AMD EPYC 4124P vs AMD Ryzen 5 220 Comparison

The recorded benchmark data presents a clear and intriguing split between these two AMD Zen 4 processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 220, a mobile-focused chip, dominates the majority of the tested workloads, winning 13 of the 17 direct comparisons. However, the AMD EPYC 4124P, a server/workstation part, secures decisive victories in several specific and telling tests. The data suggests that while the Ryzen 5 220 generally offers higher throughput, the EPYC 4124P holds a distinct advantage in particular single-threaded and physics-based tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head suite is the EPYC 4124P's massive win in the PassMark "find prime numbers" test. The EPYC scores 89, while the Ryzen 5 220 scores 65, giving the EPYC a commanding 36.9% lead. This test is highly sensitive to integer execution efficiency and cache latency, and the EPYC's architecture appears to handle it far better, despite its lower core count.

The EPYC also posts a notable victory in PassMark's "physics" test, scoring 1087 against the Ryzen 5 220's 983, a 10.6% advantage. This workload often scales with raw clock speed and memory latency, and the EPYC's higher base clock of 3.80 GHz likely plays a role. Furthermore, the EPYC wins both PassMark "single thread" and "singlethread" tests, scoring 3897 in each, compared to the Ryzen 5 220's 3646, a 6.9% lead. This shows that for purely single-threaded tasks, the EPYC 4124P is the stronger performer in this comparison.

The Ryzen 5 220's wins, while less dramatic in percentage, cover a broader range of workloads. In the Cinebench series, it consistently holds a narrow edge. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 15502 versus the EPYC's 15264, a 1.5% lead. Its single-core R23 score is 2188 against 2154, a 1.6% advantage. These are small but consistent deltas across every Cinebench version tested (R15, R20, and R23), indicating a solid all-around performance advantage in both multi-core and single-core rendering tasks.

The Ryzen 5 220's most substantial wins come in PassMark math workloads. In "floating point math," it scores 35500, beating the EPYC's 31518 by 11.2%. In "integer math," it scores 57987 versus 52855, an 8.9% lead. These are the largest percentage victories for the Ryzen 5 220 and are likely attributable to its 6 cores and 12 threads, which provide more parallel execution units for these heavy compute tasks. It also wins in "data compression" (212739 vs 204926, a 3.7% lead), "data encryption" (12493 vs 11630, a 6.9% lead), "extended instructions" (15512 vs 15049, a 3% lead), "random string sorting" (25433 vs 24259, a 4.6% lead), and "multithread" (18582 vs 18139, a 2.4% lead).

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split. The EPYC 4124P has an average benchmark score of 23167, placing it in the 76th percentile of all CPUs. The Ryzen 5 220 has an average score of 22289, placing it in the 75th percentile. Interestingly, the EPYC's nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V, has an average score of 23219, a delta of -0.2%, while the Ryzen 5 220's closest rival, the Intel Core i7-10700K, sits at 22230, a delta of 0.3%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-threaded performance in PassMark?

A: The AMD EPYC 4124P has the higher PassMark single-thread score at 3897, which is 6.9% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 220's score of 3646.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 220 faster in multi-core rendering?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 5 220 is consistently faster in Cinebench multi-core tests. For example, it scores 15502 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 1.5% higher than the EPYC 4124P's score of 15264.

Q: Where does the EPYC 4124P show its biggest advantage?

A: The EPYC 4124P's largest win is in the PassMark "find prime numbers" test, where its score of 89 is 36.9% higher than the Ryzen 5 220's score of 65.

Q: What is the difference in their core and thread counts?

A: The AMD EPYC 4124P has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The EPYC 4124P's average score of 23167 is 0.2% below the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V's score of 23219. The Ryzen 5 220's average score of 22289 is 0.3% above the Intel Core i7-10700K's score of 22230.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD EPYC 4124P has a higher boost clock at 5.10 GHz, compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 220's boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The data paints a picture of two very different usage profiles. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is the clear winner for general-purpose, heavy-threaded workloads. Its victories in Cinebench multi-core, PassMark integer math, floating point math, and multithread make it the better choice for video editing, 3D rendering, and software compilation. The 6-core, 12-thread configuration provides a tangible advantage in these parallel tasks, and its 11.2% lead in floating point math is particularly significant for scientific and engineering applications.

The AMD EPYC 4124P, despite its lower core count, is the champion of specific, latency-sensitive tasks. Its 36.9% win in prime number finding and 10.6% win in physics suggest it has superior per-core efficiency and memory access characteristics for workloads that cannot be easily parallelized. Its 6.9% lead in single-threaded PassMark also makes it a stronger candidate for legacy software, or applications that rely heavily on a single primary thread. The EPYC's wins here are not about raw throughput, but about the quality and speed of each individual core.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge significantly in their specifications, reflecting their different target markets. The AMD EPYC 4124P is built for the AMD Socket AM5 platform, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 uses the AMD Socket FP8, a mobile socket. The EPYC has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Ryzen 5 220 has a much lower TDP of 28 watts, making it far more power-efficient for mobile devices.

Clock speeds also differ. The EPYC has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Ryzen 5 220 has a lower base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Memory support is another key differentiator: the EPYC supports ECC memory, while the Ryzen 5 220 does not. The EPYC also offers more PCIe lanes: Gen 5 with 28 lanes, versus Gen 4 with 14 lanes for the Ryzen 5 220. The integrated graphics also differ, with the EPYC featuring "Radeon Graphics" and the Ryzen 5 220 featuring the "Radeon 740M."

Architecture Differences

Despite both being built on the Zen 4 architecture, the silicon is not identical. The AMD EPYC 4124P uses the "Raphael" codename and is manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 71 mm² and 6,570 million transistors. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 uses the "Hawk Point" codename and is built on a more advanced 4 nm process at TSMC, with a larger die size of 137 mm² and a substantially higher transistor count of 20,900 million.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache per core. However, the EPYC has a larger 32 MB shared L3 cache, while the Ryzen 5 220 has a smaller 16 MB shared L3 cache. This larger L3 cache on the EPYC is likely a key factor in its strong performance in the prime number and physics tests, as it can hold more working data closer to the cores. The Ryzen 5 220's higher transistor count and larger die, despite the smaller L3, suggest a more complex design with its integrated Radeon 740M graphics.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 5 220 should be the default choice for users who prioritize multi-threaded performance and energy efficiency. Its wins across the majority of the benchmark suite, particularly in math-intensive and rendering workloads, make it the superior processor for content creation and general productivity. Its lower TDP of 28 watts is also a distinct advantage for mobile and compact systems.

The AMD EPYC 4124P, on the other hand, is the specialist. Its performance in single-threaded tasks and specific integer-heavy workloads, like prime number calculation and physics, is unmatched by the Ryzen 5 220. The EPYC's support for ECC memory and its higher PCIe Gen 5 lane count position it for server and workstation roles where data integrity and I/O expansion are paramount. Its launch MSRP is $149. Users in need of a reliable, single-thread-focused processor for a workstation, or those requiring ECC memory support, should look to the EPYC 4124P. For everyone else, the Ryzen 5 220's broader performance profile makes it the more versatile option.