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 9334

2022

Why buy it

✅+4.2% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $1,501 less on MSRP ($2,990 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅Delivers 56.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.9 vs 14.0 PassMark/$ ($2,990 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅Draws 210W instead of 280W, a 70W reduction.
✅Newer platform on SP5 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +55.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (62,946 vs 65,568).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.0 vs 21.9 PassMark/$ ($4,491 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
❌33.3% higher power demand at 280W vs 210W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while EPYC 9334 moves to SP5 and DDR5.

EPYC 9334

2022

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

2019

Why buy it

✅+4.2% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $1,501 less on MSRP ($2,990 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅Delivers 56.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.9 vs 14.0 PassMark/$ ($2,990 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅Draws 210W instead of 280W, a 70W reduction.
✅Newer platform on SP5 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +55.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (62,946 vs 65,568).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.0 vs 21.9 PassMark/$ ($4,491 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
❌33.3% higher power demand at 280W vs 210W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while EPYC 9334 moves to SP5 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9334 better than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is ahead with a 55.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9334 pulls ahead with 4.2% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9334 is the better fit. You are getting 4.2% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads.

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

EPYC 9334 is the smarter buy today. EPYC 9334 is $1,501 cheaper on MSRP at $2,990 MSRP versus $4,491 MSRP, and it gives you 4.2% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 55.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 56.5% better value on MSRP (21.9 vs 14.0 PassMark/$), 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 9334 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019), a healthier platform with SP5 and DDR5 instead of TR4, more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 32/64, 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 9334 Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 9334	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
1080p
low	170 FPS	270 FPS
medium	141 FPS	222 FPS
high	122 FPS	183 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	148 FPS	211 FPS
medium	120 FPS	164 FPS
high	97 FPS	130 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	96 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	98 FPS
medium	59 FPS	81 FPS
high	47 FPS	63 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	51 FPS

Open EPYC 9334 Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 9334	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
1080p
low	533 FPS	806 FPS
medium	465 FPS	681 FPS
high	373 FPS	528 FPS
ultra	303 FPS	457 FPS
1440p
low	438 FPS	652 FPS
medium	392 FPS	565 FPS
high	323 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	255 FPS	373 FPS
4K
low	270 FPS	381 FPS
medium	246 FPS	333 FPS
high	216 FPS	296 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	261 FPS

Open EPYC 9334 Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 9334	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
1080p
low	646 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	538 FPS	927 FPS
high	501 FPS	862 FPS
ultra	436 FPS	765 FPS
1440p
low	502 FPS	776 FPS
medium	417 FPS	644 FPS
high	382 FPS	580 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	506 FPS
4K
low	374 FPS	539 FPS
medium	291 FPS	428 FPS
high	260 FPS	381 FPS
ultra	208 FPS	306 FPS

Open EPYC 9334 Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 9334	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
1080p
low	856 FPS	1325 FPS
medium	786 FPS	1015 FPS
high	678 FPS	1073 FPS
ultra	598 FPS	875 FPS
1440p
low	689 FPS	1031 FPS
medium	605 FPS	900 FPS
high	518 FPS	778 FPS
ultra	443 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	494 FPS	744 FPS
medium	445 FPS	662 FPS
high	391 FPS	579 FPS
ultra	336 FPS	437 FPS

Open EPYC 9334 Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 9334 and Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

EPYC 9334

The EPYC 9334 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 November 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 210 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 65,568 points. Launch price was $2,990.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

The Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 November 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 62,946 points. Launch price was $1,999.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the EPYC 9334 and Ryzen Threadripper 3970X share an identical 32-core/64-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the EPYC 9334 versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X — a 14.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The EPYC 9334 uses the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9334 scores 65,568 against the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X's 62,946 — a 4.1% lead for the EPYC 9334. L3 cache: 128 MB (total) on the EPYC 9334 vs 128 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X.

Feature	EPYC 9334	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Cores / Threads	32 / 64	32 / 64
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz	4.5 GHz+15%
Base Clock	2.7 GHz	3.7 GHz+37%
L3 Cache	128 MB (total)	128 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+100%	512K (per core)
Process	5 nm, 6 nm-29%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Genoa (2022−2023)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	65,568+4%	62,946
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	44,510
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,664
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	13,739

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9334 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the EPYC 9334 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X — the EPYC 9334 supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9334 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 256 GB — 184% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9334) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9334) vs 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X) — the EPYC 9334 offers 64 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9334) and TRX40 (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X).

Feature	EPYC 9334	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Socket	SP5	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+119900%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	6144	256 GB+4368967%
RAM Channels	12+200%	4
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+100%	64

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the EPYC 9334 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (EPYC 9334) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X). Direct competitor: EPYC 9334 rivals Xeon Platinum 8468; Ryzen Threadripper 3970X rivals Core i9-10980XE.

Feature	EPYC 9334	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true

💰

Value Analysis

The EPYC 9334 launched at $2990 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X debuted at $4491. On MSRP ($2990 vs $4491), the EPYC 9334 is $1501 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9334 delivers 21.9 pts/$ vs 14.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X — making the EPYC 9334 the 44% better value option.