Core i7-9700K vs EPYC 7402

CPU

GPU

Core i7-9700K

8 Cores8 Thrd95 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2018

Popular choices:

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EPYC 7402

24 Cores48 Thrd180 WWMax: 3.35 GHz2019

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-9700K

8 / 8

14,397

0.0%

46,012

+219.6%

Ryzen 7 5800

Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS

Ryzen 7 7700X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen 9 9955HX3D

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX

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

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,398 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $1,783 MSRP).
✅Delivers 44.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 25.8 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $1,783 MSRP).
✅Draws 95W instead of 180W, a 85W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while EPYC 7402 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 46,012).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7402, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7402

2019

Why buy it

✅+219.6% higher PassMark.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅700% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 25.8 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($1,783 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌89.5% higher power demand at 180W vs 95W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700K

2018

EPYC 7402

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,398 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $1,783 MSRP).
✅Delivers 44.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 25.8 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $1,783 MSRP).
✅Draws 95W instead of 180W, a 85W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while EPYC 7402 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+219.6% higher PassMark.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅700% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 46,012).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7402, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 25.8 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($1,783 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌89.5% higher power demand at 180W vs 95W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 7402 better than Core i7-9700K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7402 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-9700K is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7402 is the better fit. You are getting 219.6% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).

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

EPYC 7402 is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. EPYC 7402 is 363.1% more expensive on MSRP at $1,783 MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you 219.6% better PassMark. Core i7-9700K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 44.9% better value on paper (37.4 vs 25.8 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

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

EPYC 7402 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2018), 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 48 threads instead of 8/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i7-9700K Benchmark Check

EPYC 7402 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 7402
1080p
low	308 FPS	158 FPS
medium	278 FPS	131 FPS
high	231 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	87 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	132 FPS
medium	221 FPS	107 FPS
high	178 FPS	87 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	69 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	64 FPS
medium	140 FPS	55 FPS
high	108 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	34 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open EPYC 7402

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 7402
1080p
low	360 FPS	358 FPS
medium	321 FPS	315 FPS
high	291 FPS	263 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	213 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	303 FPS
medium	282 FPS	276 FPS
high	258 FPS	236 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	188 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	195 FPS
medium	221 FPS	179 FPS
high	208 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	123 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open EPYC 7402

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 7402
1080p
low	360 FPS	645 FPS
medium	360 FPS	526 FPS
high	360 FPS	468 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	410 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	499 FPS
medium	360 FPS	406 FPS
high	360 FPS	355 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	307 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	369 FPS
medium	360 FPS	287 FPS
high	360 FPS	245 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	196 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open EPYC 7402

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 7402
1080p
low	360 FPS	820 FPS
medium	360 FPS	746 FPS
high	360 FPS	646 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	568 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	657 FPS
medium	360 FPS	572 FPS
high	360 FPS	492 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	422 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	448 FPS
medium	360 FPS	402 FPS
high	360 FPS	359 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	312 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open EPYC 7402

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and EPYC 7402

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 7402

The EPYC 7402 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 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.35 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 180 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 46,012 points. Launch price was $1,783.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the EPYC 7402 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the EPYC 7402 has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 3.35 GHz on the EPYC 7402 — a 37.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the EPYC 7402 uses Zen 2 (2017−2020) (7 nm, 14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the EPYC 7402's 46,012 — a 104.7% lead for the EPYC 7402. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7402.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 7402
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	24 / 48+200%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+46%	3.35 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+29%	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 14 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Zen 2 (2017−2020)
PassMark	14,397	46,012+220%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	28,546
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,299
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	12,622

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 7402 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The EPYC 7402 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-9700K) vs 8 (EPYC 7402). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 128 (EPYC 7402) — the EPYC 7402 offers 112 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and SP3,Rome (EPYC 7402).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 7402
Socket	LGA1151	SP3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	4096 GB+3100%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	128+700%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) vs AMD-V, SEV, IOMMU (EPYC 7402). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the EPYC 7402 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop, EPYC 7402 targets Server / Workstation. Direct competitor: EPYC 7402 rivals Xeon Gold 6242.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 7402
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V, SEV, IOMMU
Target Use	Desktop	Server / Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the EPYC 7402 debuted at $1783. On MSRP ($385 vs $1783), the Core i7-9700K is $1398 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 25.8 pts/$ for the EPYC 7402 — making the Core i7-9700K the 36.7% better value option.