AMD EPYC 7282 vs Intel Pentium Gold G6400 Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the two processors compared here?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282, a 16-core server processor from the EPYC 7002 series, and the Intel Pentium Gold G6400, a 2-core desktop processor from the Comet Lake family.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Pentium Gold G6400 has 2 cores and 4 threads. The EPYC offers 8 times the core count and 8 times the thread count.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 has an average benchmark score of 7409, while the Intel Pentium Gold G6400 has an average score of 6969. Both processors sit at the 63rd percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Pentium Gold G6400 does not. This makes the EPYC more suitable for error-sensitive server workloads.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 has an eight-channel memory bus delivering 85.3 GB/s, while the Intel Pentium Gold G6400 has a dual-channel bus delivering 42.7 GB/s. The EPYC provides exactly double the bandwidth.

Q: Does the Intel Pentium Gold G6400 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Pentium Gold G6400 includes UHD Graphics 610. The AMD EPYC 7282 has no integrated graphics.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7282 is built on TSMC's 7 nm process node with 7,600 million transistors across a 2x 74 mm² die layout. It uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Rome codename, fitting into AMD Socket SP3. The Intel Pentium Gold G6400 uses Intel's 14 nm process, employs the Comet Lake architecture, and fits into Intel Socket 1200. The process gap alone explains significant efficiency and density differences.

The EPYC 7282 packs 16 cores with 32 threads, each core carrying 64 KB of L1 cache and 512 KB of L2 cache. Its L3 cache is structured as 32 MB per die, totaling 64 MB. The Pentium Gold G6400 has 2 cores with 4 threads, 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The EPYC's total L3 cache is 16 times larger.

Memory architecture diverges sharply. The EPYC 7282 runs DDR4 over an eight-channel bus at 85.3 GB/s with ECC support. The Pentium Gold G6400 runs DDR4 over a dual-channel bus at 42.7 GB/s without ECC. PCIe connectivity also differs: the EPYC offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes, while the Pentium Gold provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The EPYC is clearly a server platform, the Pentium Gold a basic desktop part.

The EPYC 7282 was released on August 6, 2019, and has a launch MSRP of $650. The Pentium Gold G6400 was released on April 29, 2020. Both remain in active production. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports 3D V-Cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a complete sweep for the AMD EPYC 7282 across all five recorded Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC scores 2581 against the Pentium Gold's 305, a delta of 746.2%. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the EPYC scores 10758 versus 1272, a delta of 745.8%. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the EPYC reaches 25616 and the Pentium Gold manages 3030, a 745.4% difference.

Single-core results are equally lopsided. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the EPYC 7282 scores 1518 while the Pentium Gold scores 179, a delta of 748%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 3616 against the Pentium Gold's 427, a delta of 746.8%. The EPYC wins all five head-to-head tests, with zero wins for the Pentium Gold.

These deltas are remarkably consistent, all hovering near 745-748%. This suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-dependent. The EPYC's 16-core design with 32 threads simply overwhelms the 2-core, 4-thread Pentium Gold in every rendering task measured. Even in single-threaded tests, the EPYC's Zen 2 architecture at 2.80 GHz base clock outperforms the Pentium Gold's 4.00 GHz base clock, indicating superior instructions per clock.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The EPYC 7282 averages 7409 across all benchmark types, while the Pentium Gold G6400 averages 6969. Interestingly, the EPYC's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-9990XE at 7415 (0.1% lower) and the Intel Core i5-4570 at 7421 (0.2% lower). The Pentium Gold's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260 at 6992 (0.3% lower) and the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G at 6931 (0.5% higher). Both processors land at the 63rd percentile, but in entirely different performance strata.

The Verdict

The data presents an unambiguous choice. The AMD EPYC 7282 outperforms the Intel Pentium Gold G6400 in every recorded benchmark, with multicore deltas exceeding 745% and single-core deltas near 747%. The EPYC is the correct selection for any workload that depends on raw compute throughput, particularly multi-threaded rendering, scientific computing, or server-side processing.

The Intel Pentium Gold G6400, despite its higher 4.00 GHz base clock, falls behind even in single-threaded tests. Its 2 cores and 4 threads cannot compete with the EPYC's 16 cores and 32 threads. The Pentium Gold's only advantages are its lower 58 W TDP, integrated UHD Graphics 610, and dual-channel memory simplicity, which suit basic desktop tasks.

For server and workstation deployments, the EPYC 7282 is the clear choice. Its eight-channel memory, 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, ECC support, and 64 MB L3 cache are enterprise-grade features. For a minimal desktop system, the Pentium Gold G6400 offers adequate performance for light duties, but it cannot match the EPYC's compute capabilities in any dimension measured.

The recorded data shows no scenario where the Pentium Gold wins. The verdict is straightforward: the EPYC 7282 dominates the Pentium Gold G6400 across all five head-to-head benchmark tests, with the EPYC winning 5 and the Pentium Gold winning 0.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. Core count: the EPYC 7282 has 16 cores versus the Pentium Gold's 2. Threads: 32 versus 4. Base clock: the EPYC runs at 2.80 GHz, the Pentium Gold at 4.00 GHz. The Pentium Gold has no boost clock, while the EPYC boosts to 3.20 GHz.

TDP differs significantly: the EPYC 7282 draws 120 W, the Pentium Gold 58 W. Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket SP3 versus Intel Socket 1200. Process nodes differ: 7 nm TSMC versus 14 nm Intel. The EPYC has 7,600 million transistors on 2x 74 mm² dies, while the Pentium Gold has no recorded transistor or die size data.

Cache structures diverge: the EPYC has 512 KB L2 per core and 32 MB L3 per die for a 64 MB total, while the Pentium Gold has 256 KB L2 per core and a shared 4 MB L3. Memory channels: eight versus dual. Memory bandwidth: 85.3 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. ECC: supported versus not supported. PCIe: Gen 4 with 128 lanes versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics: none versus UHD Graphics 610.

Market segments differ: Server/Workstation versus Desktop. Release dates: August 2019 versus April 2020. The EPYC has a launch MSRP of $650; the Pentium Gold has no recorded launch MSRP. Part numbers also differ: 100-000000078 for the EPYC, SRH3Y for the Pentium Gold.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7282 wins in every head-to-head benchmark recorded. This includes Cinebench R15 multicore (2581 versus 305), R20 multicore (10758 versus 1272), R20 single-core (1518 versus 179), R23 multicore (25616 versus 3030), and R23 single-core (3616 versus 427). The EPYC is the choice for multi-threaded rendering, server virtualization, database workloads, and any application that scales across 16 cores and 32 threads.

The EPYC also wins decisively on platform features. Its eight-channel memory with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and ECC support make it suitable for memory-intensive server tasks. The 64 MB L3 cache provides substantial on-die data residency for workloads with large working sets.

The Intel Pentium Gold G6400 has no benchmark wins in the recorded data. However, the specifications suggest areas where it could be preferred in practice. Its 58 W TDP makes it suitable for low-power desktop builds. The integrated UHD Graphics 610 eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. The dual-channel memory setup simplifies motherboard design and reduces platform cost. Its 4.00 GHz base clock, while not translating to benchmark wins, indicates headroom for latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks that do not appear in the Cinebench suite.

The Pentium Gold's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G at 0.5% higher average score, placing it in entry-level desktop territory. The EPYC's nearest rivals include high-end Intel Core i9 parts, placing it in enthusiast workstation territory. The use-case split is therefore clear: the EPYC 7282 for server, workstation, and heavy compute workloads, and the Pentium Gold G6400 for minimal desktop systems where simplicity and low power matter more than raw performance.