AMD EPYC 7402 vs AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 and the AMD EPYC 7402 represent two distinct approaches to server and workstation processing, separated by a generation of architecture and aimed at different deployment scenarios. Benchmark data shows the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 winning every single head-to-head test, but the margins are remarkably thin. This analysis examines what those small deltas mean in practice, where each chip's underlying design gives it an edge, and which processor is the right choice for specific workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results paint a consistent picture: the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 wins all six tests, but by a uniform margin of just 1.4% in every case. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 scores 39,653 against the EPYC 7402's 39,110. That 543-point gap is the largest raw difference in the entire benchmark suite, yet it translates to a single-digit percentage lead. The single-core results tell the same story — the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 hits 5,598 in Cinebench R23 single-core while the EPYC 7402 manages 5,521, again a 1.4% advantage.

The pattern holds across older Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 posts 16,654 versus 16,426 for the EPYC 7402. The R15 multi-core scores are 3,996 and 3,942 respectively. Single-core results in R20 show 2,351 against 2,318, and R15 shows 564 against 556. There are no benchmark categories where the EPYC 7402 takes a win — the data shows six wins for the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 and zero for the EPYC 7402.

What matters here is the consistency of the delta. A 1.4% edge across every test suggests the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945's advantage comes from architectural efficiency rather than any single workload-specific feature. The average benchmark score confirms this — the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 sits at 11,469, while the EPYC 7402 averages 11,312. Both processors rank near each other globally: the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 sits in the 67th percentile of all CPUs, with the EPYC 7402 just behind at the 66th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental gap between these two processors is generational. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 uses Zen 4 architecture on a 5 nm process node from TSMC, with the codename Raphael. The EPYC 7402 uses Zen 2 on a 7 nm process node, codenamed Rome. That two-generation process shrink gives the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 a transistor density advantage despite having fewer total transistors — 13,140 million across a 2x 71 mm² die size versus 15,200 million across a 4x 74 mm² die.

Core counts are where the EPYC 7402 fights back. The EPYC 7402 doubles the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945's core and thread counts, offering 24 cores and 48 threads against 12 cores and 24 threads. The cache layout reflects this difference. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7402 also has 64 KB of L1 per core, but only 512 KB of L2 per core, and its L3 is organized differently — 32 MB per die with a total of 128 MB across the chip.

Clock speeds are dramatically different. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 runs at a 3.70 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.40 GHz. The EPYC 7402 has a 2.80 GHz base and a modest 3.35 GHz boost. This is the clearest explanation for the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945's single-core wins despite the EPYC 7402's higher core count. The power envelope tells a similar story: the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 has a 65 W TDP, while the EPYC 7402 draws 180 W.

Memory architecture is a major differentiator. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The EPYC 7402 uses DDR4 with an eight-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. Both support ECC memory, but the bandwidth advantage belongs squarely to the EPYC 7402. PCIe connectivity also diverges — the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes, while the EPYC 7402 offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes.

Where Each One Wins

Despite losing every benchmark, the EPYC 7402 has clear use cases where its design wins in practice. The eight-channel DDR4 memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth is built for memory-intensive server workloads that the dual-channel DDR5 bus of the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 cannot match. The 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes provide massive I/O expansion capability, far beyond the 24 Gen 5 lanes on the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945. For virtualization, large databases, or storage servers that need to move data across many devices simultaneously, the EPYC 7402's platform-level features are the deciding factor.

The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 wins on raw compute efficiency. Its 5.40 GHz boost clock and Zen 4 architecture deliver higher single-core performance, which shows in the Cinebench single-core results. The 65 W TDP makes it far easier to cool and power in a standard workstation chassis. It also includes integrated Radeon Graphics, which the EPYC 7402 lacks entirely — a useful feature for a workstation that needs display output without a discrete GPU. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 uses the AMD Socket AM5 platform, which is a mainstream workstation socket, whereas the EPYC 7402 requires Socket SP3 server motherboards.

