AMD EPYC 7402 vs Intel Core i7-7700 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unambiguous picture: the AMD EPYC 7402 wins all six recorded head-to-head comparisons. The margin is consistent and substantial, with the EPYC 7402 outperforming the Intel Core i7-7700 by roughly 81% across every Cinebench test. This uniformity suggests a fundamental performance gap rather than workload-specific advantages.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC 7402 scores 3942 against 740 for the i7-7700, a delta of -81.2% from the Intel chip's perspective. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story: 556 versus 104, again with the EPYC 7402 ahead by the same delta. These are not marginal differences; the EPYC 7402 delivers well over five times the single-core score and more than five times the multicore score.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds precisely. The EPYC 7402 records 16426 in multicore, while the i7-7700 manages 3084. In single-core, the scores are 2318 and 435 respectively. The delta remains -81.2% in both cases, reinforcing that the performance ratio is remarkably stable across Cinebench versions.

Cinebench R23 confirms the trend with the largest absolute numbers. The EPYC 7402 scores 39110 in multicore, compared to 7344 for the i7-7700. The single-core test shows 5521 against 1036. Again, the delta is -81.2%. The consistency of this percentage across all six tests is striking; it indicates that the performance difference is largely scale-invariant, driven by architectural efficiency rather than test-specific quirks.

The i7-7700 holds no wins in this comparison. Its average benchmark score in the database is 11914, while the EPYC 7402 averages 11312. However, this aggregate metric includes a broader set of tests for the Intel chip, including Passmark workloads not recorded for the EPYC 7402. The head-to-head Cinebench results are the cleanest comparison, and they show a decisive EPYC 7402 advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-7700 uses the Kaby Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It is a desktop part with 4 cores and 8 threads, running at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The thermal design power is 65 watts. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 and supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing 38.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-7700 includes integrated HD 630 graphics, which the EPYC 7402 lacks entirely. Its PCIe support is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The AMD EPYC 7402 is a server and workstation part from the EPYC 7002 series, using the Zen 2 architecture with the codename Rome. It is manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC, with a transistor count of 15,200 million and a die size comprising four 74 mm² chiplets. It packs 24 cores and 48 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.35 GHz. The thermal design power is 180 watts, nearly three times that of the i7-7700. It uses the AMD Socket SP3 and supports DDR4 memory in an eight-channel configuration, delivering 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth, more than five times the i7-7700's throughput. ECC memory is supported, a feature absent on the Intel part. The EPYC 7402 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU, a massive expansion capability compared to the i7-7700's 16 lanes.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The EPYC 7402 has 64 KB of L1 per core, matching the i7-7700, but doubles the L2 to 512 KB per core. Its L3 cache is organized as 32 MB per die, totaling 128 MB across the chip, whereas the i7-7700 has a single 8 MB shared L3. The EPYC 7402's total L3 is sixteen times larger.

The release dates are separated by over two and a half years. The i7-7700 launched on 2017-01-02, while the EPYC 7402 arrived on 2019-08-06. The i7-7700 has a launch MSRP of none recorded in the database; the EPYC 7402 has a launch MSRP of $1783. Both parts are listed as Active in production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head data shows the EPYC 7402 winning every recorded benchmark, so the use-case split must be inferred from architectural characteristics rather than direct test results.

The EPYC 7402 is the clear choice for heavily threaded workloads. Its 24 cores and 48 threads, combined with 128 MB of L3 cache and eight-channel memory, make it suited for server virtualization, database processing, scientific computing, and any task that scales with core count. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 39110 versus 7344 demonstrates the massive throughput advantage. The 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth is critical for memory-bound applications, and ECC support adds reliability for long-running server workloads.

The i7-7700, despite losing every head-to-head test, has its niche in desktop and light-duty scenarios. Its 65-watt TDP means it consumes far less power than the EPYC 7402's 180 watts. The integrated HD 630 graphics provide display output without a discrete GPU, which the EPYC 7402 cannot offer. For single-threaded tasks, the i7-7700's higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz versus 3.35 GHz suggests better responsiveness in lightly threaded applications, even though the recorded Cinebench single-core scores favor the EPYC 7402. The i7-7700's smaller footprint and lower power draw make it practical for compact desktop builds.

The data does not favor the i7-7700 in any measured performance metric. Its advantage lies in platform characteristics: lower power, integrated graphics, and a simpler socket. For users building a basic desktop or a low-power media server, these factors matter. For anyone running multi-threaded applications, the EPYC 7402 is the only rational choice based on the benchmark results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD EPYC 7402 has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Intel Core i7-7700 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The EPYC 7402 scores 39110, while the i7-7700 scores 7344. The EPYC 7402 leads by 81.2% in every Cinebench test, including R23 multicore.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-7700 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes HD 630 integrated graphics. The AMD EPYC 7402 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What memory configurations do they support?

A: The i7-7700 supports dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC 7402 supports eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The EPYC 7402 uses a 7 nm process from TSMC, while the i7-7700 uses Intel's 14 nm process.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The i7-7700 has a TDP of 65 watts, and the EPYC 7402 has a TDP of 180 watts.

The Verdict

The benchmark database records six head-to-head comparisons, and the AMD EPYC 7402 wins all six by an identical 81.2% margin. There is no ambiguity in performance: the EPYC 7402 is categorically faster in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multicore modes.

The EPYC 7402's architecture is designed for scale. With 24 cores, 48 threads, 128 MB of L3 cache, eight-channel memory, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, it is built for server and workstation environments where parallel throughput and memory bandwidth dominate. The i7-7700, with 4 cores, 8 threads, 8 MB of L3 cache, dual-channel memory, and 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, is a desktop processor from an earlier generation.

The decision hinges on the workload and platform requirements. For any task that uses multiple cores, the EPYC 7402 is the superior choice, and the data confirms this decisively. The i7-7700's only advantages are qualitative: lower power consumption, integrated graphics, and a lower launch price (the EPYC 7402 has a launch MSRP of $1783, while the i7-7700 has no recorded MSRP). These factors matter for a desktop user who does not need server-level performance.

The percentile rankings place the i7-7700 at the 67th percentile of all CPUs and the EPYC 7402 at the 66th, despite the EPYC's massive head-to-head wins. This reflects the broader benchmark suite, which includes Passmark tests recorded only for the i7-7700. The nearest rivals for the i7-7700 include the AMD EPYC 7453 with a delta of 0%, the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X at -0.7%, and the Intel Xeon Bronze 3408U at -0.9%. The EPYC 7402's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 73F3 at -0.2%, the Intel Core i5-1145G7 at 0.3%, and the AMD EPYC 7452 at 0.3%. These comparisons show both chips sit in a competitive mid-range tier when averaged across all benchmarks.

In practical terms, the EPYC 7402 is the pick for server workloads, heavy virtualization, and professional rendering. The i7-7700 is the pick for a basic desktop where power draw and integrated graphics are priorities. The benchmark data does not support any other conclusion.