AMD EPYC 7351 vs AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 Comparison

The benchmark data is unusually one-sided: the AMD EPYC 7351 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700, yet the margins are remarkably narrow. Despite having twice the core count, double the threads, and a significantly higher thermal envelope, the EPYC 7351 leads by only 1.7–1.8% across every test iteration. This suggests that the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700’s architectural advantages in clock speed and process technology nearly neutralize the EPYC’s raw parallel resources. The average benchmark score difference is similarly slim: 5710 for the EPYC versus 5610 for the Ryzen, a gap of exactly 100 points. Both processors sit at the 61st percentile among all CPUs, placing them in identical overall performance tiers despite their divergent designs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The EPYC 7351’s largest victory comes in the Cinebench R15 multicore test, where it scores 1989 against the Ryzen’s 1955. That 34-point margin translates to a 1.7% advantage. In single-core R15, the EPYC again edges ahead with 280 versus 275, a 1.8% lead. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20: the EPYC posts 8291 multi-core and 1170 single-core, while the Ryzen manages 8146 and 1149 respectively. Both R20 deltas sit at exactly 1.8%. The most recent Cinebench R23 results show the same story — the EPYC scores 19742 multi-core and 2787 single-core, against the Ryzen’s 19397 and 2738, again with a 1.8% delta in both cases.

What makes these results striking is the underlying hardware disparity. The EPYC 7351 carries 16 cores and 32 threads, exactly double the Ryzen’s 8 cores and 16 threads. In a purely scaling-oriented workload, one might expect the EPYC to lead by a substantial margin. Instead, the Ryzen’s higher boost clock — 4.40 GHz versus 2.90 GHz — and its newer Zen 2 architecture compensate for the deficit in core count. The Ryzen’s base clock of 3.60 GHz also exceeds the EPYC’s boost clock, which explains why the single-core scores are so close. The data shows that Cinebench workloads, even in multi-threaded mode, do not scale perfectly with core count when clock speeds diverge this widely. The EPYC’s 64 MB of shared L3 cache versus the Ryzen’s 32 MB likely helps the server chip maintain its edge, but the margin remains under 2% across the board.

Examining the nearest rival data reinforces the parity. The EPYC 7351’s closest competitor, the AMD EPYC 7F32, averages 5703 with a delta of 0.1%, essentially identical performance. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-12700T, averages 5606 with a delta of 0.1%. The EPYC’s rival list also includes the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X at 5730 (delta -0.4%) and the Intel Xeon W-2175 at 5770 (delta -1%), while the Ryzen’s list includes the Intel Atom x7433RE at 5601 (delta 0.2%) and the Intel Core i9-11900KB at 5587 (delta 0.4%). These surrounding scores confirm that both chips sit in a tightly packed performance cluster, with the EPYC’s 100-point average advantage being the only meaningful separation.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is generational and fundamental. The EPYC 7351 uses the original Zen architecture, codenamed Naples, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It features 4,800 million transistors spread across a 213 mm² die. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 employs the newer Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Matisse, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC with 3,800 million transistors on a much smaller 74 mm² die. The process shrink from 14 nm to 7 nm is the primary reason the Ryzen achieves dramatically higher clock speeds while consuming less power.

Cache configurations differ notably. The EPYC allocates 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, matching the Ryzen’s L2 allocation. However, the EPYC’s L3 cache is 64 MB shared, double the Ryzen’s 32 MB. The L1 per-core allocation also favors the EPYC at 96 KB versus the Ryzen’s 64 KB per core. The EPYC’s larger shared L3 is a server-oriented design choice, accommodating more concurrent threads accessing shared data.

Memory architecture diverges sharply. The EPYC 7351 supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a theoretical bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 uses dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Both support DDR4, but the EPYC also includes ECC memory support, which the Ryzen lacks. The EPYC’s memory bandwidth advantage is more than threefold, though this does not translate into Cinebench wins because the benchmark does not heavily stress memory throughput. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3, a server platform, while the Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4 for desktop. PCIe support also differs: the EPYC provides Gen 3 lanes, while the Ryzen offers Gen 4 with 24 lanes from the CPU. Both processors have unlocked multipliers, and neither includes integrated graphics.

