AMD EPYC 7262 vs AMD EPYC 7281 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7281 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7262 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The 7281 offers double the core and thread count.

Q: How do the base and boost clock speeds compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7262 starts at a 3.20 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.40 GHz. The AMD EPYC 7281 runs at a 2.10 GHz base clock and boosts to 2.70 GHz. The 7262 is clocked significantly higher in both metrics.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process node?

A: The AMD EPYC 7262 is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC, while the AMD EPYC 7281 uses a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The smaller node gives the 7262 a substantial manufacturing advantage.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache capacity?

A: The AMD EPYC 7281 has 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD EPYC 7262 has 32 MB per die with a total L3 cache of 128 MB, giving it four times the total L3 capacity.

Q: Which CPU supports PCIe Gen 4?

A: The AMD EPYC 7262 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). The AMD EPYC 7281 is limited to PCIe Gen 3. This matters for newer high-bandwidth peripherals.

Q: Did the AMD EPYC 7281 win any benchmark against the 7262?

A: Yes, the AMD EPYC 7281 won all six recorded Cinebench comparisons. In both single-core and multi-core tests across R15, R20, and R23, it led by 4% to 4.1% in every case.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7281 belongs to the EPYC 7001 series and uses the Zen architecture with the codename Naples. The AMD EPYC 7262 is part of the EPYC 7002 series, built on Zen 2 with the codename Rome. This generational shift is immediately visible in the manufacturing details. The 7281 is produced on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries with 4,800 million transistors and a die size of 213 mm². The 7262 moves to TSMC's 7 nm process, packs 15,200 million transistors, and uses a chiplet design with four dies of 74 mm² each.

The core configuration differs sharply. The 7281 offers 16 cores and 32 threads, while the 7262 offers 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds favor the newer part: the 7262 has a 3.20 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost, compared to 2.10 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost for the 7281. Despite having half the cores, the 7262 runs at much higher frequencies.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The 7281 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. The 7262 has 64 KB of L1 per core, the same 512 KB of L2 per core, but its L3 is organized as 32 MB per die, totaling 128 MB across the chip. That is a fourfold increase in total L3 capacity.

Memory support shows both use DDR4 with an eight-channel memory bus, but bandwidth differs. The 7281 reaches 170.6 GB/s, while the 7262 reaches 204.8 GB/s. The 7262 also advances I/O with PCIe Gen 4 and 128 lanes (CPU only), whereas the 7281 remains on PCIe Gen 3.

The 7281 has an unlocked multiplier, while the 7262 does not. The 7262 is listed with a launch MSRP of $575. The 7281 has no recorded launch MSRP. Both are server or workstation parts, both use AMD Socket SP3, and both support ECC memory. The 7262 has a part number of 100-000000041. Production status is Active for both.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The AMD EPYC 7281 wins every recorded Cinebench test, both single-core and multi-core, across all three versions of the benchmark. Scores range from 4% to 4.1% ahead of the 7262. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 7281 scores 18,377 against 17,662. In R23 single-core, it scores 2,594 against 2,493. Even in the oldest test, R15 multi-core, the 7281 posts 1,852 versus 1,780.

This result is counterintuitive given the architectural gap. The 7262 has a newer 7 nm process, higher clocks, more total L3 cache, and more memory bandwidth. Yet the 7281's doubling of cores and threads overcomes those advantages in Cinebench workloads. Both processors sit at the 60th percentile against all CPUs in the database, indicating similar overall standing. The average benchmark score for the 7281 is 5,315, while the 7262 averages 5,109, a gap of roughly 4%.

