
Core i7-9700K
Popular choices:

EPYC 4465P
Popular choices:
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Core i7-9700K
2018Why buy it
- ✅Costs $14 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 4465P across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 50,216).
- ❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
- ❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 4465P, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 28 PCIe lanes.
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
EPYC 4465P
2025Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +13.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
- ✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 28 PCIe lanes vs 16.
- ✅Delivers 236.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 125.9 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($399 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌3.6% HIGHER MSRP$399 MSRPvs$385 MSRP
Core i7-9700K
2018EPYC 4465P
2025Why buy it
- ✅Costs $14 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +13.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
- ✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 28 PCIe lanes vs 16.
- ✅Delivers 236.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 125.9 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($399 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 4465P across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 50,216).
- ❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
- ❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 4465P, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 28 PCIe lanes.
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
Trade-offs
- ❌3.6% HIGHER MSRP$399 MSRPvs$385 MSRP
Quick Answers
So, is EPYC 4465P better than Core i7-9700K?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Games Benchmarks
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.

Path of Exile 2
| Preset | Core i7-9700K | EPYC 4465P |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 308 FPS | 271 FPS |
| medium | 278 FPS | 247 FPS |
| high | 231 FPS | 211 FPS |
| ultra | 182 FPS | 183 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 270 FPS | 255 FPS |
| medium | 221 FPS | 208 FPS |
| high | 178 FPS | 165 FPS |
| ultra | 143 FPS | 148 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 170 FPS | 176 FPS |
| medium | 140 FPS | 144 FPS |
| high | 108 FPS | 108 FPS |
| ultra | 95 FPS | 97 FPS |

Counter-Strike 2
| Preset | Core i7-9700K | EPYC 4465P |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 360 FPS | 678 FPS |
| medium | 321 FPS | 581 FPS |
| high | 291 FPS | 436 FPS |
| ultra | 259 FPS | 376 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 324 FPS | 570 FPS |
| medium | 282 FPS | 506 FPS |
| high | 258 FPS | 393 FPS |
| ultra | 225 FPS | 312 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 249 FPS | 321 FPS |
| medium | 221 FPS | 289 FPS |
| high | 208 FPS | 256 FPS |
| ultra | 179 FPS | 219 FPS |

League of Legends
| Preset | Core i7-9700K | EPYC 4465P |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 360 FPS | 849 FPS |
| medium | 360 FPS | 678 FPS |
| high | 360 FPS | 600 FPS |
| ultra | 360 FPS | 514 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 360 FPS | 678 FPS |
| medium | 360 FPS | 542 FPS |
| high | 360 FPS | 469 FPS |
| ultra | 360 FPS | 397 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 360 FPS | 484 FPS |
| medium | 360 FPS | 400 FPS |
| high | 360 FPS | 360 FPS |
| ultra | 318 FPS | 302 FPS |

Valorant
| Preset | Core i7-9700K | EPYC 4465P |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 360 FPS | 1087 FPS |
| medium | 360 FPS | 980 FPS |
| high | 360 FPS | 857 FPS |
| ultra | 360 FPS | 772 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 360 FPS | 852 FPS |
| medium | 360 FPS | 756 FPS |
| high | 360 FPS | 662 FPS |
| ultra | 360 FPS | 574 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 360 FPS | 626 FPS |
| medium | 360 FPS | 560 FPS |
| high | 360 FPS | 494 FPS |
| ultra | 360 FPS | 428 FPS |
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and EPYC 4465P

Core i7-9700K
Core i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

EPYC 4465P
EPYC 4465P
The EPYC 4465P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 May 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Grado (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 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: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 50,216 points. Launch price was $399.
Processing Power
The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the EPYC 4465P offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the EPYC 4465P has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 5.4 GHz on the EPYC 4465P — a 9.7% clock advantage for the EPYC 4465P (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the EPYC 4465P uses Grado (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the EPYC 4465P's 50,216 — a 110.9% lead for the EPYC 4465P. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 4465P.
| Feature | Core i7-9700K | EPYC 4465P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 | 12 / 24+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.9 GHz | 5.4 GHz+10% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+6% | 3.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 64 MB (total)+433% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 4 nm-71% |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) | Grado (2025) |
| PassMark | 14,397 | 50,216+249% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 4465P uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K versus 5200 on the EPYC 4465P — the EPYC 4465P supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 28 (EPYC 4465P) — the EPYC 4465P offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and AM5 (EPYC 4465P).
| Feature | Core i7-9700K | EPYC 4465P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | AM5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | 5200+129900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+104857500% | 128 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | No | Yes |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 28+75% |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the EPYC 4465P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (EPYC 4465P). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) and AMD Radeon Graphics (EPYC 4465P) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: EPYC 4465P rivals Core i7-14700K.
| Feature | Core i7-9700K | EPYC 4465P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | AMD Radeon Graphics |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the EPYC 4465P debuted at $399. On MSRP ($385 vs $399), the Core i7-9700K is $14 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 125.9 pts/$ for the EPYC 4465P — making the EPYC 4465P the 108.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-9700K | EPYC 4465P |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $385-4% | $399 |
| Performance per Dollar | 37.4 | 125.9+237% |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2025 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.












