AMD Athlon Silver 10 vs AMD EPYC 72F3 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database provides no direct head-to-head test results for the AMD Athlon Silver 10 and the AMD EPYC 72F3. Instead, the comparison must be built from their respective average benchmark scores and the different test suites each processor was subjected to. The Athlon Silver 10 was measured across a broad set of PassMark workloads, while the EPYC 72F3 was evaluated using Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core variants. This makes a direct apples-to-apples comparison impossible, but the aggregate data still reveals a clear performance hierarchy.

The Athlon Silver 10 achieves an average benchmark score of 6849, placing it at the 63rd percentile among all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Athlon X4 970 with an average score of 6850, a delta of 0 percent, and the Intel Core i3-1115G4 also at 6851, again a delta of 0 percent. The Intel Xeon W-2195 sits slightly higher at 6892, a delta of -0.6 percent, while the Intel Xeon Gold 6154 trails marginally at 6803, a delta of 0.7 percent. These figures indicate that the Athlon Silver 10 sits in a tightly packed cluster of processors, none of which separate themselves by more than a fraction of a percent.

The EPYC 72F3 averages 6700 across its benchmark runs, which places it at the 62nd percentile, one point lower than the Athlon Silver 10. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon Gold 5317 at 6710, a delta of -0.1 percent, the Intel Xeon D-2775TE at 6711, a delta of -0.2 percent, the Intel Core i9-9940X at 6657, a delta of 0.6 percent, and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X at 6647, a delta of 0.8 percent. The EPYC 72F3 therefore occupies a similar competitive band, though its average score is 149 points lower than the Athlon's. That difference is small in percentage terms, roughly 2.2 percent, but it is worth remembering the two chips were never tested on the same workloads.

Within the Athlon Silver 10's own test suite, the strongest result is in data compression, where it scores 42492. Its floating point math score is 5936, integer math is 9354, and random string sorting reaches 4736. The extended instructions test yields 2747, while data encryption comes in at 2125. Single-thread performance is recorded at 2089, and the multithread score is 3543. The weakest results are in find prime numbers at 13 and physics at 210, benchmarks that are heavily dependent on raw core count and sustained throughput. These numbers show a processor that performs respectably in memory-oriented and integer tasks but struggles in heavily parallel workloads.

The EPYC 72F3, by contrast, shows a different profile. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 23164, while the single-core score is 3270. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 9728 and single-core is 1373. In the older R15 test, multi-core reaches 2334 and single-core 329. The multi-core scores dwarf those of the Athlon Silver 10's multithread result of 3543, but again, these are different test suites and different generations of rendering software, so the comparison is indicative rather than exact.

The data shows that the EPYC 72F3 is built for sustained multi-threaded throughput, while the Athlon Silver 10 is oriented toward lighter, single-thread and memory-bound tasks. Neither processor dominates the other across all metrics, but the pattern is unmistakable: the EPYC 72F3 excels where core count and memory bandwidth matter, while the Athlon Silver 10 holds its own in lower-intensity workloads.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear division of roles. The AMD Athlon Silver 10, with its 2 cores and 2 threads, a base clock of 2.40 GHz and boost clock of 3.50 GHz, and a 15 W TDP, is positioned for mobile and low-power environments. Its average benchmark score of 6849 and 63rd percentile ranking indicate that it competes with mid-range desktop and mobile parts from several generations ago, such as the Intel Core i3-1115G4 and the AMD Athlon X4 970, both of which sit within 0.1 percent of its score. The database suggests that for everyday computing, light productivity, and tasks that do not scale beyond two threads, the Athlon Silver 10 is a reasonable match for those rivals.

The AMD EPYC 72F3, with 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.10 GHz, and a 180 W TDP, is a server and workstation part. Its average score of 6700 places it at the 62nd percentile, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Gold 5317 and the Intel Xeon D-2775TE, both within 0.2 percent. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23164 demonstrates that this processor is intended for heavy parallel workloads such as rendering, simulation, and database processing. The Athlon Silver 10 cannot compete in that domain; its multithread score of 3543 is a fraction of what the EPYC 72F3 achieves in multi-core rendering tests.

The verdict from the data is straightforward. Pick the Athlon Silver 10 if the workload is light, power-sensitive, and mobile-oriented. Pick the EPYC 72F3 if the workload is server-class, multi-threaded, and demands high memory bandwidth and ECC support. The two processors are not direct competitors; they serve different segments, and the benchmark results reflect that.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and are built for different markets. The Athlon Silver 10 uses the Zen 2 architecture under the codename Mendocino, fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC. Its die size is 100 mm². The EPYC 72F3 uses Zen 3 under the codename Milan, fabricated on a 7 nm process, also at TSMC. Its die configuration is described as 8x 81 mm², and it contains 33,200 million transistors. The process node difference is notable: the Athlon is on a newer, smaller node, but the EPYC uses a much larger and more complex multi-die design.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache, however, is dramatically different. The Athlon Silver 10 has 2 MB of shared L3 cache, while the EPYC 72F3 has 256 MB of shared L3 cache. That 128-fold difference in L3 capacity is one of the most significant architectural gaps between the two.

