.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2019), a healthier platform with sTR5 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.

EPYC 7742 Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7742	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
1080p
low	192 FPS	297 FPS
medium	172 FPS	270 FPS
high	138 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	110 FPS	188 FPS
1440p
low	157 FPS	273 FPS
medium	132 FPS	224 FPS
high	101 FPS	174 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	153 FPS
4K
low	72 FPS	187 FPS
medium	65 FPS	154 FPS
high	50 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	40 FPS	104 FPS

Open EPYC 7742 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7742	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
1080p
low	247 FPS	786 FPS
medium	221 FPS	643 FPS
high	183 FPS	477 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	403 FPS
1440p
low	202 FPS	647 FPS
medium	186 FPS	549 FPS
high	158 FPS	422 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	328 FPS
4K
low	126 FPS	363 FPS
medium	118 FPS	312 FPS
high	103 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	230 FPS

Open EPYC 7742 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7742	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
1080p
low	629 FPS	888 FPS
medium	536 FPS	705 FPS
high	486 FPS	622 FPS
ultra	415 FPS	534 FPS
1440p
low	524 FPS	713 FPS
medium	446 FPS	567 FPS
high	394 FPS	489 FPS
ultra	338 FPS	414 FPS
4K
low	389 FPS	507 FPS
medium	312 FPS	418 FPS
high	274 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	224 FPS	315 FPS

Open EPYC 7742 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7742	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
1080p
low	906 FPS	1106 FPS
medium	828 FPS	991 FPS
high	713 FPS	867 FPS
ultra	618 FPS	781 FPS
1440p
low	711 FPS	860 FPS
medium	623 FPS	759 FPS
high	534 FPS	664 FPS
ultra	454 FPS	576 FPS
4K
low	503 FPS	632 FPS
medium	454 FPS	562 FPS
high	401 FPS	496 FPS
ultra	346 FPS	429 FPS

Open EPYC 7742 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7742 and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

EPYC 7742

The EPYC 7742 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 2.25 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 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): 225 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 69,448 points. Launch price was $6,950.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Shimada Peak (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 4.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 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: 67,561 points. Launch price was $1,649.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 7742 packs 64 cores / 128 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the EPYC 7742 has 48 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7742 versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX — a 45.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX (base: 2.25 GHz vs 4.5 GHz). The EPYC 7742 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (7 nm, 14 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX uses Shimada Peak (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7742 scores 69,448 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX's 67,561 — a 2.8% lead for the EPYC 7742. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 7742 vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX.

Feature	EPYC 7742	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
Cores / Threads	64 / 128+300%	16 / 32
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	5.4 GHz+59%
Base Clock	2.25 GHz	4.5 GHz+100%
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)+300%	64 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm, 14 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Zen 2 (2017−2020)	Shimada Peak (2025)
PassMark	69,448+3%	67,561
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	40,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	3,016
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	23,596

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7742 uses the TR4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX uses sTR5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the EPYC 7742 versus DDR5-6400 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX — the EPYC 7742 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7742 supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 2048 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 8-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 128 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7742) and WRX90 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX).

Feature	EPYC 7742	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
Socket	TR4	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	3200+63900%	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	4096	2048 GB+52428700%
RAM Channels	8	8
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128	128

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (EPYC 7742) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX). Direct competitor: EPYC 7742 rivals Xeon Platinum 8280; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX rivals Xeon w7-3555.

Feature	EPYC 7742	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7742 launched at $6950 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX debuted at $429. On MSRP ($6950 vs $429), the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is $6521 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7742 delivers 10.0 pts/$ vs 157.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX — making the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX the 176.1% better value option.