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 7J13

2021

Why buy it

✅+112.1% higher PassMark.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 96 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅357.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 9800X3D across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.7 vs 83.4 PassMark/$ ($7,890 MSRP vs $479 MSRP).
❌133.3% higher power demand at 280W vs 120W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 9800X3D

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +31.2% higher average FPS across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $7,411 less on MSRP ($479 MSRP vs $7,890 MSRP).
✅Delivers 676.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 83.4 vs 10.7 PassMark/$ ($479 MSRP vs $7,890 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 280W, a 160W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (39,966 vs 84,786).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (96 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7J13, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7J13

2021

Ryzen 7 9800X3D

2024

Why buy it

✅+112.1% higher PassMark.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 96 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅357.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +31.2% higher average FPS across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $7,411 less on MSRP ($479 MSRP vs $7,890 MSRP).
✅Delivers 676.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 83.4 vs 10.7 PassMark/$ ($479 MSRP vs $7,890 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 280W, a 160W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 9800X3D across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.7 vs 83.4 PassMark/$ ($7,890 MSRP vs $479 MSRP).
❌133.3% higher power demand at 280W vs 120W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (39,966 vs 84,786).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (96 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7J13, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 9800X3D better than EPYC 7J13?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7J13 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D 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 7J13 is the better fit. You are getting 112.1% better PassMark, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 96 MB).

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

Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 9800X3D is $7,411 cheaper on MSRP at $479 MSRP versus $7,890 MSRP, and it gives you a 31.2% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 7J13 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 112.1% better PassMark. It is also 676.4% better value on MSRP (83.4 vs 10.7 PassMark/$), 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 7 9800X3D 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 7J13 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 9800X3D Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7J13	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
1080p
low	190 FPS	276 FPS
medium	155 FPS	257 FPS
high	123 FPS	219 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	192 FPS
1440p
low	156 FPS	260 FPS
medium	123 FPS	217 FPS
high	94 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	155 FPS
4K
low	72 FPS	179 FPS
medium	60 FPS	149 FPS
high	46 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	100 FPS

Open EPYC 7J13 Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7J13	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
1080p
low	422 FPS	880 FPS
medium	371 FPS	713 FPS
high	301 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	237 FPS	474 FPS
1440p
low	347 FPS	697 FPS
medium	313 FPS	591 FPS
high	261 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	200 FPS	383 FPS
4K
low	213 FPS	383 FPS
medium	196 FPS	328 FPS
high	164 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	132 FPS	263 FPS

Open EPYC 7J13 Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7J13	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
1080p
low	836 FPS	944 FPS
medium	696 FPS	772 FPS
high	649 FPS	698 FPS
ultra	573 FPS	604 FPS
1440p
low	602 FPS	731 FPS
medium	500 FPS	598 FPS
high	458 FPS	529 FPS
ultra	400 FPS	452 FPS
4K
low	430 FPS	506 FPS
medium	335 FPS	419 FPS
high	300 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	316 FPS

Open EPYC 7J13 Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7J13	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
1080p
low	977 FPS	999 FPS
medium	886 FPS	999 FPS
high	762 FPS	907 FPS
ultra	656 FPS	811 FPS
1440p
low	746 FPS	885 FPS
medium	649 FPS	778 FPS
high	555 FPS	685 FPS
ultra	477 FPS	592 FPS
4K
low	532 FPS	639 FPS
medium	473 FPS	568 FPS
high	415 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	361 FPS	437 FPS

Open EPYC 7J13 Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7J13 and Ryzen 7 9800X3D

EPYC 7J13

The EPYC 7J13 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2021-03-01. It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 2.55 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): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 84,786 points. Launch price was $6,000.

Ryzen 7 9800X3D

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 November 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 96 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: 39,966 points. Launch price was $479.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 7J13 packs 64 cores / 128 threads, while the Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the EPYC 7J13 has 56 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the EPYC 7J13 versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D — a 39.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D (base: 2.55 GHz vs 4.7 GHz). The EPYC 7J13 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 9800X3D uses Granite Ridge (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7J13 scores 84,786 against the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's 39,966 — a 71.9% lead for the EPYC 7J13. L3 cache: 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 7J13 vs 96 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Feature	EPYC 7J13	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Cores / Threads	64 / 128+700%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	5.2 GHz+49%
Base Clock	2.55 GHz	4.7 GHz+84%
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)+167%	96 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	84,786+112%	39,966
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	23,277
Geekbench 6 Single	—	3,450
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	18,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7J13 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 9800X3D uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the EPYC 7J13 versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D — the EPYC 7J13 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7J13 supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 192 GB — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7J13) vs 2 (Ryzen 7 9800X3D). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7J13) vs 28 (Ryzen 7 9800X3D) — the EPYC 7J13 offers 100 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7J13) and X670E,B650E,X870E,B850 (Ryzen 7 9800X3D).

Feature	EPYC 7J13	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Socket	SP3	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	3200+63900%	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	4096	192 GB+4915100%
RAM Channels	8+300%	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+357%	28

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 9800X3D supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, SEV (EPYC 7J13) vs AMD-V, AMD-Vi (Ryzen 7 9800X3D). The Ryzen 7 9800X3D includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics), while the EPYC 7J13 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 9800X3D targets Extreme Gaming. Direct competitor: EPYC 7J13 rivals Xeon Platinum 8380; Ryzen 7 9800X3D rivals Core i9-14900K.

Feature	EPYC 7J13	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	Radeon Graphics
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, SEV	AMD-V, AMD-Vi
Target Use	—	Extreme Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 7J13 launched at $7890 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 9800X3D debuted at $479. On MSRP ($7890 vs $479), the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is $7411 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7J13 delivers 10.7 pts/$ vs 83.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D — making the Ryzen 7 9800X3D the 154.4% better value option.