Core i9-7960X vs EPYC 7401P
Core i9-7960X
EPYC 7401P
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-7960X
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 7401P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-7960X | EPYC 7401P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($185) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Naples (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-7960X | EPYC 7401P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($185) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-7960X and EPYC 7401P
Core i9-7960X
The Core i9-7960X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 28,020 points. Launch price was $1,699.
EPYC 7401P
The EPYC 7401P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 29 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Naples (2017−2018) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 170 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 27,836 points. Launch price was $1,075.
Processing Power
The Core i9-7960X packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the EPYC 7401P offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the EPYC 7401P has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i9-7960X versus 3 GHz on the EPYC 7401P — a 37.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-7960X (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i9-7960X uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the EPYC 7401P uses Naples (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-7960X scores 28,020 against the EPYC 7401P's 27,836 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i9-7960X. L3 cache: 22 MB (total) on the Core i9-7960X vs 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7401P.
| Feature | Core i9-7960X | EPYC 7401P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32 | 24 / 48+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+47% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+40% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 22 MB (total) | 64 MB (total)+191% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+100% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Naples (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 28,020 | 27,836 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 22,189 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,394 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-7960X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 7401P uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i9-7960X | EPYC 7401P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2066 | TR4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | 2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 44 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i9-7960X) / not specified (EPYC 7401P).
| Feature | Core i9-7960X | EPYC 7401P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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