AMD EPYC 7301 vs AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7301 and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X are both 14 nm Zen parts from the same 2017 wave, but they target opposite ends of the compute spectrum. The EPYC 7301 is a 16-core server processor built for Socket SP3 with eight-channel memory, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X is an 8-core desktop chip on Socket AM4 with dual-channel memory. Despite the EPYC’s core-count advantage, the benchmark data shows the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X winning every single head-to-head test, making this a curious case where the smaller, lower-TDP part consistently outperforms the larger server chip in Cinebench workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent: the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X wins all six Cinebench tests, and in every case the margin is exactly -3.7% relative to the EPYC 7301. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X scores 13,227 against the EPYC’s 12,742, a 485-point gap. The single-core R23 result follows the same pattern: 1,867 for the Ryzen versus 1,798 for the EPYC. This uniformity across all Cinebench versions—R15, R20, and R23—suggests the performance difference is structural, not workload-specific.

Looking at the older benchmarks, Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the Ryzen at 1,333 and the EPYC at 1,284, while R15 single-core is 188 versus 181. The R20 results mirror this: 5,555 for the Ryzen versus 5,351 for the EPYC in multi-core, and 784 versus 755 in single-core. In every case, the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X leads by roughly 3.7%, which is a modest but consistent advantage across four generations of Cinebench tests.

The average benchmark score tells a similar story. The EPYC 7301 has an average score of 3,685, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X sits at 3,673, making the EPYC technically 0.3% ahead on average. However, this aggregate includes the Geekbench results that only the Ryzen has—5,355 multi-core and 1,076 single-core—which are not available for the EPYC. When comparing only the shared Cinebench tests, the Ryzen wins every round, so the average score is somewhat misleading as a measure of head-to-head performance.

Both processors occupy the 56th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are statistically peers in the broader market. The nearest rival list for the EPYC includes the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X with a delta of 0.3%, the EPYC 7251 at 0.4%, and the Intel Core i3-13100E at 0.5%. For the Ryzen, the closest rival is the EPYC 7251 at 0% delta, followed by the Core i3-13100E at 0.1%. This clustering within a 1% band across four different processors indicates that the EPYC 7301 and Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X are essentially equivalent in average performance, despite their architectural differences.

The Verdict

From the data, the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X is the clear winner in raw Cinebench performance, taking all six head-to-head tests with a consistent 3.7% margin. The EPYC 7301, despite having double the cores and threads, cannot match the Ryzen’s throughput in these benchmarks. This suggests that the Ryzen’s higher clock speeds—3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost versus 2.20 GHz and 2.70 GHz for the EPYC—more than compensate for the EPYC’s core advantage in these particular workloads.

For a user prioritizing single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench performance, the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X is the better choice. The data shows it leads in every Cinebench test, and its 95 W TDP is significantly lower than the EPYC’s 170 W, which may be relevant for system power considerations. The Ryzen also offers the same 56th percentile ranking as the EPYC, so there is no penalty in overall market positioning.

However, the EPYC 7301 is not without merit. Its eight-channel memory bus provides 170.6 GB/s of bandwidth, four times the Ryzen’s 42.7 GB/s, which is critical for memory-intensive server workloads. The EPYC also supports more PCIe lanes—the Ryzen is limited to 16 lanes on PCIe Gen 3, while the EPYC’s server platform inherently supports more via Socket SP3. For workloads that are memory-bandwidth-bound or require extensive I/O, the EPYC 7301 is the appropriate choice despite its lower Cinebench scores.

The verdict is straightforward: pick the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X for general-purpose desktop computing, content creation, or any workload where Cinebench scores are representative. Pick the EPYC 7301 for server deployments where eight-channel memory bandwidth and platform scalability outweigh single-thread performance. The 3.7% Cinebench deficit is a real but minor penalty for the EPYC’s server-class features.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the Zen architecture, but they come from different dies. The EPYC 7301 uses the Naples codename, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X uses Summit Ridge. Both are manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, and both have the same transistor count of 4,800 million and die size of 213 mm². This means the fundamental silicon is identical, but the packaging and configuration differ substantially.

The EPYC 7301 is a server part with 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X is a desktop part with 8 cores and 16 threads. The EPYC has a 64 MB shared L3 cache, whereas the Ryzen has only 16 MB shared L3. Both have the same per-core L1 cache of 96 KB and L2 cache of 512 KB, but the EPYC’s larger L3 is designed to feed more cores. The EPYC’s base clock of 2.20 GHz and boost clock of 2.70 GHz are substantially lower than the Ryzen’s 3.40 GHz and 3.80 GHz, which explains the Ryzen’s single-thread advantage.

Memory architecture is where the two parts diverge most sharply. The EPYC 7301 supports eight-channel DDR4 with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X supports dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, which is unusual for a desktop part. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3, while the Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4. Both have unlocked multipliers, meaning they can be overclocked, though the EPYC’s server platform may not expose this in all configurations.

Specification Differences

The core specifications differ in every major dimension except process node and foundry. The EPYC 7301 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X has 8 cores and 16 threads. The EPYC’s base clock is 2.20 GHz, and its boost clock is 2.70 GHz; the Ryzen’s base clock is 3.40 GHz, and its boost clock is 3.80 GHz. The TDP is 170 W for the EPYC and 95 W for the Ryzen.

Cache configuration differs significantly: the EPYC has 64 MB of shared L3, while the Ryzen has 16 MB. Memory bus width is eight-channel for the EPYC and dual-channel for the Ryzen, resulting in 170.6 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth. The sockets are different—SP3 for the EPYC, AM4 for the Ryzen—and the market segments are Server/Workstation versus Desktop. Both have the same part number format, but the EPYC’s part number is PS7301BEVGPAF, while the Ryzen’s is YD17XBBAM88AE.

The PCIe support is listed as Gen 3 for both, but the Ryzen specifies 16 lanes (CPU only), while the EPYC does not have a lane count listed in the data. Both have no integrated graphics and both support ECC memory. Production status is Active for both, and both were released on the same date: 2017-06-28. Neither has a launch MSRP listed in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7301 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X scores 13,227, while the EPYC 7301 scores 12,742, giving the Ryzen a 3.7% advantage.

Q: How does memory bandwidth compare between the two?

A: The EPYC 7301 supports eight-channel DDR4 with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X supports dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The EPYC 7301 has 64 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X has 16 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Are both processors on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both are fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 4,800 million transistors and a 213 mm² die size.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The EPYC 7301 has a TDP of 170 W, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X has a TDP of 95 W.