Xeon Max 9480 vs EPYC 9454
Xeon Max 9480
EPYC 9454
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Max 9480
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 9454
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Max 9480 | EPYC 9454 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($12,980) | ✅ More affordable ($576) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Genoa (2022−2023) / 5 nm, 6 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Max 9480 | EPYC 9454 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+2291%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($12,980) | ✅ More affordable ($576) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon Max 9480 and EPYC 9454
Xeon Max 9480
The Xeon Max 9480 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) architecture. It features 56 cores and 112 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 112.5 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 82,913 points. Launch price was $12,980.
EPYC 9454
The EPYC 9454 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 48 cores and 96 threads. Base frequency is 2.75 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 290 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 87,961 points. Launch price was $5,225.
Processing Power
The Xeon Max 9480 packs 56 cores / 112 threads, while the EPYC 9454 offers 48 cores / 96 threads — the Xeon Max 9480 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon Max 9480 versus 3.8 GHz on the EPYC 9454 — a 8.2% clock advantage for the EPYC 9454 (base: 1.9 GHz vs 2.75 GHz). The Xeon Max 9480 uses the Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) architecture (10 nm), while the EPYC 9454 uses Genoa (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Max 9480 scores 82,913 against the EPYC 9454's 87,961 — a 5.9% lead for the EPYC 9454. L3 cache: 112.5 MB on the Xeon Max 9480 vs 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9454.
| Feature | Xeon Max 9480 | EPYC 9454 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 56 / 112+17% | 48 / 96 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.8 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 1.9 GHz | 2.75 GHz+45% |
| L3 Cache | 112.5 MB | 256 MB (total)+128% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core)+100% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm | 5 nm, 6 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) | Genoa (2022−2023) |
| PassMark | 82,913 | 87,961+6% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,900 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 55,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Max 9480 uses the LGA4677 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the EPYC 9454 uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Xeon Max 9480 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 6 TB — 199.4% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (Xeon Max 9480) vs 12 (EPYC 9454). PCIe lanes: 80 (Xeon Max 9480) vs 128 (EPYC 9454) — the EPYC 9454 offers 48 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C741 (Xeon Max 9480) and SP5 (EPYC 9454).
| Feature | Xeon Max 9480 | EPYC 9454 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA4677 | SP5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0+25% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800 | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4096 GB | 6 TB+50% |
| RAM Channels | 8 | 12+50% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 80 | 128+60% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Max 9480) vs AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9454). Primary use case: Xeon Max 9480 targets HPC Server, EPYC 9454 targets Data Center. Direct competitor: Xeon Max 9480 rivals EPYC 9684X; EPYC 9454 rivals Xeon Platinum 8468.
| Feature | Xeon Max 9480 | EPYC 9454 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V, SEV-SNP |
| Target Use | HPC Server | Data Center |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Max 9480 launched at $12980 MSRP, while the EPYC 9454 debuted at $5225. At current prices ($12980 vs $576), the EPYC 9454 is $12404 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Max 9480 delivers 6.4 pts/$ vs 152.7 pts/$ for the EPYC 9454 — making the EPYC 9454 the 183.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Max 9480 | EPYC 9454 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $12980 | $5225-60% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $12980 | $576-96% |
| Performance per Dollar | 6.4 | 152.7+2286% |
| Release Date | 2023 | 2022 |
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