The production status for both is listed as Active, but their release dates are separated by over two years. The EPYC launched on 2017-06-28, while the Ryzen arrived on 2019-09-29. The EPYC belongs to the EPYC 7001 series and targets the Server/Workstation market segment; the Ryzen is part of the 3000 series, aimed at Desktop use. The TDP difference is substantial: 170 watts for the EPYC versus 65 watts for the Ryzen. This 105-watt gap reflects the EPYC’s higher core count and server-grade power delivery requirements, though the Ryzen’s superior process node allows it to deliver comparable benchmark performance at less than half the thermal envelope.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear conclusion: the AMD EPYC 7351 wins every benchmark in this comparison, but the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 is the more impressive engineering achievement. The EPYC’s six wins are all by margins under 2%, despite having 16 cores versus 8, 32 threads versus 16, and 64 MB of L3 versus 32 MB. The Ryzen’s 4.40 GHz boost clock and 7 nm process nearly erase that hardware advantage. For workloads that rely on core count and memory bandwidth, the EPYC is the correct choice — its eight-channel memory support delivering 170.6 GB/s is a decisive feature for server tasks. For desktop workloads where single-thread speed and power efficiency matter, the Ryzen is the better option, consuming 65 watts versus 170 watts while delivering within 1.8% of the EPYC’s performance.

The 61st percentile ranking for both chips indicates they occupy the same performance tier globally. The EPYC’s average benchmark score of 5710 versus the Ryzen’s 5610 confirms a real but modest overall advantage. Buyers should choose based on platform requirements, not raw Cinebench numbers. If the application demands ECC memory, eight-channel bandwidth, or a Socket SP3 server platform, the EPYC is the only viable option. If the use case is a desktop workstation with AM4 compatibility and Gen 4 PCIe, the Ryzen delivers nearly identical performance at a fraction of the power draw.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD EPYC 7351 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with a 1.7% margin in R15 multi-core and 1.8% margins in the other five tests.

Q: How large is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The EPYC 7351 averages 5710 across benchmarks, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 averages 5610, a difference of 100 points.

Q: Do the two processors have the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are ranked at the 61st percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each chip?

A: The EPYC 7351 has 16 cores and 32 threads; the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The EPYC 7351 supports ECC memory; the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth for each processor?

A: The EPYC 7351 provides 170.6 GB/s over eight channels, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 provides 51.2 GB/s over dual channels.

Where Each One Wins

The EPYC 7351 wins in every measured Cinebench test, but its advantages are concentrated in server-relevant features that benchmarks only partially capture. Its 170.6 GB/s memory bandwidth is more than triple the Ryzen’s 51.2 GB/s, making it the clear choice for memory-intensive server workloads like large-scale virtualization or database caching. The 64 MB shared L3 cache, double the Ryzen’s 32 MB, benefits workloads with large working sets that fit in cache. ECC memory support is a hard requirement for many server deployments, and only the EPYC offers it. The Socket SP3 platform supports more memory channels and larger total capacity, which the data cannot quantify but the architecture implies.

The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 wins where efficiency and responsiveness matter. Its 4.40 GHz boost clock versus the EPYC’s 2.90 GHz gives it a decisive edge in lightly threaded tasks, even though the Cinebench single-core scores show only a 1.8% gap. The 65 watt TDP versus 170 watts means significantly lower cooling requirements and operating costs. The 7 nm process allows the Ryzen to pack 3,800 million transistors into a 74 mm² die, versus the EPYC’s 4,800 million on 213 mm². For desktop users, the AM4 socket and Gen 4 PCIe with 24 CPU lanes provide modern connectivity that the EPYC’s Gen 3 interface lacks. The Ryzen’s higher base clock of 3.60 GHz also exceeds the EPYC’s boost clock, making it more responsive in everyday tasks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in every major specification category. The EPYC 7351 uses the Zen architecture on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 uses Zen 2 on a 7 nm process from TSMC. Core counts are 16 versus 8, threads are 32 versus 16. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, and boost clocks are 2.90 GHz versus 4.40 GHz. TDP ratings are 170 watts versus 65 watts. The EPYC uses Socket SP3; the Ryzen uses Socket AM4. Memory support is eight-channel DDR4 for the EPYC versus dual-channel DDR4 for the Ryzen, with bandwidths of 170.6 GB/s and 51.2 GB/s respectively. ECC memory is supported only on the EPYC. PCIe generation differs: Gen 3 for the EPYC, Gen 4 with 24 CPU lanes for the Ryzen. L1 cache is 96 KB per core on the EPYC versus 64 KB per core on the Ryzen; L2 is identical at 512 KB per core; L3 is 64 MB shared versus 32 MB. Transistor counts are 4,800 million versus 3,800 million, and die sizes are 213 mm² versus 74 mm². Release dates are 2017-06-28 for the EPYC and 2019-09-29 for the Ryzen. The market segments are Server/Workstation versus Desktop. Both have unlocked multipliers.