AMD EPYC 7402 vs AMD Ryzen 5 3500U Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7402 and AMD Ryzen 5 3500U are at opposite ends of AMD’s product stack, and the benchmark data reflects that chasm. The EPYC 7402 is a server/workstation processor with 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3500U is a mobile chip with 4 cores and 8 threads. The data shows a total mismatch in raw compute capability, but the two chips serve entirely different physical and thermal contexts. The EPYC 7402 is for multi-socket server racks and heavy virtualization; the Ryzen 5 3500U is for thin-and-light laptops where efficiency and an integrated GPU matter more than peak throughput.

The Verdict

The AMD EPYC 7402 is the only choice if your workload scales with core count. Its 24 cores and 48 threads give it a 506.5% lead over the Ryzen 5 3500U in Cinebench R15 multi-core, and a 288.8% lead in R15 single-core. The EPYC 7402 also carries a 128 MB total L3 cache, eight-channel DDR4 memory with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes — all server-grade features that the Ryzen 5 3500U lacks entirely.

The Ryzen 5 3500U is the pick only if your priority is a low-power mobile processor with integrated graphics. It has a 15 W TDP versus the EPYC 7402’s 180 W TDP, and it includes Radeon Vega 8 graphics, which the EPYC 7402 does not have. The data shows the Ryzen 5 3500U’s benchmark scores are far lower, but its entire purpose is different: it fits in a laptop socket (FP5) and runs on battery power. The EPYC 7402 requires Socket SP3 and a server motherboard.

If you are building a workstation that will render, compile, or run databases, the EPYC 7402 is the only viable option. If you are selecting a processor for a portable notebook, the Ryzen 5 3500U is the only one that physically fits the form factor. There is no overlap in use cases.

Architecture Differences

The two chips are built on different microarchitectures and process nodes. The EPYC 7402 uses Zen 2 architecture on TSMC’s 7 nm process, with a codename of Rome. The Ryzen 5 3500U uses Zen+ on GlobalFoundries’ 12 nm process, with a codename of Picasso. The EPYC 7402 has 15,200 million transistors spread across four dies of 74 mm² each; the Ryzen 5 3500U has 4,940 million transistors on a single 210 mm² die.

Cache layouts are fundamentally different. The EPYC 7402 has 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 32 MB of L3 per die and 128 MB total L3. The Ryzen 5 3500U has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7402’s massive L3 is a direct result of its multi-die design, whereas the Ryzen 5 3500U’s single-die layout is much simpler.

Memory support also diverges. The EPYC 7402 supports DDR4 with an eight-channel memory bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC memory. The Ryzen 5 3500U supports DDR4 on a dual-channel bus, has no listed memory bandwidth figure, and does not support ECC. PCIe connectivity differs: the EPYC 7402 has Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen 5 3500U has Gen 3 without a lane count listed.

The EPYC 7402 has no integrated graphics. The Ryzen 5 3500U includes Radeon Vega 8. The EPYC 7402 was released on 2019-08-06 with a launch MSRP of $1783; the Ryzen 5 3500U was released on 2019-01-05 with no listed launch MSRP. Both are marked as Active in production.

FAQ

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

A: The EPYC 7402 wins in Cinebench R15 single-core with a score of 556 versus the Ryzen 5 3500U’s 143, a 288.8% difference.

Q: How much faster is the EPYC 7402 in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7402 scores 3942 versus 650 for the Ryzen 5 3500U, which is a 506.5% advantage.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 3500U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Radeon Vega 8. The EPYC 7402 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The EPYC 7402 has a 180 W TDP, while the Ryzen 5 3500U has a 15 W TDP.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The EPYC 7402 supports ECC memory. The Ryzen 5 3500U does not.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: Yes, both are listed as Active production status.

Specification Differences

The key differences are in core count, clock speeds, and platform features. The EPYC 7402 has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3500U has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clock is 2.80 GHz for the EPYC 7402 versus 2.10 GHz for the Ryzen 5 3500U. Boost clock is 3.35 GHz for the EPYC 7402 versus 3.70 GHz for the Ryzen 5 3500U — the mobile chip actually boosts higher, though its base is much lower.

The EPYC 7402 uses AMD Socket SP3, while the Ryzen 5 3500U uses AMD Socket FP5. The EPYC 7402 is a 7 nm part from TSMC; the Ryzen 5 3500U is a 12 nm part from GlobalFoundries. Transistor count is 15,200 million versus 4,940 million. Die size is 4x 74 mm² versus 210 mm².

