AMD EPYC 7371 vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX and AMD EPYC 7371 are both server/workstation processors from AMD, but they target different tiers of performance and platform requirements. The data shows a consistent pattern across every benchmark: the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with a uniform performance advantage of roughly 8.8% in multi-core tests and a slightly narrower margin in single-core tests. The EPYC 7371, while having more cores (16 vs 12), consistently trails in every measured workload, which indicates that architectural efficiency and clock speed play a decisive role in these results.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking observation is the uniformity of the performance gap across the entire Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX scores 2869 against the EPYC 7371's 2637, a delta of 8.8%. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story: 404 versus 372, a delta of 8.6%. This consistency suggests that the advantage is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental characteristic of the two designs.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds perfectly. The multi-core result is 11956 for the Threadripper PRO versus 10988 for the EPYC, again an 8.8% delta. Single-core R20 shows 1687 against 1551, with the same 8.8% margin. The R23 results continue the trend: 28469 versus 26164 in multi-core and 4019 versus 3693 in single-core, both with 8.8% deltas. Across all six benchmarks, the Threadripper PRO's smallest winning margin is 8.6% (R15 single-core), and its largest is 8.8% — a remarkably narrow band of performance differences.

The average benchmark scores place the two processors very close in overall standing. The Threadripper PRO has an average score of 7741, while the EPYC 7371 sits at 7568. This translates to a 64th percentile ranking versus a 63rd percentile among all CPUs. In the nearest rival comparisons, the Threadripper PRO is 2.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX and 2.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-6500, while trailing the Intel Core i9-10980XE by 2.1%. The EPYC 7371 is essentially tied with the Intel Core i5-6500 (0% delta), 0.1% behind the Threadripper 2990WX, and 0.5% behind the Intel Core i5-4590, while leading the Intel Core i5-7400 by 1.3%.

Geekbench results are only available for the Threadripper PRO, which scores 10854 in multi-core and 1668 in single-core. No Geekbench scores are listed for the EPYC 7371, so a direct comparison in that test is not possible from the data. The consistent 8.8% multi-core advantage is particularly notable because the EPYC 7371 has 33% more physical cores (16 vs 12) and 33% more threads (32 vs 24). Despite this core-count deficit, the Threadripper PRO still wins by nearly nine percentage points, which indicates that its per-core performance is substantially higher.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX has a base clock of 4.00 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 7371 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz. The Threadripper PRO also boosts higher at 4.30 GHz versus 3.80 GHz.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of process node?

A: The Threadripper PRO is manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC, while the EPYC 7371 uses a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries. The Threadripper PRO also has a much larger transistor count at 7,600 million versus 4,800 million for the EPYC.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX and the AMD EPYC 7371 support ECC memory. Both also support DDR4 memory with an eight-channel memory bus, though the memory bandwidth differs: 204.8 GB/s for the Threadripper PRO versus 170.6 GB/s for the EPYC.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Threadripper PRO has a TDP of 280 W, while the EPYC 7371 has a TDP of 170 W. The EPYC 7371 draws less power despite having more cores, which reflects its lower clock speeds and older architecture.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Threadripper PRO scores 4019 in Cinebench R23 single-core, compared to 3693 for the EPYC 7371. This is a delta of 8.8% in favor of the Threadripper PRO.

Q: Are the sockets different between the two processors?

A: Yes, the Threadripper PRO uses AMD Socket WRX8, while the EPYC 7371 uses AMD Socket SP3. They are not interchangeable between platforms.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX wins in every benchmark category where both processors have data. In multi-core workloads, it leads by 8.8% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. In single-core workloads, it leads by 8.6% in R15 and 8.8% in both R20 and R23. This means that for any task that relies on CPU compute — whether heavily threaded rendering, lightly threaded applications, or mixed workloads — the Threadripper PRO is the faster chip.

