AMD EPYC 7351 vs AMD EPYC 7401P Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7401P and AMD EPYC 7351 are both 14 nm Naples-based server processors from the EPYC 7001 series, sharing the same socket, memory architecture, and TDP envelope. However, the data reveals a consistent and substantial performance gap between them, with the 7401P winning every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. This analysis explores the architectural and specification differences that drive these results, and what they mean for different server workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD EPYC 7401P has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7351 has 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: How much faster is the 7401P in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The 7401P is consistently about 19.8% to 19.9% faster than the 7351 across all tested multi-core workloads, including Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the 7351 wins?

A: No. In the six head-to-head benchmarks provided, the 7401P wins all of them, with the 7351 recording zero wins.

Q: Do the two CPUs have the same base clock speed?

A: No. The 7351 has a higher base clock of 2.40 GHz, while the 7401P has a lower base clock of 2.00 GHz.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The 7401P has an average benchmark score of 5814, while the 7351 has an average score of 5710, a difference of about 104 points.

Q: Are they both on the same manufacturing process?

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

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the Zen architecture with the Naples codename, and they share identical foundational characteristics. They are manufactured on the same 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with the same 4,800 million transistors and a 213 mm² die size. The cache hierarchy is also identical: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is the same, with DDR4, an eight-channel memory bus, and a memory bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, alongside ECC support. Both use AMD Socket SP3 and support PCIe Gen 3.

The critical architectural difference lies in the core configuration. The 7401P packs 24 cores and 48 threads, while the 7351 has 16 cores and 32 threads. This means the 7401P has 50% more physical cores and 50% more threads. Interestingly, the 7351 compensates for its lower core count with a higher base clock of 2.40 GHz versus the 7401P’s 2.00 GHz. However, the boost clocks are closer, with the 7401P boosting to 3.00 GHz and the 7351 to 2.90 GHz. The data suggests that the 7401P’s core advantage more than offsets the 7351’s base clock advantage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a clear picture of dominance for the 7401P. Across all six tests, the 7401P wins with a delta percentage hovering around 19.8% to 20%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 7401P scores 2384 against the 7351’s 1989, a 19.9% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a similar 20% advantage, with scores of 336 and 280 respectively.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 9937 for the 7401P versus 8291 for the 7351, again a 19.9% difference. The single-core R20 test shows the 7401P at 1402 and the 7351 at 1170, a 19.8% gap. In the newer Cinebench R23, the multi-core scores are 23660 for the 7401P and 19742 for the 7351, a 19.8% lead. The single-core R23 test completes the sweep, with the 7401P scoring 3340 against the 7351’s 2787, another 19.8% advantage.

The consistency of the delta is striking. Whether the workload is single-core or multi-core, and regardless of the Cinebench version, the 7401P maintains roughly a 20% performance edge. This uniformity suggests the advantage is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental throughput difference, likely stemming from the higher core count and slightly higher boost clock. The 7351’s higher base clock does not translate into any benchmark win, indicating that sustained multi-threaded and even single-threaded performance favors the 7401P.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in a limited set of specifications. The most significant difference is in core and thread counts: the 7401P has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the 7351 has 16 cores and 32 threads. The base clock speeds also differ, with the 7351 running at 2.40 GHz and the 7401P at 2.00 GHz. The boost clocks are slightly different as well, with the 7401P at 3.00 GHz and the 7351 at 2.90 GHz.

The TDP is identical at 170 watts for both. The part numbers are different, with the 7401P using PS740PBEVHCAF and the 7351 using PS7351BEVGPAF. All other major specifications, including cache sizes, memory support, socket, process node, and PCIe generation, are the same. The launch MSRP is not listed for either processor, so no pricing comparison can be made.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark data, the AMD EPYC 7401P wins in every measured category. It is the clear winner in all multi-core workloads, which is expected given its 50% core advantage. The multi-core deltas are consistently around 19.9% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. This makes it the superior choice for heavily threaded applications like video rendering, scientific simulations, and database workloads that can utilize all available cores.

The 7401P also wins in single-core benchmarks, though by a similar margin. The single-core deltas range from 19.8% to 20% across the Cinebench suite. This is more surprising, as the 7351 has a higher base clock. The 7401P’s higher boost clock (3.00 GHz vs 2.90 GHz) likely plays a role here, but the consistent ~20% lead in single-core tests suggests the 7401P’s architecture or turbo behavior provides a distinct advantage.

The AMD EPYC 7351 does not win any benchmark in the data provided. Its only potential advantage is its higher base clock of 2.40 GHz, which could theoretically benefit workloads that are sensitive to sustained clock speeds at lower utilization. However, benchmark results do not reflect any such advantage. Therefore, based strictly on the data, the 7351 has no winning use case among the tested scenarios.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7401P is the superior processor in this comparison. It wins all six head-to-head benchmarks with a consistent margin of approximately 20%. The 7401P’s 24 cores and 48 threads provide a massive throughput advantage over the 7351’s 16 cores and 32 threads, and this advantage is reflected in every test, from single-core to multi-core workloads.

For users or organizations choosing between these two, the decision should be based on the need for raw performance. The 7401P is the clear choice for any workload where compute performance is paramount, especially in multi-threaded server environments. Its average benchmark score of 5814 places it among rivals like the Intel Xeon E-2388G and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X, with deltas of 0.2% and 1.5% respectively. The 7351, with an average score of 5710, is slightly behind the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X and ahead of the Intel Core i9-7920X by 0.7%.

The 7351 could only be considered if the higher base clock is of some unmeasured benefit, but the benchmark data does not support this. Given that both chips share the same TDP, socket, and memory capabilities, there is no platform-level cost difference to justify the 7351’s lower performance. The verdict is straightforward: the 7401P is the better processor by every benchmark metric available.