Core i9-9900K vs EPYC 4124P

Core i9-9900K vs EPYC 4124P Performance Spectrum

Core i9-9900K

8 / 16

18,109

0.0%

18,139

+0.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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 i9-9900K vs EPYC 4124P 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 i9-9900K vs EPYC 4124P: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i9-9900K

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (18,109 vs 18,139).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 4124P, which brings 4 cores / 8 threads and 28 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $488 MSRP, while EPYC 4124P mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

EPYC 4124P

2024

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 8 threads, plus 28 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9900K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 4124P better than Core i9-9900K?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. EPYC 4124P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-9900K is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 4124P is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).

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

EPYC 4124P is still the much better call for a fresh build. EPYC 4124P comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $488 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.2% better PassMark. Core i9-9900K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (37.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

EPYC 4124P makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2018), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151, 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB), more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/16, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i9-9900K vs EPYC 4124P Technical Specifications

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

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.

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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)+25500%	1 MB (per core)
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

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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 95% 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 — 50% 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+95%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	28+75%

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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.