AMD EPYC 7502 vs Intel Core i9-9940X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   If you have difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the detailed tests AMD EPYC 7502 vs Intel Core i9-9940X and see which is better for games or simple use for streaming, programming, video editing, machine learning, rendering. Here you can find useful information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like UserBenchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, SuperPi, VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, MATLAB, PassMark, Furmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, Prime95, Handbrake, Gears 5, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), RealBench, Dolphin Emulator, Blender, PCMark 10, 7zip, WPrime, AIDA64, 3DMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Apex Legends
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Red Dead Redemption 2
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Watch Dogs Legion
Last Man Standing
Fortnite
Death Stranding
Fallout 76
Borderlands 3
Cyberpunk 2077
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Overwatch
DOOM: Eternal
Valorant
Valheim
Halo Infinite
Grand Theft Auto V
Rainbow Six Siege

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9940X or AMD EPYC 7502.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

EPYC 7502

66%

Core i9-9940X

58%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, EPYC 7502 is 12% better than Core i9-9940X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

EPYC 7502

73%

Core i9-9940X

59%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Metro Exodus, Control, Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, DOTA 2A, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Monster Hunter World, Battlefield V, League of Legends (LOL), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4, Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghostrunner, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	129.9	104.5
Valorant	147.7	118.8
Cyberpunk 2077	82.7	66.5
Apex Legends	138.8	111.7
Call of Duty Warzone	110.7	89.1
Overwatch	119.6	96.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	101.9	82.0
DOOM Eternal	73.8	59.4
Warzone	115.2	92.7
Assassin's Creed	124.0	99.8
Valheim	122.6	98.6

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

EPYC 7502

17%

Core i9-9940X

25%

To make a final resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i9-9940X is more energy efficient than the EPYC 7502 since it has less power consumption: 180W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, streaming, video rendering or video editing, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	AMD EPYC 7502	Intel Core i9-9940X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	160	197
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	6608	2587
Cinbench 20 Single-core	391	457
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	14007	5912
Cinbench 23 Single-core	740	1175
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	36424	20834

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	AMD EPYC 7502	Intel Core i9-9940X
Single-Core	2094	2589
Multi-Core	53430	28183

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	AMD EPYC 7502	Intel Core i9-9940X
Single-Core	939	1257
Multi-Core	41117	16211

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	AMD EPYC 7502	Intel Core i9-9940X
Announcement date	October 01, 2020	October 01, 2018
Type	Server	Desktop
Socket	SP3	FCLGA2066
Core name	Rome	Skylake
Architecture	Zen 2	x86
Generation	2	9
Turbo Frequency	3.4 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	2.5 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	32	14
Threads	64	28
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	64000 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	180 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory		128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth		85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	128MB	19.25 MB
Overclocking	Yes	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	100-000000054 100-100000054WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-9940X is 24% better than EPYC 7502 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that EPYC 7502 has 18 more core than Core i9-9940X. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which AMD EPYC 7502 is better: 22
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9940X is better: 13
Although it should be understood that the summary data in the article above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought AMD EPYC 7502 and Intel Core i9-9940X before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• AMD EPYC 7502 specs and review.

Intel Core i9-9940X - all data

• Fortnite gaming benchmark
• Assassin's Creed gaming benchmark
• DOOM Eternal gaming benchmark
• Overwatch gaming benchmark
• Call of Duty: Warzone gaming benchmark
• Apex Legends gaming benchmark
• Cyberpunk 2077 gaming benchmark
• Roblox gaming benchmark
• PUBG gaming benchmark
• Red Dead Redemption 2 gaming benchmark
• GTA 5 gaming benchmark
• Valorant gaming benchmark

• Intel Core i9-9940X specs and review.