The memory support also diverges. The Athlon Silver 10 supports LPDDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, providing 88.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The EPYC 72F3 supports DDR4 memory over an eight-channel bus, providing 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, while the Athlon does not. The PCIe capabilities are equally lopsided: the Athlon provides PCIe Gen 3 with 4 lanes from the CPU, while the EPYC provides PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes.

The Athlon Silver 10 includes integrated graphics in the form of a Radeon 610M, while the EPYC 72F3 has no integrated graphics. The Athlon targets the mobile segment, while the EPYC targets server and workstation use. Production status for both is listed as active.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every specification that matters. The Athlon Silver 10 has 2 cores and 2 threads, while the EPYC 72F3 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Athlon's base clock is 2.40 GHz compared to the EPYC's 3.70 GHz, and its boost clock is 3.50 GHz versus 4.10 GHz. The TDP is a major separator: 15 W for the Athlon, 180 W for the EPYC.

The socket types are incompatible. The Athlon uses AMD Socket FT6, while the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3. The memory bus width differs as well, dual-channel for the Athlon and eight-channel for the EPYC. Memory bandwidth is 88.0 GB/s versus 204.8 GB/s. ECC memory support is absent on the Athlon and present on the EPYC. PCIe lanes are 4 on the Athlon and 128 on the EPYC, with Gen 3 versus Gen 4 respectively.

The Athlon has integrated Radeon 610M graphics; the EPYC has none. The market segments are Mobile versus Server/Workstation. The release dates differ: the Athlon was released in 2025, while the EPYC was released in 2021. The EPYC has a launch MSRP of $2468, which can be stated once as the launch MSRP. The Athlon has no recorded launch MSRP. The process node is 6 nm for the Athlon and 7 nm for the EPYC. The die size is 100 mm² for the Athlon and 8x 81 mm² for the EPYC. Transistor count is recorded only for the EPYC at 33,200 million.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Athlon Silver 10 has an average benchmark score of 6849, while the AMD EPYC 72F3 has an average score of 6700. The Athlon is ahead by 149 points.

Q: How do their percentiles compare?

A: The Athlon Silver 10 sits at the 63rd percentile among all CPUs, while the EPYC 72F3 sits at the 62nd percentile.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each processor?

A: For the Athlon Silver 10, the closest rivals are the AMD Athlon X4 970 at 6850 and the Intel Core i3-1115G4 at 6851, both with a delta of 0 percent. For the EPYC 72F3, the closest rivals are the Intel Xeon Gold 5317 at 6710 and the Intel Xeon D-2775TE at 6711, with deltas of -0.1 percent and -0.2 percent respectively.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The EPYC 72F3 has 256 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Athlon Silver 10 has 2 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Does the Athlon Silver 10 support ECC memory?

A: No, the Athlon Silver 10 does not support ECC memory. The EPYC 72F3 does support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Athlon Silver 10 includes a Radeon 610M integrated GPU. The EPYC 72F3 has no integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is clear from the data. The Athlon Silver 10 wins in scenarios where power consumption is the primary constraint. Its 15 W TDP, mobile socket, and integrated Radeon 610M graphics make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops and compact devices. Its average score of 6849 and 63rd percentile ranking show that it performs at a level comparable to the Intel Core i3-1115G4 and AMD Athlon X4 970, both of which are established in entry-level mobile and desktop roles. Its LPDDR5 memory support and 88.0 GB/s bandwidth serve memory-light tasks well, and its data compression score of 42492 indicates strength in workloads that benefit from quick memory access.

The EPYC 72F3 wins in server and workstation environments. Its 8 cores and 16 threads, 256 MB of shared L3 cache, and 204.8 GB/s of eight-channel memory bandwidth make it a heavy-duty compute part. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23164 demonstrates sustained performance in rendering and simulation workloads. ECC memory support and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes further cement its role in data centers and professional workstations. The launch MSRP of $2468 reflects its positioning at the high end of the market, though pricing details are not the focus of this analysis.

The Athlon Silver 10 wins in single-thread and light integer tasks relative to its class, while the EPYC 72F3 wins in multi-threaded, memory-intensive, and server-class workloads. The data does not support using the Athlon Silver 10 for heavy parallel compute, nor does it support using the EPYC 72F3 for low-power mobile applications. Each processor is optimized for its segment, and the benchmark results reinforce that separation.