Performance comparison: which is faster?
AMD Threadripper 3970X (AMD, 2019) and AMD EPYC 7601 (AMD, 2017) are compared here. Compare not only scores, but also whether the motherboard can be reused and which GPU class is balanced with each CPU.
Overall performance: Threadripper 3970X is about 85.7% faster
The sockets differ (sTRX4 / SP3), so switching requires a motherboard replacement. For games, performance balance with the GPU (guideline CPU:GPU = 0.9:1) matters more than CPU speed alone.
Relative performance score (higher is faster). Actual speed varies by workload, cooling, and memory configuration.
| Item | Threadripper 3970X | EPYC 7601 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Score | 65,000 | 35,000 |
| Generation | Threadripper | EPYC |
| Socket | sTRX4 | SP3 |
| Release Year | 2019 | 2017 |
| Type | Server | Server |
| Compatible GPU Example | GeForce RTX 4060 | GeForce RTX 2060 |
| If You Want To... | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Prioritize maximum speed for heavy work or a high-end GPU | Threadripper 3970X |
| Upgrade while reusing the current motherboard | Choose the CPU matching your motherboard socket |
| Prioritize value and adequate performance | EPYC 7601 (the lower model is often sufficient) |
Threadripper 3970X is about 85.7% higher by score (Threadripper 3970X: 65000 points / EPYC 7601: 35000 points). For gaming, the GPU tier usually matters more than a few percent of CPU difference. For CPU-heavy work such as video editing and streaming, choose the faster CPU.
Threadripper 3970X is Threadripper, while EPYC 7601 is EPYC.The sockets differ (sTRX4 / SP3), so switching requires a motherboard replacement.
Using our CPU:GPU = 0.9:1 guideline, GeForce RTX 4060 pairs well with Threadripper 3970X and GeForce RTX 2060 pairs well with EPYC 7601. If either GPU is too strong or too weak, one part holds the other back.
