Core i9-13900HK vs EPYC 72F3

Intel

Core i9-13900HK

14 Cores20 Thrd45 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2023
Core family
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VS
AMD

EPYC 72F3

8 Cores16 Thrd180 WWMax: 4.1 GHz2021
EPYC family
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Core i9-13900HK vs EPYC 72F3 Performance Spectrum

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.

Core i9-13900HK vs EPYC 72F3 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i9-13900HK vs EPYC 72F3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i9-13900HK

2023

Why buy it

  • Draws 45W instead of 180W, a 135W reduction.
  • Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, while EPYC 72F3 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 72F3 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (27,217 vs 27,252).
  • Launch MSRP is still $697 MSRP, while EPYC 72F3 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

EPYC 72F3

2021

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +5.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • 300% higher power demand at 180W vs 45W.
  • Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Core i9-13900HK moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
  • No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13900HK can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 72F3 better than Core i9-13900HK?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. EPYC 72F3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-13900HK is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, EPYC 72F3 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests. It also has a clear cache advantage at 256 MB versus 24 MB.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 72F3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 966.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 24 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
EPYC 72F3 is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. EPYC 72F3 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $697 MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i9-13900HK only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 5.1% in the shared gaming data.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i9-13900HK makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021), a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of SP3, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i9-13900HK vs EPYC 72F3 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Intel

Core i9-13900HK

The Core i9-13900HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 27,217 points. Launch price was $697.

AMD

EPYC 72F3

The EPYC 72F3 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 15 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm+ process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 180 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 27,252 points. Launch price was $2,468.

Processing Power

The Core i9-13900HK packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the EPYC 72F3 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-13900HK has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i9-13900HK versus 4.1 GHz on the EPYC 72F3 — a 27.4% clock advantage for the Core i9-13900HK (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i9-13900HK uses the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 72F3 uses Milan (2021−2023) (7 nm+). In PassMark, the Core i9-13900HK scores 27,217 against the EPYC 72F3's 27,252 — a 0.1% lead for the EPYC 72F3. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-13900HK vs 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 72F3.

FeatureCore i9-13900HKEPYC 72F3
Cores / Threads
14 / 20+75%
8 / 16
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz+32%
4.1 GHz
Base Clock
2.6 GHz
3.7 GHz+42%
L3 Cache
24 MB (total)
256 MB (total)+967%
L2 Cache
2 MB (per core)+300%
512 kB (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm
7 nm+
Architecture
Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024)
Milan (2021−2023)
PassMark
27,217
27,252
Geekbench 6 Single
2,629
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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13900HK uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 72F3 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i9-13900HKEPYC 72F3
Socket
FCBGA1744
SP3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity
96 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
28
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-13900HK) / not specified (EPYC 72F3). The Core i9-13900HK includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 96EU), while the EPYC 72F3 requires a dedicated GPU.

FeatureCore i9-13900HKEPYC 72F3
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
Iris Xe Graphics 96EU
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d