AMD EPYC 7443 vs AMD EPYC 7473X Comparison

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner: the AMD EPYC 7473X takes every single benchmark in this comparison, and it does so with a consistent margin. Across all six Cinebench tests, the 7473X leads by 4.5% to 4.6%. It is not a massive generational leap, but it is a uniform, repeatable advantage that leaves no room for the EPYC 7443 to claim a single win. The 7473X wins 6 out of 6 head-to-head benchmarks, with zero wins for the 7443.

For a server or workstation buyer, the choice depends on what you prioritize. The 7473X is the faster part in every recorded workload, and its launch MSRP is $3900. The 7443, with a launch MSRP of $2010, is the lower-cost entry point, but it sacrifices performance in every measured category. If raw throughput in Cinebench is your primary concern, the 7473X is the pick. If you are constrained by initial cost and can accept a small, consistent performance deficit, the 7443 still offers the same core count, thread count, and platform features, just at a lower price point. The data does not show any scenario where the 7443 beats the 7473X, so the verdict is straightforward: the 7473X is the better performer, and the 7443 is the budget alternative, though we are not discussing pricing as a value metric here.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same fundamental architecture: Zen 3, on a 7 nm process from TSMC. They share the same socket (AMD Socket SP3), the same generation (EPYC 7003 series), and the same overall design philosophy. The differences lie in the physical implementation and the resulting cache hierarchy.

The 7473X is a Milan-X part, which means it incorporates a significantly larger L3 cache. Its L3 cache is 768 MB (shared), while the 7443 has 128 MB (shared). That is a 6x difference in L3 capacity. This is achieved through the use of stacked cache dies, a feature that is not present on the 7443. The 7473X also has a larger transistor count: 33,200 million transistors across 8x 81 mm² dies, compared to 16,600 million transistors on 4x 81 mm² dies for the 7443. The 7473X essentially doubles the silicon area and transistor budget, largely to accommodate the extra cache.

Clock speeds move in the opposite direction. The 7443 has a higher base clock (2.85 GHz vs 2.80 GHz) and a higher boost clock (4.00 GHz vs 3.70 GHz). The 7473X trades peak frequency for cache capacity. This is a classic trade-off: more cache helps with data reuse and latency, while higher clocks help with raw instruction throughput. The 7473X also has a higher TDP at 240, compared to 200 for the 7443, reflecting the extra power draw of the larger cache stack.

Both parts support DDR4 memory with an eight-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. Both have the same PCIe configuration: Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). Neither has integrated graphics. The core and thread counts are identical: 24 cores and 48 threads. The L1 cache (64 KB per core) and L2 cache (512 KB per core) are also identical. The release dates differ: the 7443 launched on 2021-03-14, while the 7473X launched just over a year later on 2022-03-21.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 7473X has 768 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD EPYC 7443 has 128 MB of shared L3 cache. This is the defining architectural difference between the two.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes. Both the 7473X and the 7443 have 24 cores and 48 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD EPYC 7443 has a higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz, compared to 3.70 GHz for the 7473X. The 7473X has a lower base clock as well: 2.80 GHz vs 2.85 GHz.

Q: Does the 7473X win every benchmark in this comparison?

A: Yes. The head-to-head data shows the 7473X winning all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core), with a win count of 6 to 0.

Q: What is the memory configuration for both parts?

A: Both support DDR4 memory over an eight-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. Both also support ECC memory.

Q: Are these processors on the same socket and process node?

A: Yes. Both use AMD Socket SP3 and are built on a 7 nm process from TSMC. They are both part of the EPYC 7003 series with Zen 3 architecture.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 7473X | AMD EPYC 7443 |

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

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 2.85 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 240 W | 200 W |

| Transistors | 33,200 million | 16,600 million |

| Die Size | 8x 81 mm² | 4x 81 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 768 MB (shared) | 128 MB (shared) |

| Release Date | 2022-03-21 | 2021-03-14 |

| Launch MSRP | $3900 | $2010 |

| Codename | Milan-X | Milan |

All other specifications are identical: 24 cores, 48 threads, 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, DDR4 memory support, eight-channel memory bus, 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth, ECC support, PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes, AMD Socket SP3, 7 nm process, TSMC foundry, and Zen 3 architecture. Both are active production parts for the server/workstation market, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent. The 7473X wins every test by nearly the same margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 7473X scores 5078 against 4856 for the 7443, a 4.6% advantage. In R15 single-core, the 7473X scores 716 against 685, a 4.5% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core score is 21162 for the 7473X and 20236 for the 7443, again a 4.6% lead. The R20 single-core result is 2987 vs 2856, a 4.6% gap. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 7473X posts 50388 against 48183 for the 7443, another 4.6% lead. The R23 single-core test shows 7113 vs 6802, also a 4.6% margin.

The pattern is clear: the 7473X is consistently 4.5% to 4.6% faster across all six workloads. This uniformity suggests the advantage comes from the architectural changes, specifically the much larger L3 cache, rather than from clock speed differences. The 7443 actually has a higher boost clock (4.00 GHz vs 3.70 GHz), but it still loses every single-core test. That is a strong indicator that the cache capacity is doing the heavy lifting. The 4.6% multi-core lead is also notable because both parts have the same core count and thread count, so the extra performance comes purely from the cache hierarchy and the ability to feed the cores with data more efficiently.

For context, the average benchmark score for the 7473X is 14574, placing it in the 69th percentile of all CPUs. The 7443 has an average score of 13936, placing it in the 68th percentile. The nearest rivals for the 7473X include the Intel Xeon 6315P at a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U at -0.1%, and the Intel Core i5-9600K at -0.2%. The 7443’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-8750H at +0.5%, the Intel Core i5-10400 at -0.7%, and the AMD EPYC 7552 at -1.3%. These figures show that both parts sit in a similar overall performance tier relative to the broader CPU landscape, even though the 7473X is consistently ahead of the 7443 within this direct comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The 7473X wins in every benchmark category recorded. There is no test where the 7443 comes out ahead. That means for any workload that resembles Cinebench rendering, the 7473X is the better choice. The 4.6% multi-core lead applies to both R15 and R20 and R23, so any heavily threaded workload will see a similar improvement. The 4.5% to 4.6% single-core lead also applies across all three Cinebench versions, meaning even lightly threaded tasks, where the 7443’s higher boost clock might be expected to help, still favor the 7473X.

The 7443 does not have a single benchmark win, but it does have a lower TDP at 200 W compared to 240 W for the 7473X. It also has a higher base and boost clock. In theory, that could translate to better performance in workloads that are extremely sensitive to clock speed and do not benefit from cache capacity. However, the recorded data does not show that. All six Cinebench tests favor the 7473X. So, based strictly on the data, the 7443 is the part to pick only if you need lower power draw and are willing to accept a small, consistent performance hit in every measured workload. The 7473X is the outright winner for performance, and its 768 MB L3 cache is the clear differentiator.