AMD EPYC 4344P vs AMD EPYC 7303 Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7303 and AMD EPYC 4344P represent two distinct approaches to server processing, with the 7303 built as a high-core-count, eight-channel memory behemoth for scale-out workloads, while the 4344P is a high-frequency, dual-channel part aimed at latency-sensitive tasks. Benchmark data indicates the 4344P wins 11 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, yet the 7303 secures 6 wins, primarily in specialized compute routines. Both processors achieve the 92nd percentile among all CPUs, but their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the 7303 at 45960 and the 4344P at 45586, a delta of just 0.8%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 4344P is decisively ahead in single-thread tests. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 3560 versus the 7303's 1460, a 59% difference. This advantage is consistent across all Cinebench single-core tests, where the 4344P leads by 15.2%.

Q: Does the EPYC 7303 outperform the 4344P in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the 7303 wins in 6 out of 17 head-to-head tests. These wins are in specialized workloads, including PassMark data compression (428319 vs 407933, a 5% lead), integer math (113422 vs 106272, a 6.7% lead), and extended instructions (31603 vs 30170, a 4.7% lead).

Q: Which CPU is better for multithreaded rendering tasks?

A: The EPYC 4344P leads in all Cinebench multicore tests. For example, in Cinebench R23 multicore, the 4344P scores 28636 against the 7303's 24286, a 15.2% advantage. The PassMark multithread score also favors the 4344P (33690 vs 28572, 15.2% ahead).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The scores are very close. The EPYC 7303 has an average benchmark score of 45960, while the EPYC 4344P has 45586. This makes the 7303 just 0.8% higher, and the two are listed as nearest rivals to each other, with the 4344P showing a deltaPct of -0.8% relative to the 7303.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences between the two?

A: The EPYC 7303 supports DDR4 memory over an eight-channel bus, providing 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The EPYC 4344P supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, which yields a lower 83.2 GB/s. This is a substantial difference for memory-bound applications.

Q: Which CPU has a larger cache configuration?

A: The EPYC 7303 has a larger shared L3 cache at 64 MB, compared to the 32 MB on the EPYC 4344P. However, the 4344P has twice the L2 cache per core, with 1 MB per core versus 512 KB per core on the 7303.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural split is between AMD's Zen 3 and Zen 4 designs. The EPYC 7303 is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan, manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 8,300 million transistors across a die size of 2x 81 mm². In contrast, the EPYC 4344P uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael, on a more advanced 5 nm process, also from TSMC, with 6,570 million transistors on a single 71 mm² die.

Core counts differ significantly, with the 7303 offering 16 cores and 32 threads, double the 8 cores and 16 threads of the 4344P. Clock speeds tell the opposite story: the 4344P has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, far higher than the 7303's 2.40 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. This explains the 4344P's dominance in single-threaded workloads.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. While both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, the L2 cache doubles from 512 KB per core on the 7303 to 1 MB per core on the 4344P. The shared L3 cache is halved, from 64 MB on the 7303 to 32 MB on the 4344P. The memory controller is another major divergence: the 7303 uses eight-channel DDR4, while the 4344P uses dual-channel DDR5, resulting in a bandwidth gap of 204.8 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s.

Platform support reinforces the split. The 7303 uses the AMD Socket SP3, while the 4344P uses the AMD Socket AM5. PCIe capabilities also differ, with the 7303 providing Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the 4344P offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes. Additionally, the 4344P includes integrated Radeon Graphics, whereas the 7303 has no integrated graphics. Both CPUs support ECC memory and have locked multipliers. The 7303 was released on 2023-09-04, while the 4344P followed on 2024-05-20.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data paints a clear picture of a frequency-versus-core-count tradeoff. The EPYC 4344P wins every Cinebench test by a uniform margin: in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core scores show the 4344P leading by exactly 15.2%. For instance, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 4344P scores 28636 compared to the 7303's 24286. This consistent delta suggests the 4344P's higher clock speeds (5.30 GHz boost versus 3.40 GHz) and newer Zen 4 architecture provide a decisive advantage in rendering tasks, even against a chip with twice the core count.

