AMD EPYC 7252 vs AMD Ryzen 7 4700G Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data delivers a clear verdict: the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, taking all six Cinebench tests. The AMD EPYC 7252, despite its server pedigree and massive platform advantages on paper, trails by a consistent margin of roughly 3.6% across both single-core and multi-core workloads. For any user choosing strictly between these two based on measured performance, the Ryzen 7 4700G is the superior processor in raw compute.

The Ryzen 7 4700G posts an average benchmark score of 4949, while the EPYC 7252 averages 4772, a difference that places the Ryzen about 3.7% ahead overall. Neither chip moves the needle in the broader CPU landscape, as both sit at the 59th percentile among all CPUs in the database. That parity in percentile ranking underscores how close these two are in overall capability despite their vastly different market segments. The Ryzen's wins are consistent and never narrow, but never overwhelming either. The delta in every head-to-head test is identical at 3.6%, which suggests a systematic clock-speed advantage rather than any architectural edge.

The intended buyer differs completely. The EPYC 7252 belongs in a server chassis, with eight-channel memory, 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and ECC support. The Ryzen 7 4700G belongs on a desktop, with an integrated Radeon Vega 8 GPU, a dual-channel memory bus, and an unlocked multiplier. If the workload is a traditional desktop application, the Ryzen wins outright. If the workload demands server-class I/O, memory bandwidth, or error-correcting memory, the EPYC is the only option, and its slight compute deficit becomes irrelevant.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 7 4700G wins everywhere the benchmark suite reaches. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1724 against the EPYC's 1662, a 3.6% lead. In single-core R15, it posts 243 versus 234, again 3.7% ahead. The pattern holds in R20, with scores of 7186 versus 6929 multi-core and 1014 versus 978 single-core. In the latest R23 test, the Ryzen scores 17111 multi-core and 2415 single-core, while the EPYC manages 16499 and 2329 respectively. Every test, every workload, same winner.

The EPYC 7252's wins are not in compute but in platform capability. It offers an eight-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth, compared to the Ryzen's dual-channel 51.2 GB/s. It provides 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes against the Ryzen's 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. It supports ECC memory, which the Ryzen does not. For a server consolidating virtual machines, driving storage arrays, or hosting databases, those platform features outweigh a 3.6% compute deficit. The EPYC also carries a launch MSRP of $475, though no pricing comparison should be drawn here.

The Ryzen 7 4700G wins on clocks and efficiency. Its base clock is 3.60 GHz and boost is 4.40 GHz, against the EPYC's 3.10 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. Its TDP is 65 watts versus the EPYC's 120 watts. That clock advantage explains the benchmark results: a 1.2 GHz boost differential is substantial, and the Ryzen's lower TDP shows it achieves those clocks with less thermal headroom required.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Zen 2 architecture and are built on the same 7 nm process at TSMC, but they diverge sharply in every other physical respect. The EPYC 7252, codenamed Rome, uses a chiplet design with a die size listed as 2x 74 mm², totaling roughly 148 mm² of compute silicon. The Ryzen 7 4700G, codenamed Renoir, is a monolithic die at 156 mm². Despite the smaller combined die area, the EPYC carries 7,600 million transistors, while the Ryzen packs 9,800 million, thanks to the integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics and the memory controller on the same piece of silicon.

Cache is a major differentiator. The EPYC 7252 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, matching the Ryzen exactly. But the L3 cache tells a different story: the EPYC has 32 MB per die, with a total of 64 MB, while the Ryzen has just 8 MB total. That 8x difference in L3 capacity is the EPYC's most significant architectural advantage, though it does not translate into a benchmark win in the recorded tests, likely because the Ryzen's higher clocks overcome the cache deficit in these workloads.

Memory support further separates the two. The EPYC supports eight-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth and ECC memory. The Ryzen supports dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s and no ECC. PCIe connectivity is equally lopsided: the EPYC offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes, while the Ryzen offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Ryzen compensates with an integrated Radeon Vega 8 GPU, a feature the EPYC lacks entirely. The EPYC uses the AMD Socket SP3 platform, while the Ryzen uses Socket AM4. The Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier; the EPYC does not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Ryzen 7 4700G wins in every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 17111 versus the EPYC's 16499, a 3.6% lead. The same margin appears in R20 (7186 versus 6929) and R15 (1724 versus 1662).

