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 7443

2021

Why buy it

✅+4.1% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 64 MB).
✅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 9900X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 28.2 vs 109.3 PassMark/$ ($2,010 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌66.7% higher power demand at 200W vs 120W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 9900X moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 9900X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 9 9900X

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +26.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,511 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $2,010 MSRP).
✅Delivers 287.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 109.3 vs 28.2 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $2,010 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 200W, a 80W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (54,530 vs 56,743).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (64 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7443, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7443

2021

Ryzen 9 9900X

2024

Why buy it

✅+4.1% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 64 MB).
✅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: +26.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,511 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $2,010 MSRP).
✅Delivers 287.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 109.3 vs 28.2 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $2,010 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 200W, a 80W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 9900X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 28.2 vs 109.3 PassMark/$ ($2,010 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌66.7% higher power demand at 200W vs 120W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 9900X moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 9900X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (54,530 vs 56,743).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (64 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7443, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 9900X better than EPYC 7443?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7443 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 9900X 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 7443 is the better fit. You are getting 4.1% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 64 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 9900X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 9900X is $1,511 cheaper on MSRP at $499 MSRP versus $2,010 MSRP, and it gives you a 26.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 7443 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 4.1% better PassMark. It is also 287.1% better value on MSRP (109.3 vs 28.2 PassMark/$), 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 9900X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2021), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of SP3, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 7443 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 9900X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7443	Ryzen 9 9900X
1080p
low	170 FPS	287 FPS
medium	141 FPS	259 FPS
high	120 FPS	218 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	148 FPS	270 FPS
medium	120 FPS	218 FPS
high	95 FPS	170 FPS
ultra	76 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	186 FPS
medium	59 FPS	151 FPS
high	47 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	100 FPS

Open EPYC 7443 Open Ryzen 9 9900X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7443	Ryzen 9 9900X
1080p
low	506 FPS	772 FPS
medium	442 FPS	625 FPS
high	354 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	288 FPS	393 FPS
1440p
low	417 FPS	635 FPS
medium	373 FPS	534 FPS
high	307 FPS	412 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	321 FPS
4K
low	256 FPS	356 FPS
medium	233 FPS	303 FPS
high	205 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	224 FPS

Open EPYC 7443 Open Ryzen 9 9900X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7443	Ryzen 9 9900X
1080p
low	725 FPS	899 FPS
medium	619 FPS	711 FPS
high	572 FPS	618 FPS
ultra	504 FPS	526 FPS
1440p
low	543 FPS	726 FPS
medium	461 FPS	577 FPS
high	419 FPS	492 FPS
ultra	363 FPS	418 FPS
4K
low	400 FPS	517 FPS
medium	322 FPS	432 FPS
high	284 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	227 FPS	322 FPS

Open EPYC 7443 Open Ryzen 9 9900X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7443	Ryzen 9 9900X
1080p
low	915 FPS	1126 FPS
medium	830 FPS	989 FPS
high	715 FPS	862 FPS
ultra	632 FPS	766 FPS
1440p
low	726 FPS	891 FPS
medium	633 FPS	774 FPS
high	542 FPS	677 FPS
ultra	469 FPS	580 FPS
4K
low	524 FPS	644 FPS
medium	468 FPS	569 FPS
high	411 FPS	502 FPS
ultra	352 FPS	433 FPS

Open EPYC 7443 Open Ryzen 9 9900X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7443 and Ryzen 9 9900X

EPYC 7443

The EPYC 7443 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 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.85 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm+ process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 56,743 points. Launch price was $2,010.

Ryzen 9 9900X

The Ryzen 9 9900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 15 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.6 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 54,530 points. Launch price was $499.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 7443 packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Ryzen 9 9900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the EPYC 7443 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the EPYC 7443 versus 5.6 GHz on the Ryzen 9 9900X — a 33.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 9900X (base: 2.85 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The EPYC 7443 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm+), while the Ryzen 9 9900X uses Granite Ridge (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7443 scores 56,743 against the Ryzen 9 9900X's 54,530 — a 4% lead for the EPYC 7443. L3 cache: 128 MB (total) on the EPYC 7443 vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 9900X.

Feature	EPYC 7443	Ryzen 9 9900X
Cores / Threads	24 / 48+100%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	4 GHz	5.6 GHz+40%
Base Clock	2.85 GHz	4.4 GHz+54%
L3 Cache	128 MB (total)+100%	64 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm+	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Milan (2021−2023)	Granite Ridge (2024−2025)
PassMark	56,743+4%	54,530
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	33,003
Geekbench 6 Single	—	3,401
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	19,756

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7443 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 9 9900X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the EPYC 7443 versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 9 9900X — the EPYC 7443 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7443 supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 256 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7443) vs 2 (Ryzen 9 9900X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7443) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 9900X) — the EPYC 7443 offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7443) and A620,B650,X670,X870 (Ryzen 9 9900X).

Feature	EPYC 7443	Ryzen 9 9900X
Socket	SP3	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	3200+63900%	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	4096	256 GB+6553500%
RAM Channels	8+300%	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+433%	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 9900X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 9 9900X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (EPYC 7443) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 9900X). The Ryzen 9 9900X includes integrated graphics (Radeon 610M), while the EPYC 7443 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: EPYC 7443 rivals Xeon Platinum 8362.

Feature	EPYC 7443	Ryzen 9 9900X
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	Radeon 610M
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7443 launched at $2010 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 9900X debuted at $499. On MSRP ($2010 vs $499), the Ryzen 9 9900X is $1511 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7443 delivers 28.2 pts/$ vs 109.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 9900X — making the Ryzen 9 9900X the 117.9% better value option.