AMD EPYC 73F3 vs Intel Core i7-4790 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD EPYC 73F3 scores 39,187 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 535% higher than the Intel Core i7-4790's 6,171. This is the largest percentage advantage recorded in the head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: Are there any benchmark categories where the Intel Core i7-4790 wins?

A: No. The head-to-head benchmark data shows 6 wins for the AMD EPYC 73F3 and 0 wins for the Intel Core i7-4790 across all tested Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 workloads.

Q: How do their single-core scores compare?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC 73F3 scores 5,532 versus the i7-4790's 871, a 535.1% advantage. The smallest single-core delta is in Cinebench R15, where the EPYC leads by 540.2%.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: The EPYC 73F3 uses DDR4 memory with an eight-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-4790 uses DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, while the i7 does not.

Q: What are the production statuses of these chips?

A: The AMD EPYC 73F3 is listed as Active production, while the Intel Core i7-4790 is End-of-life.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores and percentiles compare?

A: The EPYC 73F3 has an average benchmark score of 11,334 and sits at the 67th percentile among all CPUs. The i7-4790 has an average score of 10,556 and sits at the 66th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 73F3 and Intel Core i7-4790 represent two very different eras and design philosophies. The EPYC 73F3 is built on TSMC's 7 nm process, while the i7-4790 uses Intel's 22 nm process. This process gap is reflected in transistor counts: the EPYC packs 33,200 million transistors across a multi-die design of 8x 81 mm², whereas the i7-4790 contains 1,400 million transistors on a single 177 mm² die.

The core configuration differs dramatically. The EPYC 73F3 offers 16 cores and 32 threads based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan. The i7-4790 is a 4-core, 8-thread Haswell design. Both have the same 4.00 GHz boost clock, but the base clocks differ slightly: 3.50 GHz for the EPYC and 3.60 GHz for the i7. The EPYC carries a 240 W TDP compared to the i7's 84 W TDP.

Cache hierarchies reflect their divergent roles. The EPYC 73F3 has 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus a massive 256 MB shared L3 cache. The i7-4790 also has 64 KB L1 per core but only 256 KB L2 per core and 8 MB shared L3. The EPYC's L3 cache is 32 times larger in aggregate.

Platform support further separates them. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3 with PCIe Gen 4 and 128 lanes (CPU only). The i7-4790 uses Intel Socket 1150 with PCIe Gen 3 and 16 lanes. The EPYC targets the server/workstation segment with eight-channel DDR4 memory and ECC support, while the i7 is a desktop part with dual-channel DDR3 and no ECC. The i7 includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics; the EPYC has no integrated graphics. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 73F3 wins every recorded comparison by a wide margin. The head-to-head data covers six Cinebench tests, and the EPYC leads by at least 535% in every case.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 73F3 scores 3,949 against the i7-4790's 621, a 535.9% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: 557 versus 87, a 540.2% lead. These are the largest percentage deltas in the entire comparison.

Cinebench R20 results follow the same pattern. The EPYC scores 16,458 in multi-core versus 2,591 for the i7, a 535.2% difference. In single-core R20, the EPYC scores 2,323 versus 365, a 536.4% lead.

Cinebench R23, the most demanding workload in the set, shows the EPYC at 39,187 multi-core versus 6,171 for the i7, a 535% advantage. The single-core R23 test shows 5,532 versus 871, a 535.1% lead.

What is notable is the consistency of the margin. Across all six tests, the delta percentage stays within a narrow band of 535% to 540.2%. The EPYC's advantage is not workload-dependent; it dominates both multi-threaded and single-threaded rendering tasks by essentially the same factor. This suggests the Zen 3 architecture's per-core efficiency combined with the sheer core count produces a uniform performance uplift over the older Haswell design.

Looking at average benchmark scores, the EPYC 73F3 averages 11,334, which places it 0.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7402 (11,312), 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i5-1145G7 (11,279), 0.5% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7452 (11,279), and 1.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-1305U (11,200). The i7-4790 averages 10,556, which is 0.1% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7D12 (10,547), 0.4% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7502P (10,512), 1.8% ahead of the Intel Xeon W-3175X (10,369), and 2% ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 6338N (10,347). Both processors sit near the 66th to 67th percentile of all CPUs, indicating that despite the massive Cinebench gap, their broader benchmark averages are closer than the head-to-head results suggest.

The i7-4790 has additional PassMark and Geekbench entries in its record. Its Geekbench multi-core score is 3,927 and single-core is 1,164. PassMark results include 109,623 in data compression, 2,035 in data encryption, 6,835 in extended instructions, 32 in find prime numbers, 13,104 in floating point math, 26,129 in integer math, 7,264 in multithread, 498 in physics, 14,790 in random string sorting, and 2,228 in single thread. These numbers provide context for the i7's capabilities but do not change the head-to-head outcome.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear separation of use cases. The AMD EPYC 73F3 is a server/workstation processor designed for heavily threaded, memory-bandwidth-intensive workloads. Its 16 cores, 32 threads, 256 MB L3 cache, eight-channel DDR4, and 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth align with enterprise computing demands. The benchmark results show it outperforms the i7-4790 by over 535% in every Cinebench test, making it the obvious choice for anyone running render farms, virtualization, or data-center applications where such throughput matters.

The Intel Core i7-4790, despite its age and End-of-life status, still holds a place in legacy desktop systems. Its 84 W TDP and integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics make it a low-power option for basic desktop tasks, and its 66th percentile standing among all CPUs shows it remains functional for its segment. However, its 4 cores, 8 threads, dual-channel DDR3, and 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth place it far behind the EPYC in every recorded metric.

For buyers choosing between these two today, the decision hinges entirely on workload and platform. The EPYC 73F3 is the only sensible pick for new server deployments or workstation builds requiring maximum multi-threaded performance. The i7-4790 is only relevant for those maintaining existing Socket 1150 systems or seeking a low-cost, low-power desktop processor with integrated graphics. The benchmark data offers no scenario where the i7-4790 wins a performance comparison.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 73F3 | Intel Core i7-4790 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 16 | 4 |

| Threads | 32 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 240 W | 84 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP3 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Haswell |

| Codename | Milan | Haswell |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 33,200 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 8x 81 mm² | 177 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 256 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 204.8 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 128 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Intel HD 4600 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2021-03-14 | 2014-04-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $3521 | $312 |

| Part Number | 100-000000321100-100000321WOF | SR1QF |

Both processors share a 4.00 GHz boost clock, 64 KB L1 cache per core, unlocked multiplier status (both locked), and lack of 3D V-Cache. The EPYC 73F3's launch MSRP was $3521, while the i7-4790's was $312.