The PassMark suite reveals more nuance. The 4344P wins the multithread test with a score of 33690, which is 15.2% higher than the 7303's 28572, indicating that its efficiency per core is sufficient to overcome the core-count deficit in this workload. The 4344P also wins in random string sorting (49001 vs 42259, a 13.8% lead) and physics (2025 vs 1792, an 11.5% lead). Its single-thread score of 3560 versus 1460 is the largest margin on the board, a 59% gap that underscores its superiority in lightly-threaded scenarios.

However, the EPYC 7303 claws back wins in raw compute throughput. In PassMark integer math, the 7303 scores 113422, a 6.7% lead over the 4344P's 106272. It also wins in data compression (428319 vs 407933, +5%), extended instructions (31603 vs 30170, +4.7%), and find prime numbers (180 vs 170, +5.9%). The 7303 edges out the 4344P in floating-point math as well, with a score of 64940 versus 64245, a slim 1.1% margin. These results suggest that the 7303's 16 cores can marshal more aggregate processing power for certain algorithmic workloads, despite the 4344P's superior per-core performance.

The Verdict

The benchmark evidence indicates that the AMD EPYC 4344P is the stronger choice for general-purpose and single-threaded performance. Its 59% lead in PassMark single-thread and 15.2% lead across all Cinebench tests, including multi-core, demonstrate that it delivers better results in rendering and typical server tasks. With an average benchmark score of 45586, it sits nearly even with the 7303, but its wins in 11 of 17 tests make it the more versatile performer in this comparison.

The AMD EPYC 7303, however, is not without merit. Its 6 wins are concentrated in specific PassMark sub-tests, such as integer math and data compression, where its 16 cores provide a tangible advantage. For workloads that are heavily parallelized around integer operations or data manipulation, the 7303's 6.7% and 5% leads, respectively, could translate into meaningful throughput gains. Its 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth, versus 83.2 GB/s on the 4344P, is also a critical factor for memory-intensive applications, though this metric does not appear in the benchmark scores.

Ultimately, the pick depends on the workload profile. For users prioritizing raw clock speed, single-thread responsiveness, and wins in Cinebench and multithread PassMark tests, the EPYC 4344P is the data-backed selection. For those running specific math or compression-heavy workloads, where the 7303's higher core count yields wins in integer math and data compression, the 7303 is justified. The 4344P's lower TDP of 65 watts, versus 130 watts for the 7303, also suggests it may be easier to cool and power, though the data does not directly quantify this impact.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. The EPYC 7303 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the EPYC 4344P has 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds are starkly different: the 7303 runs at 2.40 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost, while the 4344P runs at 3.80 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost.

Thermal design power differs, with the 7303 rated at 130 watts and the 4344P at 65 watts. The socket platforms are incompatible, with the 7303 using AMD Socket SP3 and the 4344P using AMD Socket AM5. The architectural generation is Zen 3 (Milan) for the 7303 and Zen 4 (Raphael) for the 4344P, built on 7 nm and 5 nm processes, respectively. Transistor counts are 8,300 million on a 2x 81 mm² die for the 7303, versus 6,570 million on a 71 mm² die for the 4344P.

Cache configurations differ in L2 and L3: the 7303 has 512 KB L2 per core and 64 MB shared L3, while the 4344P has 1 MB L2 per core and 32 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 with an eight-channel bus for the 7303, providing 204.8 GB/s, while the 4344P uses DDR5 on a dual-channel bus, providing 83.2 GB/s. PCIe support is Gen 4 with 128 lanes for the 7303, versus Gen 5 with 28 lanes for the 4344P. The 4344P includes integrated Radeon Graphics, while the 7303 has none. Release dates are 2023-09-04 for the 7303 and 2024-05-20 for the 4344P.