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EPYC 9654 vs Ryzen 5 5600X

CPUCPUGPUGPU
AMD

EPYC 9654

96 Cores192 Thrd360 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2022
EPYC family
·······
Buy on Amazon
VS
AMD

Ryzen 5 5600X

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2020
Ryzen family
·······
Buy on Amazon

EPYC 9654 vs Ryzen 5 5600X Performance Spectrum

EPYC 9654
96 / 192
119,246
+445.9%
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 3990X
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 9960X
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 7970X
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 7980X
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 9980X
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
Ryzen 5 5600X
6 / 12
21,845
0.0%
brand logoRyzen Z2 Go
brand logoRyzen 7 5825C
brand logoRyzen 5 6600U
brand logoRyzen 5 5500
brand logoRyzen 9 5900X
brand logoRyzen 9 9900X3D
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 9960X

About PassMark

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.

EPYC 9654 vs Ryzen 5 5600X FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

1080P
EPYC 9654
low170 FPS
medium141 FPS
high122 FPS
ultra96 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600X
low203 FPS
medium174 FPS
high140 FPS
ultra107 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080P
EPYC 9654
low524 FPS
medium457 FPS
high365 FPS
ultra296 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600X
low464 FPS
medium387 FPS
high324 FPS
ultra291 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

1080P
EPYC 9654
low671 FPS
medium560 FPS
high522 FPS
ultra454 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600X
low546 FPS
medium473 FPS
high432 FPS
ultra358 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

1080P
EPYC 9654
low902 FPS
medium822 FPS
high708 FPS
ultra623 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600X
low546 FPS
medium546 FPS
high546 FPS
ultra546 FPS
Among Us

Among Us

1080P
EPYC 9654
low60 FPS
medium60 FPS
high60 FPS
ultra60 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600X
low60 FPS
medium60 FPS
high60 FPS
ultra60 FPS
Apex Legends

Apex Legends

1080P
EPYC 9654
low300 FPS
medium300 FPS
high300 FPS
ultra300 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600X
low300 FPS
medium269 FPS
high236 FPS
ultra217 FPS
ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders

1080P
EPYC 9654
low304 FPS
medium233 FPS
high213 FPS
ultra192 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600X
low269 FPS
medium200 FPS
high168 FPS
ultra145 FPS
Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3

1080P
EPYC 9654
low253 FPS
medium223 FPS
high176 FPS
ultra144 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600X
low197 FPS
medium176 FPS
high146 FPS
ultra118 FPS
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

1080P
EPYC 9654
low316 FPS
medium284 FPS
high263 FPS
ultra221 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600X
low350 FPS
medium299 FPS
high256 FPS
ultra214 FPS
Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone

1080P
EPYC 9654
low234 FPS
medium206 FPS
high173 FPS
ultra161 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600X
low242 FPS
medium220 FPS
high185 FPS
ultra173 FPS
Check FPS with Custom Builds

EPYC 9654 vs Ryzen 5 5600X: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

EPYC 9654

2022

Why buy it

  • ✅Better for gaming: +11.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 96 cores / 192 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
  • ✅Newer platform on SP5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
  • ✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.1 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($11,805 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
  • ❌453.8% higher power demand at 360W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

  • ✅Costs $11,506 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $11,805 MSRP).
  • ✅Delivers 623.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 10.1 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $11,805 MSRP).
  • ✅Draws 65W instead of 360W, a 295W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9654 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 119,246).
  • ❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9654, which brings 96 cores / 192 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
  • ❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while EPYC 9654 moves to SP5 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9654 better than Ryzen 5 5600X?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. EPYC 9654 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 5600X is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, EPYC 9654 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 11.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests. It also has a clear cache advantage at 384 MB versus 32 MB.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9654 is the stronger fit. You are getting 445.9% better PassMark, backed by 96 cores and 192 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 1100% larger total L3 cache (384 MB vs 32 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
EPYC 9654 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600X is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. EPYC 9654 comes in 3848.2% more expensive on MSRP at $11,805 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it still gives you a 11.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600X is also 623.3% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 10.1 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
EPYC 9654 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020), a healthier platform with SP5 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 384 MB L3 cache instead of 32 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 96 cores / 192 threads instead of 6/12. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

EPYC 9654 vs Ryzen 5 5600X Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

EPYC 9654

The EPYC 9654 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 96 cores and 192 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 384 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 360 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 119,246 points. Launch price was $11,805.

AMD

Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X 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 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The EPYC 9654 packs 96 cores / 192 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the EPYC 9654 has 90 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9654 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 21.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The EPYC 9654 uses the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9654 scores 119,246 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 138.1% lead for the EPYC 9654. L3 cache: 384 MB (total) on the EPYC 9654 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

FeatureEPYC 9654Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads
96 / 192+1500%
6 / 12
Boost Clock
3.7 GHz
4.6 GHz+24%
Base Clock
2.4 GHz
3.7 GHz+54%
L3 Cache
384 MB (total)+1100%
32 MB
L2 Cache
1 MB (per core)
512K (per core)+51100%
Process
5 nm, 6 nm-29%
7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture
Genoa (2022−2023)
Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark
119,246+446%
21,845
Geekbench 6 Single
1,250
—
Geekbench 6 Multi
20,000
—
🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9654 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the EPYC 9654 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X — the EPYC 9654 supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9654 supports up to 6 TB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 4700% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9654) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 5600X). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9654) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the EPYC 9654 offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9654) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).

FeatureEPYC 9654Ryzen 5 5600X
Socket
SP5
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800+50%
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
6 TB+4700%
128 GB
RAM Channels
12+500%
2
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
128+433%
24
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9654) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). Primary use case: EPYC 9654 targets Data Center, Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop. Direct competitor: EPYC 9654 rivals Xeon 8592+.

FeatureEPYC 9654Ryzen 5 5600X
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
—
Yes
AVX-512
—
No
Virtualization
AMD-V, SEV-SNP
AMD-V
Target Use
Data Center
Desktop
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the EPYC 9654 was priced at $11805, while the Ryzen 5 5600X came in at $299. On launch pricing ($11805 vs $299), Ryzen 5 5600X was $11506 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9654 delivers 10.1 pts/$ vs 73.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 151.4% better value option.

FeatureEPYC 9654Ryzen 5 5600X
MSRP
$11805
$299-97%
Performance per Dollar
10.1
73.1+624%
Release Date
2022
2020
Search EPYC 9654 on AmazonSearch Ryzen 5 5600X on Amazon

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