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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

EPYC 73F3

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +30.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).

Trade-offs

❌
3.6% HIGHER MSRP
$3,521 MSRPvs$3,400 MSRP

EPYC 7542

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $121 less on MSRP ($3,400 MSRP vs $3,521 MSRP).
✅Draws 225W instead of 240W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 73F3 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (45,359 vs 46,103).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 256 MB).

EPYC 73F3

2021

EPYC 7542

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +30.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).

Why buy it

✅Costs $121 less on MSRP ($3,400 MSRP vs $3,521 MSRP).
✅Draws 225W instead of 240W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌
3.6% HIGHER MSRP
$3,521 MSRPvs$3,400 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 73F3 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (45,359 vs 46,103).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 256 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 73F3 better than EPYC 7542?

Yes. EPYC 73F3 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 30.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 73F3 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 30.4% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 73F3 is the better fit. You are getting 1.6% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).

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

EPYC 73F3 is still the faster CPU overall, but EPYC 7542 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 73F3 is 3.6% more expensive on MSRP at $3,521 MSRP versus $3,400 MSRP, and it gives you a 30.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. EPYC 7542 is also 1.9% better value on MSRP (13.3 vs 13.1 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

EPYC 73F3 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2019), 100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 32/64. That extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

EPYC 73F3 Benchmark Check

EPYC 7542 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 73F3	EPYC 7542
1080p
low	200 FPS	194 FPS
medium	159 FPS	172 FPS
high	128 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	111 FPS
1440p
low	166 FPS	158 FPS
medium	128 FPS	132 FPS
high	99 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	73 FPS
medium	61 FPS	65 FPS
high	48 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	41 FPS

Open EPYC 73F3 Open EPYC 7542

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 73F3	EPYC 7542
1080p
low	510 FPS	431 FPS
medium	446 FPS	385 FPS
high	357 FPS	315 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	252 FPS
1440p
low	418 FPS	354 FPS
medium	375 FPS	325 FPS
high	309 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	244 FPS	212 FPS
4K
low	257 FPS	218 FPS
medium	235 FPS	204 FPS
high	206 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	171 FPS	140 FPS

Open EPYC 73F3 Open EPYC 7542

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 73F3	EPYC 7542
1080p
low	979 FPS	630 FPS
medium	819 FPS	536 FPS
high	760 FPS	486 FPS
ultra	678 FPS	415 FPS
1440p
low	675 FPS	525 FPS
medium	564 FPS	446 FPS
high	515 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	453 FPS	338 FPS
4K
low	482 FPS	389 FPS
medium	382 FPS	312 FPS
high	338 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	224 FPS

Open EPYC 73F3 Open EPYC 7542

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 73F3	EPYC 7542
1080p
low	1146 FPS	910 FPS
medium	1015 FPS	830 FPS
high	873 FPS	716 FPS
ultra	758 FPS	621 FPS
1440p
low	842 FPS	716 FPS
medium	733 FPS	626 FPS
high	620 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	539 FPS	457 FPS
4K
low	608 FPS	506 FPS
medium	542 FPS	456 FPS
high	471 FPS	402 FPS
ultra	407 FPS	348 FPS

Open EPYC 73F3 Open EPYC 7542

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 73F3 and EPYC 7542

EPYC 73F3

The EPYC 73F3 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 15 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm+ process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 240 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 46,103 points. Launch price was $3,521.

EPYC 7542

The EPYC 7542 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 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 225 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 45,359 points. Launch price was $3,400.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 73F3 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the EPYC 7542 offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the EPYC 7542 has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the EPYC 73F3 versus 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7542 — a 16.2% clock advantage for the EPYC 73F3 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The EPYC 73F3 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm+), while the EPYC 7542 uses Zen 2 (2017−2020) (7 nm, 14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 73F3 scores 46,103 against the EPYC 7542's 45,359 — a 1.6% lead for the EPYC 73F3. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 73F3 vs 128 MB (total) on the EPYC 7542.

Feature	EPYC 73F3	EPYC 7542
Cores / Threads	16 / 32	32 / 64+100%
Boost Clock	4 GHz+18%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+21%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)+100%	128 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm+	7 nm, 14 nm
Architecture	Milan (2021−2023)	Zen 2 (2017−2020)
PassMark	46,103+2%	45,359

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the SP3 socket with PCIe 4.0. Both support up to 3200 memory speed. Both support up to 4096 of RAM. Both feature 8-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 128 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: SP3,C621A (EPYC 73F3) and SP3 (EPYC 7542).

Feature	EPYC 73F3	EPYC 7542
Socket	SP3	SP3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	3200	3200
Max RAM Capacity	4096	4096
RAM Channels	8	8
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128	128

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (EPYC 73F3) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (EPYC 7542). Direct competitor: EPYC 73F3 rivals Xeon Platinum 8362; EPYC 7542 rivals Xeon Gold 6248R.

Feature	EPYC 73F3	EPYC 7542
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 73F3 launched at $3521 MSRP, while the EPYC 7542 debuted at $3400. On MSRP ($3521 vs $3400), the EPYC 7542 is $121 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 73F3 delivers 13.1 pts/$ vs 13.3 pts/$ for the EPYC 7542 — making the EPYC 7542 the 1.9% better value option.