Memory bus width differs: eight-channel for the EPYC 7402, dual-channel for the Ryzen 5 3500U. The EPYC 7402 lists 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth; the Ryzen 5 3500U has no bandwidth figure. PCIe generation is Gen 4 with 128 lanes for the EPYC 7402, versus Gen 3 for the Ryzen 5 3500U with no lane count listed. The EPYC 7402 supports ECC; the Ryzen 5 3500U does not. The EPYC 7402 has no integrated graphics; the Ryzen 5 3500U has Radeon Vega 8. Market segment is Server/Workstation for the EPYC 7402 and Mobile for the Ryzen 5 3500U. The EPYC 7402 has a launch MSRP of $1783; the Ryzen 5 3500U has no launch MSRP listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is limited to two Cinebench R15 tests, and the EPYC 7402 wins both decisively. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7402 scores 3942 against the Ryzen 5 3500U’s 650, a 506.5% delta. That is not a marginal win; it is a six-fold difference in raw multi-threaded performance. The Ryzen 5 3500U’s score is in the range of a low-end mobile part, while the EPYC 7402’s score reflects its 24-core/48-thread configuration.

In Cinebench R15 single-core, the EPYC 7402 scores 556 versus 143 for the Ryzen 5 3500U, a 288.8% delta. This is notable because the Ryzen 5 3500U has a higher boost clock (3.70 GHz versus 3.35 GHz), yet it still loses by nearly three to one. The Zen 2 architecture of the EPYC 7402, with its newer process node and larger cache, overcomes the clock disadvantage.

The broader benchmark database paints a similar picture. The EPYC 7402’s average benchmark score is 11312, with a percentile rank of 66 among all CPUs. The Ryzen 5 3500U’s average benchmark score is 11176, also with a percentile rank of 66. Despite the massive Cinebench delta, both chips sit in the same percentile band because the Ryzen 5 3500U has additional tests (Geekbench, PassMark) that pull its average up, while the EPYC 7402 is only tested in Cinebench R15 and R20/R23 variants.

The nearest rivals for the EPYC 7402 include the AMD EPYC 73F3 (avg score 11334, delta -0.2%), Intel Core i5-1145G7 (avg score 11279, delta 0.3%), and AMD EPYC 7452 (avg score 11279, delta 0.3%). The Ryzen 5 3500U’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Gold 6336Y (avg score 11191, delta -0.1%), Intel Core i3-1305U (avg score 11200, delta -0.2%), and AMD EPYC 7542 (avg score 11152, delta 0.2%). These comparisons show that both chips are in the same overall performance bracket when averaged across all benchmarks, despite the EPYC 7402’s overwhelming lead in the Cinebench tests where they overlap.

Where Each One Wins

The EPYC 7402 wins in every benchmark category where both chips have data. In Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core, it is ahead by 506.5% and 288.8%, respectively. The EPYC 7402 also wins on platform features: it has eight-channel memory, 128 MB total L3 cache, 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and ECC support. For server workloads — virtualization, database hosting, compile farms, and heavy multi-threaded rendering — the EPYC 7402 is the clear winner. Its 24 cores and 48 threads provide massive parallel throughput, and its 180 W TDP is appropriate for a socketed server processor.

The Ryzen 5 3500U wins in the mobile domain. It has a 15 W TDP, which is one-twelfth of the EPYC 7402’s 180 W TDP. It includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics, which the EPYC 7402 lacks. It fits in Socket FP5, enabling thin-and-light notebook designs. Its boost clock is higher at 3.70 GHz versus 3.35 GHz, which helps in short single-threaded bursts. The Ryzen 5 3500U’s benchmark scores are lower, but its entire point is power efficiency and portability. The data shows no scenario where the Ryzen 5 3500U outperforms the EPYC 7402 in raw compute, but the Ryzen 5 3500U is the only one of the two that can operate in a laptop chassis without active liquid cooling.

In terms of benchmark wins, the head-to-head table shows 2 wins for the EPYC 7402 and 0 for the Ryzen 5 3500U. That is the complete picture: the EPYC 7402 dominates every shared test, while the Ryzen 5 3500U’s advantages are in form factor, power draw, and integrated graphics — none of which appear in the benchmark data. Choose the EPYC 7402 for any compute-heavy task. Choose the Ryzen 5 3500U only if you need a low-power mobile processor with built-in graphics.