AMD EPYC 7402P vs Intel Core i7-7700HQ Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7402P and Intel Core i7-7700HQ occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, yet benchmark aggregation places them within a hair of each other. The EPYC 7402P, a 24-core server processor, posts an average benchmark score of 9529, while the i7-7700HQ, a 4-core mobile chip, scores 9493. That is a delta of just 0.4% in favor of the AMD part. However, this statistical near-tie masks a massive divergence in how each processor tackles workloads. The data shows that the EPYC 7402P wins all eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but the i7-7700HQ has its own unique strengths in mobile-specific tests that are not part of the direct comparison.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD EPYC 7402P has a marginally higher average benchmark score of 9529, compared to the Intel Core i7-7700HQ's 9493. The difference is only 0.4%, placing both processors in the 65th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How much faster is the EPYC 7402P in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The EPYC 7402P scores 37195 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the i7-7700HQ scores 5852. This represents a 535.6% advantage for the AMD processor, a difference driven by its 24 cores versus the Intel chip's 4 cores.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-7700HQ competitive in single-core performance?

A: Not against the EPYC 7402P. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 5251 versus the i7-7700HQ's 826, a 535.7% lead for AMD. In Geekbench single-core, the gap narrows to 11.3% (1204 vs 1082), but the AMD part still wins.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The EPYC 7402P supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a total bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The i7-7700HQ is limited to dual-channel memory, with no specific bandwidth figure listed in the data. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, which the Intel mobile chip does not.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process node?

A: The AMD EPYC 7402P is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel Core i7-7700HQ uses Intel's 14 nm process. The EPYC also has a smaller die size at 74 mm² versus 126 mm² for the Intel part.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD EPYC 7402P has an active production status, while the Intel Core i7-7700HQ is listed as end-of-life. The AMD part was released later, on 2019-08-06, versus the Intel chip's release on 2017-01-02.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide here is generational and fundamental. The EPYC 7402P uses AMD's Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The i7-7700HQ uses Intel's older Kaby Lake-H architecture, built on a 14 nm process. The EPYC packs 3,800 million transistors into a 74 mm² die, while the Intel chip uses a larger 126 mm² die with no listed transistor count.

Core counts are the primary differentiator. The EPYC 7402P provides 24 physical cores and 48 threads, versus 4 cores and 8 threads for the i7-7700HQ. Cache hierarchies scale accordingly. The AMD part offers 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus a massive 128 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with only 6 MB of shared L3 cache. This 128 MB versus 6 MB L3 disparity is crucial for workloads with large working sets.

Memory architecture further separates them. The EPYC 7402P uses an eight-channel DDR4 memory bus with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth and full ECC support. The i7-7700HQ uses a dual-channel bus supporting DDR3 and DDR4, lacks ECC, and has no listed bandwidth figure. PCIe connectivity also differs: the EPYC provides 128 Gen 4 lanes, while the Intel chip offers 16 Gen 3 lanes. The i7-7700HQ includes integrated Intel HD Graphics 630, whereas the EPYC has no integrated graphics. TDP tells the power story: 180 watts for the EPYC versus 45 watts for the mobile Intel part.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark record is unambiguous: the EPYC 7402P wins every single head-to-head test. That does not mean the i7-7700HQ is without purpose, but its advantages are not visible in the direct comparison. The EPYC 7402P dominates in all multi-core and single-core Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23) and in both Geekbench tests. The largest wins come in multi-core workloads, where the EPYC's 24 cores overwhelm the i7's 4 cores.

The i7-7700HQ's strengths are found in its mobile design parameters, not in raw performance. It has a 45 W TDP versus 180 W, making it suitable for laptops where power and cooling are constrained. It includes integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. The i7-7700HQ also has a higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus 3.35 GHz for the EPYC, though this does not translate into a benchmark win. The mobile chip's data also includes PassMark tests, which are absent for the EPYC, but those scores (e.g., 2045 in single-thread, 6881 in multithread) are not directly comparable to any EPYC result.

