EPYC 7473X vs Xeon Gold 6442Y

CPU

GPU

EPYC 7473X

24 Cores48 Thrd240 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Xeon Gold 6442Y

24 Cores48 Thrd225 WWMax: 4 GHz2023

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

EPYC 7473X

24 / 48

59,280

+1.3%

Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370

Ryzen 9 5900X

Ryzen 9 5950X

Ryzen 9 9850HX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

Xeon Gold 6442Y

24 / 48

58,534

0.0%

About PassMark

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 7473X

2022

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 768 MB vs 60 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.2 vs 20.3 PassMark/$ ($3,900 MSRP vs $2,878 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Xeon Gold 6442Y moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon Gold 6442Y

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,022 less on MSRP ($2,878 MSRP vs $3,900 MSRP).
✅Delivers 33.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.3 vs 15.2 PassMark/$ ($2,878 MSRP vs $3,900 MSRP).
✅Draws 225W instead of 240W, a 15W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (60 MB vs 768 MB).
❌Lower PassMark (58,534 vs 59,280).

EPYC 7473X

2022

Xeon Gold 6442Y

2023

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 768 MB vs 60 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,022 less on MSRP ($2,878 MSRP vs $3,900 MSRP).
✅Delivers 33.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.3 vs 15.2 PassMark/$ ($2,878 MSRP vs $3,900 MSRP).
✅Draws 225W instead of 240W, a 15W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.2 vs 20.3 PassMark/$ ($3,900 MSRP vs $2,878 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Xeon Gold 6442Y moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (60 MB vs 768 MB).
❌Lower PassMark (58,534 vs 59,280).

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 7473X better than Xeon Gold 6442Y?

Yes. EPYC 7473X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.3% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 7473X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.6% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 768 MB vs 60 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7473X is the better fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 1180% larger total L3 cache (768 MB vs 60 MB).

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

EPYC 7473X is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Gold 6442Y makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 7473X is 35.5% more expensive on MSRP at $3,900 MSRP versus $2,878 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon Gold 6442Y is also 33.8% better value on MSRP (20.3 vs 15.2 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Xeon Gold 6442Y is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022), a healthier platform with LGA4677 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 7473X Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6442Y Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7473X	Xeon Gold 6442Y
1080p
low	205 FPS	200 FPS
medium	167 FPS	165 FPS
high	136 FPS	137 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	163 FPS	159 FPS
medium	127 FPS	124 FPS
high	100 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	73 FPS
medium	61 FPS	61 FPS
high	48 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	40 FPS	39 FPS

Open EPYC 7473X Open Xeon Gold 6442Y

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7473X	Xeon Gold 6442Y
1080p
low	561 FPS	512 FPS
medium	490 FPS	443 FPS
high	390 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	316 FPS	294 FPS
1440p
low	461 FPS	431 FPS
medium	413 FPS	381 FPS
high	338 FPS	314 FPS
ultra	266 FPS	250 FPS
4K
low	284 FPS	268 FPS
medium	258 FPS	241 FPS
high	225 FPS	211 FPS
ultra	187 FPS	176 FPS

Open EPYC 7473X Open Xeon Gold 6442Y

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7473X	Xeon Gold 6442Y
1080p
low	865 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	717 FPS	998 FPS
high	668 FPS	940 FPS
ultra	590 FPS	853 FPS
1440p
low	622 FPS	875 FPS
medium	514 FPS	775 FPS
high	472 FPS	718 FPS
ultra	412 FPS	645 FPS
4K
low	444 FPS	558 FPS
medium	345 FPS	458 FPS
high	308 FPS	396 FPS
ultra	249 FPS	325 FPS

Open EPYC 7473X Open Xeon Gold 6442Y

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7473X	Xeon Gold 6442Y
1080p
low	994 FPS	985 FPS
medium	902 FPS	887 FPS
high	777 FPS	767 FPS
ultra	672 FPS	659 FPS
1440p
low	768 FPS	763 FPS
medium	670 FPS	669 FPS
high	573 FPS	575 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	495 FPS
4K
low	551 FPS	555 FPS
medium	491 FPS	495 FPS
high	431 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	372 FPS

Open EPYC 7473X Open Xeon Gold 6442Y

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7473X and Xeon Gold 6442Y

EPYC 7473X

The EPYC 7473X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2022-03-01. It is based on the Milan-X (2022) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 768 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 240 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 59,280 points. Launch price was $3,900.

Xeon Gold 6442Y

The Xeon Gold 6442Y 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 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 60 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 225 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR5-4400. Passmark benchmark score: 58,534 points. Launch price was $2,065.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the EPYC 7473X and Xeon Gold 6442Y share an identical 24-core/48-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 7473X versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6442Y — a 7.8% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6442Y (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The EPYC 7473X uses the Milan-X (2022) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6442Y uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7473X scores 59,280 against the Xeon Gold 6442Y's 58,534 — a 1.3% lead for the EPYC 7473X. L3 cache: 768 MB (total) on the EPYC 7473X vs 60 MB on the Xeon Gold 6442Y.

Feature	EPYC 7473X	Xeon Gold 6442Y
Cores / Threads	24 / 48	24 / 48
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	4 GHz+8%
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+8%	2.6 GHz
L3 Cache	768 MB (total)+1180%	60 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	2 MB (per core)+300%
Process	7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Milan-X (2022)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	59,280+1%	58,534

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7473X uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6442Y uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the EPYC 7473X versus 4800 on the Xeon Gold 6442Y — the Xeon Gold 6442Y supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 4096 of RAM. Both feature 8-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7473X) vs 80 (Xeon Gold 6442Y) — the EPYC 7473X offers 48 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7473X) and C741 (Xeon Gold 6442Y).

Feature	EPYC 7473X	Xeon Gold 6442Y
Socket	SP3	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	3200	4800+50%
Max RAM Capacity	4096	4096
RAM Channels	8	8
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+60%	80

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Gold 6442Y supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Direct competitor: EPYC 7473X rivals Xeon Platinum 8380; Xeon Gold 6442Y rivals EPYC 9354.

Feature	EPYC 7473X	Xeon Gold 6442Y
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7473X launched at $3900 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6442Y debuted at $2878. On MSRP ($3900 vs $2878), the Xeon Gold 6442Y is $1022 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7473X delivers 15.2 pts/$ vs 20.3 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6442Y — making the Xeon Gold 6442Y the 28.9% better value option.