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 7663

2021

Why buy it

✅+8.3% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9255 across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.9 vs 30.4 PassMark/$ ($6,366 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
❌20% higher power demand at 240W vs 200W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while EPYC 9255 moves to SP5 and DDR5.

EPYC 9255

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +42.0% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $3,871 less on MSRP ($2,495 MSRP vs $6,366 MSRP).
✅Delivers 135.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 30.4 vs 12.9 PassMark/$ ($2,495 MSRP vs $6,366 MSRP).
✅Draws 200W instead of 240W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on SP5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (75,809 vs 82,120).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 256 MB).

EPYC 7663

2021

EPYC 9255

2024

Why buy it

✅+8.3% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +42.0% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $3,871 less on MSRP ($2,495 MSRP vs $6,366 MSRP).
✅Delivers 135.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 30.4 vs 12.9 PassMark/$ ($2,495 MSRP vs $6,366 MSRP).
✅Draws 200W instead of 240W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on SP5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9255 across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.9 vs 30.4 PassMark/$ ($6,366 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
❌20% higher power demand at 240W vs 200W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while EPYC 9255 moves to SP5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (75,809 vs 82,120).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 256 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9255 better than EPYC 7663?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, EPYC 9255 is ahead with a 42.0% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7663 pulls ahead with 8.3% better PassMark. EPYC 7663 also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7663 is the better fit. You are getting 8.3% better PassMark, backed by 56 cores and 112 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 9255 is the smarter buy today. EPYC 9255 is $3,871 cheaper on MSRP at $2,495 MSRP versus $6,366 MSRP, and it gives you a 42.0% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 7663 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 8.3% better PassMark. It is also 135.5% better value on MSRP (30.4 vs 12.9 PassMark/$), 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?

EPYC 9255 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2021), a healthier platform with SP5 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 7663 Benchmark Check

EPYC 9255 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7663	EPYC 9255
1080p
low	190 FPS	303 FPS
medium	155 FPS	280 FPS
high	123 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	195 FPS
1440p
low	156 FPS	268 FPS
medium	123 FPS	223 FPS
high	94 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	72 FPS	186 FPS
medium	60 FPS	154 FPS
high	46 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	105 FPS

Open EPYC 7663 Open EPYC 9255

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7663	EPYC 9255
1080p
low	238 FPS	717 FPS
medium	211 FPS	614 FPS
high	174 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	421 FPS
1440p
low	195 FPS	573 FPS
medium	177 FPS	507 FPS
high	151 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	116 FPS	341 FPS
4K
low	121 FPS	335 FPS
medium	112 FPS	298 FPS
high	97 FPS	270 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	239 FPS

Open EPYC 7663 Open EPYC 9255

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7663	EPYC 9255
1080p
low	836 FPS	850 FPS
medium	696 FPS	691 FPS
high	649 FPS	625 FPS
ultra	573 FPS	530 FPS
1440p
low	602 FPS	677 FPS
medium	500 FPS	548 FPS
high	458 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	400 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	430 FPS	483 FPS
medium	335 FPS	399 FPS
high	300 FPS	355 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	293 FPS

Open EPYC 7663 Open EPYC 9255

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7663	EPYC 9255
1080p
low	954 FPS	1083 FPS
medium	863 FPS	982 FPS
high	739 FPS	862 FPS
ultra	637 FPS	777 FPS
1440p
low	733 FPS	859 FPS
medium	636 FPS	761 FPS
high	542 FPS	668 FPS
ultra	466 FPS	582 FPS
4K
low	522 FPS	627 FPS
medium	464 FPS	562 FPS
high	406 FPS	500 FPS
ultra	353 FPS	434 FPS

Open EPYC 7663 Open EPYC 9255

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7663 and EPYC 9255

EPYC 7663

The EPYC 7663 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 56 cores and 112 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 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: 82,120 points. Launch price was $6,366.

EPYC 9255

The EPYC 9255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3.25 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 75,809 points. Launch price was $2,495.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 7663 packs 56 cores / 112 threads, while the EPYC 9255 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the EPYC 7663 has 32 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the EPYC 7663 versus 4.8 GHz on the EPYC 9255 — a 31.3% clock advantage for the EPYC 9255 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.25 GHz). The EPYC 7663 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm+), while the EPYC 9255 uses Turin (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7663 scores 82,120 against the EPYC 9255's 75,809 — a 8% lead for the EPYC 7663. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 7663 vs 128 MB (total) on the EPYC 9255.

Feature	EPYC 7663	EPYC 9255
Cores / Threads	56 / 112+133%	24 / 48
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	4.8 GHz+37%
Base Clock	2 GHz	3.25 GHz+63%
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)+100%	128 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm+	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Milan (2021−2023)	Turin (2024)
PassMark	82,120+8%	75,809
Geekbench 6 Single	1,370	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,380	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7663 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the EPYC 9255 uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the EPYC 7663 versus 4800 on the EPYC 9255 — the EPYC 9255 supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9255 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 4096 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7663) vs 12 (EPYC 9255). Both provide 128 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7663) and SP5 (EPYC 9255).

Feature	EPYC 7663	EPYC 9255
Socket	SP3	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	4800+119900%
Max RAM Capacity	4096 GB+69904967%	6144
RAM Channels	8	12+50%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128	128

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the EPYC 9255 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (EPYC 7663) vs VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9255). Primary use case: EPYC 7663 targets Server. Direct competitor: EPYC 7663 rivals Xeon Platinum 8380; EPYC 9255 rivals Xeon Platinum 8480+.

Feature	EPYC 7663	EPYC 9255
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP
Target Use	Server	—

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7663 launched at $6366 MSRP, while the EPYC 9255 debuted at $2495. On MSRP ($6366 vs $2495), the EPYC 9255 is $3871 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7663 delivers 12.9 pts/$ vs 30.4 pts/$ for the EPYC 9255 — making the EPYC 9255 the 80.8% better value option.