Performance comparison: which is faster?
AMD Threadripper 3990X (AMD, 2020) and AMD EPYC 7702 (AMD, 2019) 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 3990X is about 23.1% 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 3990X | EPYC 7702 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Score | 80,000 | 65,000 |
| Generation | Threadripper | EPYC |
| Socket | sTRX4 | SP3 |
| Release Year | 2020 | 2019 |
| Type | Server | Server |
| Compatible GPU Example | Radeon RX 6700 XT | Radeon RX 7600 |
| If You Want To... | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Prioritize maximum speed for heavy work or a high-end GPU | Threadripper 3990X |
| Upgrade while reusing the current motherboard | Choose the CPU matching your motherboard socket |
| Prioritize value and adequate performance | EPYC 7702 (the lower model is often sufficient) |
Threadripper 3990X is about 23.1% higher by score (Threadripper 3990X: 80000 points / EPYC 7702: 65000 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 3990X is Threadripper, while EPYC 7702 is EPYC.The sockets differ (sTRX4 / SP3), so switching requires a motherboard replacement.
Using our CPU:GPU = 0.9:1 guideline, Radeon RX 6700 XT pairs well with Threadripper 3990X and Radeon RX 7600 pairs well with EPYC 7702. If either GPU is too strong or too weak, one part holds the other back.
