AMD EPYC 7402 vs Intel Core i7-4790K Comparison

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7402 completely dominates the Intel Core i7-4790K across every single test recorded in the database, winning all six head-to-head comparisons. The Intel part, a 2014-era desktop processor, cannot compete with a modern 24-core server chip in any metric — yet the i7-4790K still holds a specific, narrow relevance in the desktop landscape due to its single-threaded efficiency and legacy platform status.

Where Each One Wins

There is no benchmark category where the Intel Core i7-4790K comes out ahead; the data shows the AMD EPYC 7402 winning 6 out of 6 head-to-head tests. That said, the nature of the wins differs significantly. The EPYC 7402's victories are absolute and massive — it is roughly 82.5% faster than the i7-4790K in every Cinebench test, whether single-core or multi-core. This reveals that the EPYC 7402 is not merely a multi-threaded brute; it also outperforms the older Intel chip in single-threaded workloads by the same margin.

The i7-4790K's role is defined by what it is, not by winning. With a 67th percentile ranking against all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 11,745, it sits in a similar overall performance tier to the EPYC 7402 (66th percentile, 11,312 average). This is remarkable given the latter's 24 cores and 48 threads. The Intel chip's wins are implicit: it achieves comparable aggregate performance with a fraction of the core count, an 88W TDP versus 180W, and a desktop socket. For legacy applications, older operating systems, or builds requiring integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), the i7-4790K remains a functional choice — but it wins no speed contests.

The EPYC 7402's wins are the entire story. It wins in raw throughput, in memory bandwidth, in PCIe lane count, and in every Cinebench iteration from R15 to R23. Its 39,110 score in Cinebench R23 multi-core is over 5.7 times the i7-4790K's 6,855. Even in single-core R23, the EPYC's 5,521 dwarfs the Intel's 967, indicating a generational leap in per-thread performance that renders the older chip's high 4.40 GHz boost clock irrelevant.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is generational and fundamental. The Intel Core i7-4790K is built on Intel's 22 nm process with a die size of 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors, using the Haswell architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, with 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, plus 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR3 on a dual-channel bus, providing 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth. It is a desktop part with a Gen 3 PCIe interface limited to 16 lanes from the CPU.

The AMD EPYC 7402 is a fundamentally different beast. It uses TSMC's 7 nm process, with a staggering 15,200 million transistors spread across four dies, each 74 mm². Its Zen 2 architecture offers 24 cores and 48 threads, with the same 64 KB L1 per core but double the L2 (512 KB per core) and 32 MB of L3 per die, totaling 128 MB. Memory support is DDR4 over an eight-channel bus, yielding 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth — exactly eight times the Intel part. It supports ECC memory, which the i7-4790K does not. The EPYC also brings Gen 4 PCIe with 128 lanes from the CPU, a server-class feature set.

The i7-4790K has an unlocked multiplier and integrated graphics, while the EPYC 7402 has no iGPU and a locked multiplier. Production status differs: the Intel chip is end-of-life, released in 2014, while the AMD part is active, released in 2019. The sockets are incompatible (Intel Socket 1150 vs AMD Socket SP3), cementing their different market segments: Desktop versus Server/Workstation.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are lopsided to an extreme degree. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7402 scores 3,942 against the i7-4790K's 690, a delta of -82.5% for the Intel part. The single-core R15 test tells the same story: 556 for AMD versus 97 for Intel, again -82.5%. Moving to R20, the EPYC's multi-core score of 16,426 crushes the i7's 2,879 (-82.5%), and single-core R20 shows 2,318 versus 406 (-82.5%).

The R23 results are the most telling. In multi-core, the EPYC 7402 hits 39,110 while the i7-4790K manages only 6,855 — a 5.7x gap. Single-core R23 shows 5,521 for AMD versus 967 for Intel, a 5.7x difference as well. This consistency across all six tests — every single delta is exactly -82.5% — indicates that the EPYC 7402's advantage is not workload-specific but rather a uniform architectural superiority. The older Intel chip is not just slower in multi-threaded tasks; it is equally slower in single-threaded tasks, meaning the 4.40 GHz boost clock offers no real per-core advantage over the EPYC's 3.35 GHz boost.

It is importantly the i7-4790K has benchmark scores in other areas not covered by the head-to-head list. For example, its PassMark multi-thread score is 8,062, its integer math score is 29,163, and its floating point math score is 14,597. Its single-thread PassMark score is 2,466. The EPYC 7402 does not have corresponding PassMark entries in this data pack, so no direct comparison is possible for those specific tests.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-4790K | AMD EPYC 7402 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 24 |

| Threads | 8 | 48 |

| Base Clock | 4.00 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 3.35 GHz |

| TDP | 88 W | 180 W |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 7 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 15,200 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 4x 74 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 128 MB (total) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

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

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

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 128 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

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

| Release Date | 2014-04-30 | 2019-08-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $350 | $1783 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

The table highlights that the EPYC 7402 is a massive leap forward in nearly every physical and logical specification. The only areas where the i7-4790K leads are base clock (4.00 vs 2.80 GHz), boost clock (4.40 vs 3.35 GHz), TDP (88 vs 180 W), and the presence of an unlocked multiplier and integrated graphics. The EPYC counters with 6x the cores, 6x the threads, 8x the memory bandwidth, 8x the PCIe lanes, and 16x the L3 cache.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD EPYC 7402 faster than the Intel Core i7-4790K in single-core performance?

A: Yes, overwhelmingly. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC 7402 scores 5,521 versus 967 for the i7-4790K, a margin of -82.5% for the Intel part.

Q: Can the Intel Core i7-4790K be used in a server motherboard?

A: No. It uses Intel Socket 1150 and targets the Desktop segment, while the EPYC 7402 uses AMD Socket SP3 and targets Server/Workstation.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD EPYC 7402 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-4790K does not.

Q: How much faster is the EPYC 7402 in multi-threaded rendering?

A: In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7402 scores 3,942 versus 690 for the i7-4790K. In R20 multi-core, it is 16,426 versus 2,879. In R23 multi-core, it is 39,110 versus 6,855.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-4790K have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel HD 4600. The AMD EPYC 7402 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The EPYC 7402 provides 204.8 GB/s over an eight-channel DDR4 bus, while the i7-4790K offers 25.6 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR3 bus.

The Verdict

The data dictates a clear choice for any workload that can utilize multiple cores: the AMD EPYC 7402 is categorically superior. Its 24 cores and 48 threads produce Cinebench R23 multi-core scores that are 5.7 times higher than the i7-4790K, and its single-core performance is equally dominant. The EPYC 7402 is the only rational option for server, workstation, or heavy compute environments where the 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth, and ECC support are non-negotiable.

The Intel Core i7-4790K has no competitive standing in this comparison. It is outclassed in every benchmark metric, and its architectural age shows in every category. Its only advantages are a lower TDP (88W vs 180W), an unlocked multiplier, and integrated graphics — features that matter for desktop enthusiasts building legacy systems, not for performance-critical applications.

For a buyer choosing between these two, the verdict is simple: if the workload is anything beyond basic desktop tasks, the EPYC 7402 wins without qualification. If the requirement is a low-power, overclockable desktop chip with iGPU support, the i7-4790K has a niche — but it is a niche defined by absence of alternatives, not by performance. The EPYC 7402 is the superior processor in every measurable way, and the benchmark data provides no reason to choose the Intel part for any performance-oriented task.