For server and workstation workloads — virtualization, scientific computing, heavy multi-threaded rendering — the EPYC 7402P is the clear choice. For a mobile workstation or laptop where battery life and heat matter, the i7-7700HQ is the intended product, despite its lower benchmark scores.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every measurable specification. The EPYC 7402P has 24 cores and 48 threads; the i7-7700HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads. Both have a base clock of 2.80 GHz, but the Intel part boosts to 3.80 GHz versus 3.35 GHz for AMD. TDP is 180 W for the EPYC and 45 W for the i7.

The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3, while the i7 uses Intel BGA 1440. The process node is 7 nm (TSMC) for AMD and 14 nm (Intel) for Intel. The EPYC's die is 74 mm² with 3,800 million transistors; the i7's die is 126 mm² with no transistor count listed. L1 cache is 96 KB per core on the EPYC versus 64 KB per core on the i7. L2 cache is 512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core. L3 cache is 128 MB shared on the EPYC versus 6 MB shared on the i7.

Memory support: the EPYC uses DDR4 with an eight-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth; the i7 supports DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and no bandwidth figure. ECC is supported on the EPYC but not the i7. PCIe lanes are 128 Gen 4 on the EPYC versus 16 Gen 3 on the i7. The i7 includes Intel HD Graphics 630; the EPYC has no integrated graphics. The EPYC's launch MSRP is $1280; the i7's is $378. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The EPYC's part number is 100-000000048, and the i7's is SR32Q.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test sets the tone. The EPYC 7402P scores 3749, while the i7-7700HQ manages 589. That is a 536.5% delta in favor of AMD. Single-core R15 shows the same pattern: 529 for the EPYC versus 83 for the i7, a 537.3% lead. These are not marginal differences; they are generational gaps.

Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern. Multi-core: 15621 for EPYC versus 2457 for i7, a 535.8% advantage. Single-core: 2205 versus 346, a 537.3% delta. Cinebench R23 follows with 37195 versus 5852 in multi-core (535.6%) and 5251 versus 826 in single-core (535.7%). Every Cinebench result shows the EPYC at roughly 6.4 times the score of the i7, reflecting the core count ratio.

Geekbench shows a different, more nuanced picture. Multi-core: 10476 for the EPYC versus 3601 for the i7, a 190.9% delta — still a massive win, but proportionally smaller than Cinebench. Single-core: 1204 versus 1082, an 11.3% delta. This is the closest result in the entire comparison. The i7's higher boost clock (3.80 GHz) and Kaby Lake's strong single-thread efficiency keep it within striking distance in Geekbench's single-core test, but the EPYC still takes the win. The overall tally is 8 wins for the EPYC 7402P and 0 for the i7-7700HQ.

The Verdict

The data is one-sided in raw performance. The AMD EPYC 7402P wins every benchmark with deltas ranging from 11.3% in Geekbench single-core to 537.3% in Cinebench R15 single-core. If your workload is multi-threaded rendering, code compilation, or server-side processing, the EPYC 7402P is the only rational choice between these two. Its 24 cores, 128 MB of L3 cache, eight-channel memory with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes make it a server-class part in every sense.

The Intel Core i7-7700HQ is not a competitor on performance; it is a different product category. Its 45 W TDP and integrated graphics make it suitable for laptops, where the EPYC's 180 W TDP and lack of iGPU are disqualifying. The i7's 3.80 GHz boost clock helps in Geekbench single-core, where it trails by only 11.3%, but that is its high-water mark. The i7 is end-of-life, while the EPYC remains active.

For a builder assembling a server or workstation, the EPYC 7402P is the pick. For a laptop user, the i7-7700HQ is the only one of the two that fits the form factor. The 0.4% average score difference is a statistical artifact of the i7's mobile-oriented PassMark results, which have no EPYC equivalent. In any shared benchmark, the EPYC wins decisively. Choose based on platform, not performance, because performance is not close.