Core i7-9700K vs EPYC 9255

CPU

GPU

Core i7-9700K

8 Cores8 Thrd95 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2018

Popular choices:

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EPYC 9255

24 Cores48 Thrd200 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2024

Popular choices:

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Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-9700K

8 / 8

14,397

0.0%

75,809

+426.6%

Ryzen 7 8840HX

Ryzen 9 7900X3D

Ryzen 9 7945HX3D

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

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

✅Costs $2,110 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
✅Delivers 23.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 30.4 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
✅Draws 95W instead of 200W, a 105W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while EPYC 9255 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9255 across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 75,809).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9255, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while EPYC 9255 moves to SP5 and DDR5.

EPYC 9255

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.3% higher average FPS across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅Newer platform on SP5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.
✅700% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 30.4 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($2,495 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌110.5% higher power demand at 200W vs 95W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700K

2018

EPYC 9255

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,110 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
✅Delivers 23.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 30.4 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
✅Draws 95W instead of 200W, a 105W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while EPYC 9255 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.3% higher average FPS across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅Newer platform on SP5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.
✅700% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9255 across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 75,809).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9255, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while EPYC 9255 moves to SP5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 30.4 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($2,495 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌110.5% higher power demand at 200W vs 95W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9255 better than Core i7-9700K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 9255 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 gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 9255 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 21.3% more average FPS across 23 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 12 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9255 is the better fit. You are getting 426.6% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 966.7% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 12 MB).

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

EPYC 9255 is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. EPYC 9255 is 548.1% more expensive on MSRP at $2,495 MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you a 21.3% average FPS lead across 23 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-9700K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 23.1% better value on paper (37.4 vs 30.4 PassMark/$), 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 9255 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2018), a healthier platform with SP5 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 128 MB L3 cache instead of 12 MB, more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 48 threads instead of 8/8, 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.

Core i7-9700K Benchmark Check

EPYC 9255 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 9255
1080p
low	308 FPS	303 FPS
medium	278 FPS	280 FPS
high	231 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	195 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	268 FPS
medium	221 FPS	223 FPS
high	178 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	186 FPS
medium	140 FPS	154 FPS
high	108 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	105 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open EPYC 9255

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 9255
1080p
low	360 FPS	717 FPS
medium	321 FPS	614 FPS
high	291 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	421 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	573 FPS
medium	282 FPS	507 FPS
high	258 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	341 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	335 FPS
medium	221 FPS	298 FPS
high	208 FPS	270 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	239 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open EPYC 9255

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 9255
1080p
low	360 FPS	850 FPS
medium	360 FPS	691 FPS
high	360 FPS	625 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	530 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	677 FPS
medium	360 FPS	548 FPS
high	360 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	483 FPS
medium	360 FPS	399 FPS
high	360 FPS	355 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	293 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open EPYC 9255

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 9255
1080p
low	360 FPS	1083 FPS
medium	360 FPS	982 FPS
high	360 FPS	862 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	777 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	859 FPS
medium	360 FPS	761 FPS
high	360 FPS	668 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	582 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	627 FPS
medium	360 FPS	562 FPS
high	360 FPS	500 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	434 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open EPYC 9255

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and EPYC 9255

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 9255

The EPYC 9255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3.25 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 75,809 points. Launch price was $2,495.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the EPYC 9255 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the EPYC 9255 has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 4.8 GHz on the EPYC 9255 — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.25 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the EPYC 9255 uses Turin (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the EPYC 9255's 75,809 — a 136.2% lead for the EPYC 9255. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 128 MB (total) on the EPYC 9255.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 9255
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	24 / 48+200%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+2%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+11%	3.25 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	128 MB (total)+967%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+300%
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Turin (2024)
PassMark	14,397	75,809+427%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 9255 uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K versus 4800 on the EPYC 9255 — the EPYC 9255 supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9255 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 191.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-9700K) vs 12 (EPYC 9255). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 128 (EPYC 9255) — the EPYC 9255 offers 112 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and SP5 (EPYC 9255).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 9255
Socket	LGA1151	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	4800+119900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+2184433%	6144
RAM Channels	2	12+500%
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. Only the EPYC 9255 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, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9255). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the EPYC 9255 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: EPYC 9255 rivals Xeon Platinum 8480+.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	EPYC 9255
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the EPYC 9255 debuted at $2495. On MSRP ($385 vs $2495), the Core i7-9700K is $2110 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 30.4 pts/$ for the EPYC 9255 — making the Core i7-9700K the 20.7% better value option.