The benchmark data shows the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 winning in every threaded test despite having half the cores of the EPYC 7402. This indicates that for workloads that fit within 12 cores and 24 threads, the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945's higher clock speeds and newer architecture deliver superior performance. The EPYC 7402's advantage would only appear in workloads that scale beyond 24 threads, where its 48 threads can be fully utilized.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet shows the two processors diverge on nearly every major parameter. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 has 12 cores and 24 threads; the EPYC 7402 has 24 cores and 48 threads. Base clocks are 3.70 GHz versus 2.80 GHz, and boost clocks are 5.40 GHz versus 3.35 GHz. TDP is 65 W versus 180 W.

Cache configurations differ in both L2 and L3. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 has 1 MB of L2 per core, while the EPYC 7402 has 512 KB per core. L3 is 64 MB shared for the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945, while the EPYC 7402 has 32 MB per die for a total of 128 MB. Memory support is DDR5 dual-channel for the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 and DDR4 eight-channel for the EPYC 7402. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s versus 204.8 GB/s.

The process node differs (5 nm versus 7 nm), as does the die layout (2x 71 mm² versus 4x 74 mm²). Transistor counts are 13,140 million versus 15,200 million. PCIe support is Gen 5 with 24 lanes versus Gen 4 with 128 lanes. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 has integrated Radeon Graphics; the EPYC 7402 has no integrated graphics. Sockets are AM5 versus SP3. The EPYC 7402 has a launch MSRP of $1783; the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 has no listed launch MSRP. Release dates are June 2023 for the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 and August 2019 for the EPYC 7402.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 wins every single-core Cinebench test. In R23 single-core it scores 5,598 versus 5,521 for the EPYC 7402, a 1.4% advantage. The same 1.4% delta appears in R20 (2,351 versus 2,318) and R15 (564 versus 556).

Q: Does the EPYC 7402's higher core count translate to better multi-core benchmarks?

A: No. Despite having 24 cores and 48 threads versus 12 cores and 24 threads, the EPYC 7402 loses all three multi-core Cinebench tests. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 scores 39,653 in R23 multi-core versus 39,110 for the EPYC 7402, also a 1.4% margin.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The EPYC 7402 has a significant bandwidth advantage with 204.8 GB/s over an eight-channel DDR4 bus. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 has 83.2 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 bus. Both support ECC memory.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 has a 65 W TDP, while the EPYC 7402 has a 180 W TDP. This is a substantial difference in cooling and power delivery requirements.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The EPYC 7402 has 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, far more than the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945's 24 Gen 5 lanes. The EPYC 7402 is designed for high I/O expansion.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 includes Radeon Graphics, while the EPYC 7402 has no integrated graphics and requires a discrete GPU for display output.

The Verdict

The data is clear on compute performance: the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 wins every single benchmark, but the margins are so small that they should not be the deciding factor. A 1.4% difference in Cinebench scores is within run-to-run variance for many workloads. The real decision comes down to platform-level capabilities.

Choose the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 if you need a workstation processor with high clock speeds, low power draw, and modern architecture. Its 5.40 GHz boost clock, 65 W TDP, and DDR5 memory support make it suitable for single-socket workstations running compute-heavy tasks that fit within 12 cores. The integrated Radeon Graphics removes the need for a separate GPU in basic display configurations. Its 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes provide modern connectivity for current-generation expansion cards.

Choose the EPYC 7402 if your workload demands massive memory bandwidth, extensive I/O, or thread counts beyond 24. Its 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth over eight DDR4 channels and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes make it a better fit for data-heavy server applications. The 48 threads give it headroom for highly parallel workloads that the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945's 24 threads cannot match, even if the benchmark suite here does not show that advantage. The 180 W TDP and SP3 socket indicate a server-class platform designed for sustained heavy loads.

The benchmark results show the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 as the faster processor in Cinebench, but the EPYC 7402's strengths lie in areas that Cinebench does not measure. For a general-purpose workstation, the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is the better all-rounder. For a dedicated server with high memory and I/O demands, the EPYC 7402's platform features outweigh its small benchmark deficit.