AMD EPYC 7272 vs AMD EPYC 7501 Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7272 and AMD EPYC 7501 are two server processors from different generations of AMD’s EPYC lineup, yet benchmark results show they are remarkably close in overall performance. The 7272, a 12-core Rome part built on a 7 nm process, edges out the 32-core Naples-based 7501 in every single Cinebench test included in the data, despite the 7501’s massive core-count advantage. The average benchmark score for the 7272 is 6186, compared to 6128 for the 7501, a difference of just under one percent. This head-to-head comparison reveals a fascinating generational shift, where architectural efficiency and IPC gains in the newer chip completely offset a 20-core deficit.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unequivocal: the AMD EPYC 7272 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, from the older R15 to the modern R23, in both single-core and multi-core workloads. There is no benchmark category where the EPYC 7501 comes out ahead. The narrowest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the 7272 scores 304 against the 7501’s 301, a 1% lead. The multi-core tests show a consistent 0.9% advantage for the 7272 across R15, R20, and R23, with scores like 2155 versus 2135 in R15 and 21386 versus 21186 in R23.

For use-case planning, this means the 7272 is the better choice for both lightly threaded tasks and heavily parallel workloads. The single-core performance gap, while small, gives the 7272 an edge in database queries, virtual machine management, or any workload that relies on per-thread responsiveness. In multi-threaded applications like 3D rendering, scientific simulations, or code compilation, the 7272 again takes the win, despite having only 12 cores and 24 threads compared to the 7501’s 32 cores and 64 threads. The 7501 does not win any of the six benchmark comparisons, making it the weaker option across the board in this dataset.

Architecture Differences

The two chips represent distinct architectural eras for AMD. The EPYC 7272 is part of the EPYC 7002 series, using the Zen 2 architecture under the codename Rome. It is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The EPYC 7501 belongs to the EPYC 7001 series, using the original Zen architecture with the codename Naples, manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This node difference is significant: 7 nm versus 14 nm explains a large part of why the 7272 can match a chip with nearly three times the core count.

The transistor counts reflect the manufacturing differences. The 7272 packs 7,600 million transistors across two dies, each measuring 74 mm². The 7501 uses a single 213 mm² die with 4,800 million transistors. The 7272’s cache layout is also different: it has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 per die, for a total of 64 MB. The 7501 offers 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. So the older chip has more L1 per core, but the newer chip matches total L3 capacity.

Clock speeds tell a similar story. The 7272 has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The 7501 lists a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost of 3.00 GHz. Despite the 7501’s higher core count, the 7272 runs at a higher base frequency and a higher boost frequency. Power consumption also differs considerably: the 7272 has a TDP of 120 watts, while the 7501 is rated at 170 watts. Both use the AMD Socket SP3 and support DDR4 memory with an eight-channel memory bus, but the 7272 offers 85.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth while the 7501 doubles that to 170.6 GB/s.

PCIe support is another differentiator. The 7272 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU. The 7501 is limited to PCIe Gen 3. The 7272 also has a more recent release date, launching in August 2019, while the 7501 came out in June 2017. The 7272’s multiplier is locked, while the 7501 has an unlocked multiplier. Both chips support ECC memory and are marked as Active in production status.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the AMD EPYC 7272 for essentially every workload measured. It wins all six Cinebench benchmarks, including every multi-core test, despite having 20 fewer cores and 40 fewer threads than the 7501. The 7272 achieves this through a combination of a more advanced 7 nm process, higher clock speeds, and the IPC improvements of the Zen 2 architecture over the original Zen. Its average benchmark score of 6186 sits 0.9% above the 7501’s 6128, and it also edges out the Intel Core i9-7940X by 0.6% in the nearest rivals comparison.

For someone choosing between these two server processors, the 7272 is the superior pick based on performance alone. The 7501 offers more cores and nearly double the memory bandwidth, but that did not translate into a single benchmark victory. The 7272 also consumes less power, with a 120-watt TDP versus 170 watts for the 7501, and provides newer PCIe Gen 4 support. The 7501’s only advantages are its 64 MB of L3 cache, which is shared rather than split per die, and its unlocked multiplier, which allows overclocking. Since the 7272 is newer, faster, and more efficient in these tests, it is the recommended processor unless a specific workload requires the 7501’s higher memory bandwidth or core count for reasons not captured by Cinebench.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD EPYC 7272 has an average benchmark score of 6186, while the AMD EPYC 7501 scores 6128, putting the 7272 ahead by 0.9%.

Q: Does the EPYC 7501 win any benchmark tests?

A: No. In the head-to-head data, the EPYC 7501 loses all six Cinebench tests, with the EPYC 7272 winning every single-core and multi-core comparison.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD EPYC 7272 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The AMD EPYC 7501 has 32 cores and 64 threads.

Q: What are the process nodes for these two chips?

A: The EPYC 7272 is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The EPYC 7501 uses a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The EPYC 7272 offers 85.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the EPYC 7501 provides 170.6 GB/s, exactly double.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 4?

A: The AMD EPYC 7272 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes. The EPYC 7501 is limited to PCIe Gen 3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single-core win for the AMD EPYC 7272 comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 304 against the 7501’s 301, a 1% advantage. In R20 single-core, the 7272 scores 1267 versus 1256, and in R23 single-core, it posts 3019 versus 2991. Each of those latter two wins represents a 0.9% margin. The consistency of these results indicates that the 7272’s Zen 2 architecture delivers a modest but real IPC improvement over the original Zen in the 7501, even when clock speeds are similar.

The multi-core results are more surprising given the core-count disparity. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 7272 scores 2155 versus 2135 for the 7501, a 0.9% win. The R20 multi-core test shows 8982 for the 7272 and 8898 for the 7501, again a 0.9% margin. In R23 multi-core, the 7272 posts 21386 against 21186 for the 7501, yet another 0.9% lead. The 7501’s 32 cores and 64 threads should theoretically dominate a 12-core part, but the 7272’s higher 3.20 GHz boost clock, larger total L3 cache of 64 MB, and more efficient 7 nm process combine to overcome that deficit.

Looking at the nearest rivals for context, the 7272’s average score of 6186 places it just 0.6% above the Intel Core i9-7940X and 0.7% below the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X. The 7501’s average of 6128 sits 0.3% below the i9-7940X and 1.7% below the Threadripper. Both chips land in the 61st percentile of all CPUs tested, showing they are competent mid-pack performers rather than top-tier parts. In the direct matchup, the 7272 is the clear winner in every measured scenario, making it the stronger processor for Cinebench workloads across the board.