
Core i9-9900K vs EPYC 4124P

Core i9-9900K

EPYC 4124P
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 i9-9900K
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 4124P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-9900K | EPYC 4124P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($331) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Raphael (2023−2025) / 5 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-9900K | EPYC 4124P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($331) | ✅ 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 i9-9900K and EPYC 4124P

Core i9-9900K
The Core i9-9900K 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 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 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: 18,109 points. Launch price was $488.

EPYC 4124P
The EPYC 4124P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 May 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raphael (2023−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,139 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i9-9900K packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the EPYC 4124P offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i9-9900K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-9900K versus 5.1 GHz on the EPYC 4124P — a 2% clock advantage for the EPYC 4124P (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i9-9900K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the EPYC 4124P uses Raphael (2023−2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9900K scores 18,109 against the EPYC 4124P's 18,139 — a 0.2% lead for the EPYC 4124P. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900K vs 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 4124P.
| Feature | Core i9-9900K | EPYC 4124P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz | 5.1 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.8 GHz+6% |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 32 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 5 nm-64% |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) | Raphael (2023−2025) |
| PassMark | 18,109 | 18,139 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 10,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,962 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,898 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-9900K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 4124P uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i9-9900K versus DDR5-5200 on the EPYC 4124P — the EPYC 4124P supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 4124P supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i9-9900K) vs 28 (EPYC 4124P) — the EPYC 4124P offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i9-9900K) and B650,X670,X870 (EPYC 4124P).
| Feature | Core i9-9900K | EPYC 4124P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | AM5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR5-5200+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 192 GB+50% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 28+75% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i9-9900K) / AMD-V, AMD-Vi (EPYC 4124P). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 630 (Core i9-9900K) and Radeon Graphics (EPYC 4124P) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: EPYC 4124P targets Entry Server. Direct competitor: EPYC 4124P rivals Core i5-10500T.
| Feature | Core i9-9900K | EPYC 4124P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | Radeon Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V, AMD-Vi |
| Target Use | — | Entry Server |
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