Q: Does the EPYC 7252 have any benchmark advantage at all?

A: No. Across all six recorded Cinebench tests, the EPYC loses every one. The closest margin is 3.6% in every test, and the Ryzen also holds the higher average benchmark score at 4949 versus 4772.

Q: What does the EPYC's larger L3 cache do for performance?

A: The EPYC has 64 MB total L3 cache versus the Ryzen's 8 MB. Despite this 8x advantage, the EPYC still trails in all recorded benchmarks, indicating that the Ryzen's higher clock speeds compensate for the smaller cache in these workloads.

Q: Can the Ryzen 7 4700G be overclocked?

A: Yes. The Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier, while the EPYC does not. This means the Ryzen's already higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz could potentially be increased further, widening the gap.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The EPYC 7252 supports ECC memory, while the Ryzen 7 4700G does not. This is a key differentiator for server deployments where data integrity is critical.

Q: How do these processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The Ryzen wins all three single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2415 versus 2329 for the EPYC, a 3.6% lead. The margin is consistent at 3.7% in R15 (243 versus 234) and 3.6% in R20 (1014 versus 978).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is remarkably uniform. In every single test, the Ryzen 7 4700G beats the EPYC 7252 by exactly 3.6%, except for Cinebench R15 single-core where the margin is 3.7%. This consistency suggests a fixed performance gap driven by clock speed rather than workload characteristics.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen scores 1724 against the EPYC's 1662. That 62-point gap is the smallest absolute difference in the suite, but it still represents a clear 3.6% loss for the server chip. In single-core R15, the Ryzen posts 243 versus 234, a 9-point gap and a 3.7% margin. Moving to R20, the multi-core test shows 7186 versus 6929, a 257-point difference, again 3.6%. The single-core R20 result is 1014 versus 978, a 36-point gap.

The most modern test, Cinebench R23, follows the same pattern. Multi-core shows the Ryzen at 17111 and the EPYC at 16499, a 612-point difference. Single-core shows 2415 versus 2329, an 86-point gap. In all cases, the Ryzen's higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus the EPYC's 3.20 GHz appears to be the deciding factor. The EPYC's 64 MB of L3 cache and eight-channel memory bandwidth do not help it in these CPU-bound render tests, where clock speed dominates.

Against the broader field, the EPYC's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W-1290E at an average score of 4775, just 0.1% ahead, and the Intel Core i5-1350P at 4776, also 0.1% ahead. The Intel Xeon E-2386G sits 0.6% ahead at 4799, while the Intel Core i9-9900KS trails by 0.7% at 4738. The Ryzen's rivals are similarly close: the Intel Xeon W-1290 is 0.3% ahead at 4932, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 is 0.4% behind at 4967, and the Intel Core i5-12600HE and i7-1375PRE are 0.6% and 0.7% behind respectively. This tight clustering shows that both chips are competitive within their respective performance tiers, but the Ryzen's higher average score places it in a slightly stronger position.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in every major specification except for core count, thread count, architecture, process node, foundry, L1 cache, L2 cache, and memory type. Both have 8 cores and 16 threads, both use Zen 2 architecture on TSMC's 7 nm process, both have 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, and both support DDR4 memory.

The differences begin with clocks. The EPYC 7252 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The Ryzen 7 4700G has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, a 1.2 GHz advantage at boost. TDP differs substantially: the EPYC draws 120 watts while the Ryzen draws 65 watts, meaning the Ryzen delivers higher performance at nearly half the power envelope.

Socket and platform are entirely different. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3, the Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4. The EPYC's memory bus is eight-channel with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support, while the Ryzen's is dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s and no ECC. PCIe capability is lopsided: the EPYC offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes, the Ryzen offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Ryzen includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics; the EPYC has none. Transistor count and die size also differ: the EPYC has 7,600 million transistors across 2x 74 mm² dies, while the Ryzen has 9,800 million transistors on a single 156 mm² die. The EPYC's L3 cache totals 64 MB, while the Ryzen has 8 MB. The Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier; the EPYC does not. Release dates are about a year apart, with the EPYC launching in August 2019 and the Ryzen in July 2020.