EPYC 7303 vs Ryzen 5 5600X
EPYC 7303
Popular choices:
Ryzen 5 5600X
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 7303
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5600X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 7303 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Milan (2021−2023) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 7303 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) |
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 7303 and Ryzen 5 5600X
EPYC 7303
The EPYC 7303 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 September 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 28,572 points. Launch price was $604.
Ryzen 5 5600X
The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The EPYC 7303 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the EPYC 7303 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7303 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 30% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The EPYC 7303 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7303 scores 28,572 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 26.7% lead for the EPYC 7303. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7303 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.
| Feature | EPYC 7303 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32+167% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 4.6 GHz+35% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.7 GHz+54% |
| L3 Cache | 64 MB (total)+100% | 32 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm |
| Architecture | Milan (2021−2023) | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 28,572+31% | 21,845 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 18,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,960 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 11,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 7303 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The EPYC 7303 supports up to 204 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 45.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7303) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 5600X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7303) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the EPYC 7303 offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 platform (EPYC 7303) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).
| Feature | EPYC 7303 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP3 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 204 GB+59% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 8+300% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 128+433% | 24 |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V, SVM (EPYC 7303) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). Primary use case: EPYC 7303 targets High-frequency Server Workloads, Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop. Direct competitor: EPYC 7303 rivals Xeon Gold 6334.
| Feature | EPYC 7303 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V, SVM | AMD-V |
| Target Use | High-frequency Server Workloads | Desktop |
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