For buyers who prioritize raw Cinebench throughput, the 7281 is the correct choice. It delivers consistent wins in every measured test. For buyers who value the newer platform features, the 7262 offers PCIe Gen 4, a 7 nm process, and a much larger L3 cache. However, those advantages do not translate into benchmark victories in this dataset. The data says the 7281 is the faster processor for these workloads, despite being the older design.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every core specification. Core count differs: 16 cores and 32 threads for the 7281, versus 8 cores and 16 threads for the 7262. Clock speeds are higher on the 7262, with a 3.20 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost, compared to 2.10 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost on the 7281. Thermal design power differs modestly, with the 7281 rated at 170 watts and the 7262 at 155 watts.

Process technology separates them clearly. The 7281 uses 14 nm at GlobalFoundries with 4,800 million transistors and a 213 mm² die. The 7262 uses 7 nm at TSMC with 15,200 million transistors and four dies of 74 mm² each. Cache configurations are not the same: the 7281 has 96 KB of L1 per core and 32 MB of shared L3, while the 7262 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 32 MB per die, totaling 128 MB. L2 cache is identical at 512 KB per core.

Memory bandwidth favors the 7262 at 204.8 GB/s versus 170.6 GB/s for the 7281. Both support DDR4 and eight-channel memory. PCIe connectivity differs, with the 7262 offering Gen 4 and 128 lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 3 for the 7281. The 7281 has an unlocked multiplier, the 7262 does not. The 7262 has a launch MSRP of $575, while the 7281 has none recorded. Release dates differ by over two years: the 7281 launched on 2017-06-28 and the 7262 on 2019-08-06.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 7281 scores 1,852 against 1,780 for the 7262, a 4% lead. In R15 single-core, the 7281 posts 261 versus 251, also a 4% lead. Moving to R20 multi-core, the 7281 records 7,718 against 7,418, again 4% ahead. R20 single-core shows 1,089 versus 1,047, a 4% margin. In R23 multi-core, the 7281 reaches 18,377 versus 17,662, 4% higher. Finally, R23 single-core gives the largest gap at 4.1%, with 2,594 against 2,493.

The total wins tally is 6 for the 7281 and 0 for the 7262. No recorded test favors the 7262. The deltas are tight, though, all within 4% to 4.1%. This suggests the 7262 is not far behind in any single test, but it never manages to close the gap. The pattern holds across both single-core and multi-core workloads, which is notable because the 7262 has significantly higher clock speeds. The 7281's extra cores and threads appear to compensate in multi-core, while in single-core, the older Zen architecture still edges out Zen 2 in this specific comparison.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the head-to-head. The 7281 averages 5,315, placing it near the Intel Core i9-10900KF at 5,316 and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X at 5,306. The 7262 averages 5,109, close to the Intel Core i9-7900X at 5,120. The 4% average gap between the two EPYC parts matches the individual Cinebench deltas.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7281 wins in every measured Cinebench category. It leads in multi-core throughput, which aligns with its 16 cores and 32 threads. The 7281 also wins single-core tests, despite lower clock speeds, which points to the benchmark's behavior with this workload. For users running Cinebench or similar rendering tasks, the 7281 is the stronger part.

The AMD EPYC 7262 does not win any recorded benchmark, but it holds advantages in platform features. It has a newer 7 nm process, which typically improves power efficiency, though the TDP difference is only 15 watts. It offers four times the total L3 cache, 128 MB versus 32 MB, which can benefit workloads with large working sets. It also provides PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes, doubling the I/O bandwidth available to peripherals compared to the 7281's PCIe Gen 3. Memory bandwidth is higher at 204.8 GB/s versus 170.6 GB/s, which may help memory-sensitive applications even if Cinebench does not show it.

The data does not support a win for the 7262 in the tested benchmarks. Its advantages are architectural and feature-based, not performance-based in these six tests. The 7281 is the choice for benchmark-driven Cinebench performance. The 7262 is the choice for systems that need the newer PCIe generation, larger aggregate cache, or higher memory bandwidth, accepting a small but consistent performance deficit in the measured workloads. Both processors sit at the 60th percentile, so neither is a standout in the broader CPU landscape, but within this direct comparison, the 7281 takes the performance crown.