EPYC 7252 vs Core i9-9900KS
EPYC 7252
Core i9-9900KS
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 EPYC 7252
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-9900KS
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 7252 | Core i9-9900KS |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen 2 (2017−2020) / 7 nm, 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 7252 | Core i9-9900KS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
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 EPYC 7252 and Core i9-9900KS
EPYC 7252
The EPYC 7252 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 19,411 points. Launch price was $475.
Core i9-9900KS
The Core i9-9900KS is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 127 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,397 points. Launch price was $513.
Processing Power
Both the EPYC 7252 and Core i9-9900KS share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the EPYC 7252 versus 5 GHz on the Core i9-9900KS — a 43.9% clock advantage for the Core i9-9900KS (base: 3.1 GHz vs 4 GHz). The EPYC 7252 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (7 nm, 14 nm), while the Core i9-9900KS uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7252 scores 19,411 against the Core i9-9900KS's 19,397 — a 0.1% lead for the EPYC 7252. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7252 vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900KS.
| Feature | EPYC 7252 | Core i9-9900KS |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 5 GHz+56% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 4 GHz+29% |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB (total)+100% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm, 14 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Zen 2 (2017−2020) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 19,411 | 19,397 |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 7252 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-9900KS uses LGA1151 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | EPYC 7252 | Core i9-9900KS |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP3 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
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