The AMD EPYC 7371 does not win any of the six head-to-head benchmarks. However, it does have advantages in other areas that are not reflected in compute scores. It has a higher core count (16 vs 12) and thread count (32 vs 24), which could matter in scenarios where raw core count is a requirement rather than a performance metric. The EPYC 7371 also has a lower TDP of 170 W versus 280 W, which means it generates less heat and may be easier to cool in dense server environments. Its socket, AMD Socket SP3, is designed for the EPYC platform, which may offer different platform-level features compared to the WRX8 socket used by the Threadripper PRO.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The Threadripper PRO has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the EPYC 7371 has 16 cores and 32 threads. Clock speeds are higher on the Threadripper PRO: 4.00 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost, versus 3.10 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost on the EPYC. TDP also differs significantly: 280 W for the Threadripper PRO, 170 W for the EPYC.

The sockets are different (WRX8 vs SP3), as are the PCIe capabilities. The Threadripper PRO supports PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the EPYC 7371 supports PCIe Gen 3 with no lane count specified. Memory bandwidth is higher on the Threadripper PRO at 204.8 GB/s versus 170.6 GB/s for the EPYC. The multiplier is locked on the Threadripper PRO but unlocked on the EPYC 7371. Release dates are also different: the Threadripper PRO launched on 2020-07-13, while the EPYC 7371 launched on 2018-11-15.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial. The Threadripper PRO is built on the Zen 2 architecture (codename Castle Peak) using a 7 nm process from TSMC. The EPYC 7371 uses the original Zen architecture (codename Naples) on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries. This process difference explains much of the performance gap: the smaller 7 nm node allows higher clock speeds and better power efficiency per transistor.

The Threadripper PRO has 7,600 million transistors on a die size of 2x 74 mm², while the EPYC 7371 has 4,800 million transistors on a single 213 mm² die. Cache configurations also differ: the Threadripper PRO has 64 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core, with 64 MB total L3 cache. The EPYC 7371 has 96 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core, with 64 MB shared L3. The larger L1 cache on the EPYC is notable, but it does not compensate for other architectural disadvantages.

The memory subsystem is another differentiator. Both support eight-channel DDR4 and ECC, but the Threadripper PRO achieves 204.8 GB/s bandwidth versus 170.6 GB/s for the EPYC. The Threadripper PRO also has the advantage of PCIe Gen 4 support with 128 lanes, which is a full generation ahead of the EPYC's PCIe Gen 3. The EPYC 7371 does have an unlocked multiplier, which allows for overclocking, whereas the Threadripper PRO is locked.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the faster processor in every benchmark where both are tested. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons with margins between 8.6% and 8.8%. For anyone prioritizing raw compute performance in Cinebench workloads — whether single-core or multi-core — the Threadripper PRO is the clear choice, despite having fewer cores than the EPYC 7371.

The AMD EPYC 7371 is not without merits, but those merits lie outside the benchmark results. It has 16 cores and 32 threads, which is more than the Threadripper PRO, and it has a lower TDP of 170 W, which can be a significant advantage in power-constrained server deployments. The EPYC's unlocked multiplier also offers overclocking flexibility that the Threadripper PRO lacks. For users who need maximum core count per socket or who require lower power draw in a server chassis, the EPYC 7371 may be the more appropriate part.

However, for workloads that are bound by CPU execution speed, the Threadripper PRO's 8.8% lead in multi-core and 8.8% lead in single-core is decisive. Its newer Zen 2 architecture, 7 nm process, higher clock speeds, and greater memory bandwidth all contribute to a processor that outperforms the older Zen-based EPYC in every measured metric. The percentile rankings reflect this: 64th versus 63rd, which is close overall, but the head-to-head results show a consistent and meaningful advantage for the Threadripper PRO. Ultimately, the choice comes down to whether the EPYC's higher core count and lower power draw matter more than the Threadripper PRO's clear performance superiority. Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Threadripper PRO wins.