Core i9-13900KS vs EPYC 7473X

CPU

GPU

Core i9-13900KS

24 Cores32 Thrd150 WWMax: 5.8 GHz2023

Popular choices:

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EPYC 7473X

24 Cores48 Thrd240 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2022

Popular choices:

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Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i9-13900KS

24 / 32

60,543

+2.1%

59,280

0.0%

Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370

Ryzen 9 5900X

Ryzen 9 5950X

Ryzen 9 9850HX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

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 i9-13900KS

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $3,201 less on MSRP ($699 MSRP vs $3,900 MSRP).
✅Delivers 469.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 86.6 vs 15.2 PassMark/$ ($699 MSRP vs $3,900 MSRP).
✅Draws 150W instead of 240W, a 90W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 768 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7473X, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7473X

2022

Why buy it

✅+2033.3% larger total L3 cache (768 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900KS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (59,280 vs 60,543).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.2 vs 86.6 PassMark/$ ($3,900 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
❌60% higher power demand at 240W vs 150W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Core i9-13900KS moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i9-13900KS

2023

EPYC 7473X

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $3,201 less on MSRP ($699 MSRP vs $3,900 MSRP).
✅Delivers 469.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 86.6 vs 15.2 PassMark/$ ($699 MSRP vs $3,900 MSRP).
✅Draws 150W instead of 240W, a 90W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+2033.3% larger total L3 cache (768 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 768 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7473X, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900KS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (59,280 vs 60,543).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.2 vs 86.6 PassMark/$ ($3,900 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
❌60% higher power demand at 240W vs 150W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Core i9-13900KS moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13900KS better than EPYC 7473X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7473X makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-13900KS 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 i9-13900KS is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 15.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-13900KS is the better fit. You are getting 2.1% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 32 threads.

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

Core i9-13900KS is the smarter buy today. Core i9-13900KS is $3,201 cheaper on MSRP at $699 MSRP versus $3,900 MSRP, and it gives you a 15.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 469.8% better value on MSRP (86.6 vs 15.2 PassMark/$), 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 i9-13900KS is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of SP3, and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 32 threads instead of 24/48. 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 i9-13900KS Benchmark Check

EPYC 7473X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-13900KS	EPYC 7473X
1080p
low	325 FPS	205 FPS
medium	314 FPS	167 FPS
high	246 FPS	136 FPS
ultra	207 FPS	105 FPS
1440p
low	281 FPS	163 FPS
medium	241 FPS	127 FPS
high	177 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	156 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	194 FPS	74 FPS
medium	165 FPS	61 FPS
high	122 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	110 FPS	40 FPS

Open Core i9-13900KS Open EPYC 7473X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-13900KS	EPYC 7473X
1080p
low	792 FPS	561 FPS
medium	688 FPS	490 FPS
high	550 FPS	390 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	316 FPS
1440p
low	664 FPS	461 FPS
medium	597 FPS	413 FPS
high	490 FPS	338 FPS
ultra	400 FPS	266 FPS
4K
low	369 FPS	284 FPS
medium	336 FPS	258 FPS
high	312 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	187 FPS

Open Core i9-13900KS Open EPYC 7473X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-13900KS	EPYC 7473X
1080p
low	794 FPS	865 FPS
medium	660 FPS	717 FPS
high	572 FPS	668 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	590 FPS
1440p
low	711 FPS	622 FPS
medium	599 FPS	514 FPS
high	512 FPS	472 FPS
ultra	450 FPS	412 FPS
4K
low	522 FPS	444 FPS
medium	463 FPS	345 FPS
high	412 FPS	308 FPS
ultra	352 FPS	249 FPS

Open Core i9-13900KS Open EPYC 7473X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-13900KS	EPYC 7473X
1080p
low	1091 FPS	994 FPS
medium	975 FPS	902 FPS
high	853 FPS	777 FPS
ultra	760 FPS	672 FPS
1440p
low	900 FPS	768 FPS
medium	791 FPS	670 FPS
high	690 FPS	573 FPS
ultra	607 FPS	493 FPS
4K
low	662 FPS	551 FPS
medium	592 FPS	491 FPS
high	523 FPS	431 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	373 FPS

Open Core i9-13900KS Open EPYC 7473X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13900KS and EPYC 7473X

Core i9-13900KS

The Core i9-13900KS is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.8 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 60,543 points. Launch price was $699.

EPYC 7473X

The EPYC 7473X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2022-03-01. It is based on the Milan-X (2022) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 768 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 240 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 59,280 points. Launch price was $3,900.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-13900KS packs 24 cores / 32 threads, matching the EPYC 7473X's 24 cores. Boost clocks reach 5.8 GHz on the Core i9-13900KS versus 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 7473X — a 44.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-13900KS (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i9-13900KS uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 7473X uses Milan-X (2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13900KS scores 60,543 against the EPYC 7473X's 59,280 — a 2.1% lead for the Core i9-13900KS. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13900KS vs 768 MB (total) on the EPYC 7473X.

Feature	Core i9-13900KS	EPYC 7473X
Cores / Threads	24 / 32	24 / 48
Boost Clock	5.8 GHz+57%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+14%	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)	768 MB (total)+2033%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Milan-X (2022)
PassMark	60,543+2%	59,280
Cinebench R23 Multi	40,998	—
Geekbench 6 Single	3,123	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	21,421	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13900KS uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 7473X uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i9-13900KS versus 3200 on the EPYC 7473X — the EPYC 7473X supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7473X supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 192 GB — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-13900KS) vs 8 (EPYC 7473X). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-13900KS) vs 128 (EPYC 7473X) — the EPYC 7473X offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z790,B760 (Core i9-13900KS) and SP3 (EPYC 7473X).

Feature	Core i9-13900KS	EPYC 7473X
Socket	LGA1700	SP3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	3200+63900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+4915100%	4096
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-13900KS has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Core i9-13900KS) vs VT-x, VT-d (EPYC 7473X). The Core i9-13900KS includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the EPYC 7473X requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i9-13900KS rivals Ryzen 9 7950X; EPYC 7473X rivals Xeon Platinum 8380.

Feature	Core i9-13900KS	EPYC 7473X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-13900KS launched at $699 MSRP, while the EPYC 7473X debuted at $3900. On MSRP ($699 vs $3900), the Core i9-13900KS is $3201 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-13900KS delivers 86.6 pts/$ vs 15.2 pts/$ for the EPYC 7473X — making the Core i9-13900KS the 140.3% better value option.