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 7402

2019

Why buy it

✅+1.5% higher PassMark.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5950X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 25.8 vs 56.8 PassMark/$ ($1,783 MSRP vs $799 MSRP).
❌71.4% higher power demand at 180W vs 105W.

Ryzen 9 5950X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Costs $984 less on MSRP ($799 MSRP vs $1,783 MSRP).
✅Delivers 120.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 56.8 vs 25.8 PassMark/$ ($799 MSRP vs $1,783 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 180W, a 75W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (45,353 vs 46,012).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7402, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7402

2019

Ryzen 9 5950X

2020

Why buy it

✅+1.5% higher PassMark.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Costs $984 less on MSRP ($799 MSRP vs $1,783 MSRP).
✅Delivers 120.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 56.8 vs 25.8 PassMark/$ ($799 MSRP vs $1,783 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 180W, a 75W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5950X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 25.8 vs 56.8 PassMark/$ ($1,783 MSRP vs $799 MSRP).
❌71.4% higher power demand at 180W vs 105W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (45,353 vs 46,012).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7402, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5950X better than EPYC 7402?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7402 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 5950X is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7402 is the better fit. You are getting 1.5% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads.

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

Ryzen 9 5950X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 5950X is $984 cheaper on MSRP at $799 MSRP versus $1,783 MSRP, and it gives you a 34.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 7402 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.5% better PassMark. It is also 120.0% better value on MSRP (56.8 vs 25.8 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Ryzen 9 5950X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019) and 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 7402 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 5950X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7402	Ryzen 9 5950X
1080p
low	158 FPS	317 FPS
medium	131 FPS	288 FPS
high	110 FPS	228 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	192 FPS
1440p
low	132 FPS	285 FPS
medium	107 FPS	236 FPS
high	87 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	156 FPS
4K
low	64 FPS	195 FPS
medium	55 FPS	162 FPS
high	43 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	110 FPS

Open EPYC 7402 Open Ryzen 9 5950X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7402	Ryzen 9 5950X
1080p
low	358 FPS	684 FPS
medium	315 FPS	591 FPS
high	263 FPS	477 FPS
ultra	213 FPS	425 FPS
1440p
low	303 FPS	546 FPS
medium	276 FPS	484 FPS
high	236 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	341 FPS
4K
low	195 FPS	320 FPS
medium	179 FPS	286 FPS
high	153 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	123 FPS	236 FPS

Open EPYC 7402 Open Ryzen 9 5950X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7402	Ryzen 9 5950X
1080p
low	645 FPS	746 FPS
medium	526 FPS	595 FPS
high	468 FPS	516 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	409 FPS
1440p
low	499 FPS	658 FPS
medium	406 FPS	532 FPS
high	355 FPS	459 FPS
ultra	307 FPS	374 FPS
4K
low	369 FPS	461 FPS
medium	287 FPS	388 FPS
high	245 FPS	344 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	279 FPS

Open EPYC 7402 Open Ryzen 9 5950X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7402	Ryzen 9 5950X
1080p
low	820 FPS	997 FPS
medium	746 FPS	885 FPS
high	646 FPS	775 FPS
ultra	568 FPS	690 FPS
1440p
low	657 FPS	828 FPS
medium	572 FPS	726 FPS
high	492 FPS	636 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	554 FPS
4K
low	448 FPS	609 FPS
medium	402 FPS	545 FPS
high	359 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	419 FPS

Open EPYC 7402 Open Ryzen 9 5950X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7402 and Ryzen 9 5950X

EPYC 7402

The EPYC 7402 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 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.35 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): 180 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 46,012 points. Launch price was $1,783.

Ryzen 9 5950X

The Ryzen 9 5950X 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 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 45,353 points. Launch price was $799.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 7402 packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5950X offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the EPYC 7402 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.35 GHz on the EPYC 7402 versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5950X — a 37.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5950X (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The EPYC 7402 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (7 nm, 14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5950X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7402 scores 46,012 against the Ryzen 9 5950X's 45,353 — a 1.4% lead for the EPYC 7402. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7402 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5950X.

Feature	EPYC 7402	Ryzen 9 5950X
Cores / Threads	24 / 48+50%	16 / 32
Boost Clock	3.35 GHz	4.9 GHz+46%
Base Clock	2.8 GHz	3.4 GHz+21%
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	64 MB+100%
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm, 14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Zen 2 (2017−2020)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	46,012+1%	45,353
Cinebench R23 Multi	28,546	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,299	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,622	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7402 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 9 5950X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the EPYC 7402 versus 3200 on the Ryzen 9 5950X — the Ryzen 9 5950X supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7402 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 128 — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7402) vs 2 (Ryzen 9 5950X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7402) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5950X) — the EPYC 7402 offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3,Rome (EPYC 7402) and AM4 (Ryzen 9 5950X).

Feature	EPYC 7402	Ryzen 9 5950X
Socket	SP3	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	3200+79900%
Max RAM Capacity	4096 GB+3355443100%	128
RAM Channels	8+300%	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+433%	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 5950X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV, IOMMU (EPYC 7402) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5950X). Primary use case: EPYC 7402 targets Server / Workstation. Direct competitor: EPYC 7402 rivals Xeon Gold 6242; Ryzen 9 5950X rivals Core i9-10900K.

Feature	EPYC 7402	Ryzen 9 5950X
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V, SEV, IOMMU	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V
Target Use	Server / Workstation	—

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7402 launched at $1783 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5950X debuted at $799. On MSRP ($1783 vs $799), the Ryzen 9 5950X is $984 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7402 delivers 25.8 pts/$ vs 56.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5950X — making the Ryzen 9 5950X the 75% better value option.