Core i3-14100 vs EPYC 7301

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.

Core i3-14100

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 60W instead of 170W, a 110W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7301, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $134 MSRP, while EPYC 7301 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

EPYC 7301

2017

Why buy it

✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-14100 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,991 vs 15,213).
❌183.3% higher power demand at 170W vs 60W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Core i3-14100 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i3-14100

2024

EPYC 7301

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 60W instead of 170W, a 110W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7301, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $134 MSRP, while EPYC 7301 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-14100 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,991 vs 15,213).
❌183.3% higher power demand at 170W vs 60W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Core i3-14100 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-14100 better than EPYC 7301?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7301 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i3-14100 is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i3-14100 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.8% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-14100 is the better fit. You are getting 1.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i3-14100 is the smarter buy today. Core i3-14100 is at an unclear MSRP at $134 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 7.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (113.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i3-14100 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2017), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of TR4, and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 16/32. 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.

Core i3-14100 Benchmark Check

EPYC 7301 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-14100	EPYC 7301
1080p
low	172 FPS	183 FPS
medium	147 FPS	160 FPS
high	116 FPS	128 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	102 FPS
1440p
low	149 FPS	151 FPS
medium	124 FPS	126 FPS
high	98 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	83 FPS	70 FPS
medium	75 FPS	62 FPS
high	59 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	39 FPS

Open Core i3-14100 Open EPYC 7301

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-14100	EPYC 7301
1080p
low	318 FPS	206 FPS
medium	265 FPS	187 FPS
high	239 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	273 FPS	177 FPS
medium	233 FPS	163 FPS
high	215 FPS	141 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	111 FPS
4K
low	204 FPS	112 FPS
medium	178 FPS	103 FPS
high	153 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	125 FPS	74 FPS

Open Core i3-14100 Open EPYC 7301

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-14100	EPYC 7301
1080p
low	380 FPS	375 FPS
medium	380 FPS	375 FPS
high	380 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	380 FPS	375 FPS
1440p
low	380 FPS	375 FPS
medium	380 FPS	375 FPS
high	380 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	380 FPS	323 FPS
4K
low	380 FPS	375 FPS
medium	380 FPS	305 FPS
high	371 FPS	269 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	219 FPS

Open Core i3-14100 Open EPYC 7301

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-14100	EPYC 7301
1080p
low	380 FPS	375 FPS
medium	380 FPS	375 FPS
high	380 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	380 FPS	375 FPS
1440p
low	380 FPS	375 FPS
medium	380 FPS	375 FPS
high	380 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	380 FPS	375 FPS
4K
low	380 FPS	375 FPS
medium	380 FPS	375 FPS
high	380 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	320 FPS

Open Core i3-14100 Open EPYC 7301

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-14100 and EPYC 7301

Core i3-14100

The Core i3-14100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 15,213 points. Launch price was $134.

EPYC 7301

The EPYC 7301 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 29 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Naples (2017−2018) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 170 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 14,991 points. Launch price was $825.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-14100 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the EPYC 7301 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the EPYC 7301 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i3-14100 versus 2.7 GHz on the EPYC 7301 — a 54.1% clock advantage for the Core i3-14100 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i3-14100 uses the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 7301 uses Naples (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-14100 scores 15,213 against the EPYC 7301's 14,991 — a 1.5% lead for the Core i3-14100. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-14100 vs 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7301.

Feature	Core i3-14100	EPYC 7301
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	16 / 32+300%
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz+74%	2.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+59%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+433%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)	Naples (2017−2018)
PassMark	15,213+1%	14,991

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-14100 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 7301 uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.