EPYC 9354 vs Xeon Gold 6548Y+

CPU

GPU

EPYC 9354

32 Cores64 Thrd280 WWMax: 3.8 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Xeon Gold 6548Y+

32 Cores64 Thrd250 WWMax: 4.1 GHz2023

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

EPYC 9354

32 / 64

73,892

+0.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

Xeon Gold 6548Y+

32 / 64

73,387

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 9354

2022

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 256 MB vs 60 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.
✅Costs $306 less on MSRP ($3,420 MSRP vs $3,726 MSRP).
✅Delivers 9.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.6 vs 19.7 PassMark/$ ($3,420 MSRP vs $3,726 MSRP).
✅60% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Xeon Gold 6548Y+

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 250W instead of 280W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (60 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Lower PassMark (73,387 vs 73,892).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.7 vs 21.6 PassMark/$ ($3,726 MSRP vs $3,420 MSRP).

EPYC 9354

2022

Xeon Gold 6548Y+

2023

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 256 MB vs 60 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.
✅Costs $306 less on MSRP ($3,420 MSRP vs $3,726 MSRP).
✅Delivers 9.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.6 vs 19.7 PassMark/$ ($3,420 MSRP vs $3,726 MSRP).
✅60% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Draws 250W instead of 280W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (60 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Lower PassMark (73,387 vs 73,892).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.7 vs 21.6 PassMark/$ ($3,726 MSRP vs $3,420 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9354 better than Xeon Gold 6548Y+?

Yes. EPYC 9354 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.5% average FPS lead across 16 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 9354 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.5% more average FPS across 16 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 256 MB vs 60 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9354 is the better fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 326.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 60 MB).

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

EPYC 9354 is the smarter buy today. EPYC 9354 is $306 cheaper on MSRP at $3,420 MSRP versus $3,726 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.5% average FPS lead across 16 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 9.7% better value on MSRP (21.6 vs 19.7 PassMark/$), 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 9354 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 3D V-Cache and a much larger 256 MB L3 cache instead of 60 MB and more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 32/64. 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 9354 Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6548Y+ Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9354	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
1080p
low	176 FPS	185 FPS
medium	145 FPS	162 FPS
high	125 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	153 FPS
medium	123 FPS	129 FPS
high	99 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	71 FPS	70 FPS
medium	60 FPS	62 FPS
high	47 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	39 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open Xeon Gold 6548Y+

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9354	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
1080p
low	534 FPS	542 FPS
medium	466 FPS	485 FPS
high	374 FPS	403 FPS
ultra	304 FPS	360 FPS
1440p
low	439 FPS	473 FPS
medium	392 FPS	423 FPS
high	324 FPS	363 FPS
ultra	255 FPS	303 FPS
4K
low	270 FPS	295 FPS
medium	246 FPS	266 FPS
high	216 FPS	245 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	218 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open Xeon Gold 6548Y+

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9354	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
1080p
low	673 FPS	892 FPS
medium	562 FPS	807 FPS
high	523 FPS	748 FPS
ultra	455 FPS	659 FPS
1440p
low	511 FPS	764 FPS
medium	426 FPS	687 FPS
high	390 FPS	633 FPS
ultra	337 FPS	564 FPS
4K
low	377 FPS	506 FPS
medium	295 FPS	425 FPS
high	263 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	211 FPS	316 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open Xeon Gold 6548Y+

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9354	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
1080p
low	937 FPS	946 FPS
medium	856 FPS	851 FPS
high	735 FPS	737 FPS
ultra	648 FPS	639 FPS
1440p
low	751 FPS	777 FPS
medium	658 FPS	680 FPS
high	561 FPS	587 FPS
ultra	480 FPS	503 FPS
4K
low	539 FPS	567 FPS
medium	484 FPS	509 FPS
high	423 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	366 FPS	386 FPS

Open EPYC 9354 Open Xeon Gold 6548Y+

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9354 and Xeon Gold 6548Y+

EPYC 9354

The EPYC 9354 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 November 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3.25 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 73,892 points. Launch price was $3,420.

Xeon Gold 6548Y+

The Xeon Gold 6548Y+ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Emerald Rapids (2023) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 60 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 73,387 points. Launch price was $3,726.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the EPYC 9354 and Xeon Gold 6548Y+ share an identical 32-core/64-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the EPYC 9354 versus 4.1 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ — a 7.6% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ (base: 3.25 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The EPYC 9354 uses the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ uses Emerald Rapids (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9354 scores 73,892 against the Xeon Gold 6548Y+'s 73,387 — a 0.7% lead for the EPYC 9354. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9354 vs 60 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 6548Y+.

Feature	EPYC 9354	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
Cores / Threads	32 / 64	32 / 64
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz	4.1 GHz+8%
Base Clock	3.25 GHz+30%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)+327%	60 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+100%
Process	5 nm, 6 nm-50%	10 nm
Architecture	Genoa (2022−2023)	Emerald Rapids (2023)
PassMark	73,892	73,387

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9354 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the EPYC 9354 versus 5200 on the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ — the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ supports 8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9354 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 4096 — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9354) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 6548Y+). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9354) vs 80 (Xeon Gold 6548Y+) — the EPYC 9354 offers 48 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9354) and C741 (Xeon Gold 6548Y+).

Feature	EPYC 9354	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
Socket	SP5	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	4800	5200+8%
Max RAM Capacity	6144+50%	4096
RAM Channels	12+50%	8
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+60%	80

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9354) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6548Y+). Direct competitor: EPYC 9354 rivals Xeon Platinum 8468; Xeon Gold 6548Y+ rivals EPYC 9454.

Feature	EPYC 9354	Xeon Gold 6548Y+
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9354 launched at $3420 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ debuted at $3726. On MSRP ($3420 vs $3726), the EPYC 9354 is $306 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9354 delivers 21.6 pts/$ vs 19.7 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6548Y+ — making the EPYC 9354 the 9.2% better value option.