AMD EPYC 7451 vs AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep across every Cinebench iteration, with the AMD EPYC 7451 taking all six head-to-head comparisons. The margins are remarkably consistent, hovering near 5.4% to 5.5% in every test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC 7451 scores 2061 against the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700's 1955, a 5.4% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 290 versus 275, a 5.5% lead for the EPYC.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore gap remains at 5.4%, with the EPYC reaching 8589 and the Ryzen 3700 scoring 8146. The single-core R20 test shows 1212 against 1149, again a 5.5% difference. In Cinebench R23, the multicore scores are 20450 for the EPYC and 19397 for the Ryzen, while single-core results come in at 2887 and 2738 respectively, both showing the same 5.4% delta.

What stands out here is the uniformity of the performance gap. The EPYC 7451 wins by almost the same percentage in every workload, whether the test stresses all cores or just one. This consistency suggests the advantage is not workload-specific but rather a baseline characteristic of the two chips. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700, despite having a much higher boost clock on paper, cannot overcome the EPYC's architectural lead in these rendering tasks.

Looking at the broader database context, the EPYC 7451's average benchmark score of 5915 places it near the Intel Core i9-9920X, which scores 5917, an exact 0% delta. The EPYC 7401P trails slightly at 5814, a 1.7% gap, while the Intel Xeon E-2388G sits at 5805, a 1.9% difference. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700's average of 5610 aligns closely with the Intel Core i7-12700T at 5606, a 0.1% delta, and the Intel Atom x7433RE at 5601, a 0.2% difference. Both CPUs land in the 61st percentile of all processors in the database, but the EPYC sits at the top of that tier while the Ryzen sits near the bottom.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations of AMD design philosophy. The EPYC 7451 uses the original Zen architecture, codenamed Naples, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It belongs to the EPYC 7001 series, a server and workstation lineup. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 uses Zen 2, codenamed Matisse, manufactured on TSMC's 7 nm node, and belongs to the 3000 series desktop lineup.

The core counts diverge sharply. The EPYC 7451 packs 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 has 8 cores and 16 threads. This threefold difference in core count is the most obvious architectural split. The EPYC's die contains 4,800 million transistors across a 213 mm² area, while the Ryzen's smaller 74 mm² die holds 3,800 million transistors. The denser 7 nm process allows the Ryzen to pack nearly as many transistors into less than half the silicon area.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The EPYC 7451 offers 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 64 MB L3 pool. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 provides 64 KB of L1 per core, the same 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 32 MB of shared L3. The EPYC's L3 cache is double that of the Ryzen, which matters for server workloads that repeatedly access large datasets.

Memory architecture presents another fundamental split. The EPYC 7451 uses an eight-channel memory bus, delivering 170.6 GB/s of bandwidth, and supports ECC memory. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 uses a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth and does not support ECC. This makes the EPYC dramatically more capable in memory-intensive scenarios, a key differentiator for server applications. Both processors support DDR4, and neither includes integrated graphics.

The socket and platform differ completely. The EPYC 7451 mounts on AMD Socket SP3, the server platform, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 uses Socket AM4 for desktop. PCIe generations also differ: the EPYC offers Gen 3, while the Ryzen provides Gen 4 with 24 lanes on the CPU. The EPYC's release date of June 28, 2017, precedes the Ryzen's September 29, 2019 launch by over two years. Both chips have unlocked multipliers and remain in active production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7451 has 24 cores and 48 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 has 8 cores and 16 threads, giving the EPYC a 3x advantage in both metrics.

Q: How do the clock speeds compare?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The EPYC 7451 has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The Ryzen runs at higher frequencies, yet the EPYC still wins all Cinebench tests.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The EPYC 7451 provides 170.6 GB/s through an eight-channel memory bus. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 provides 51.2 GB/s through a dual-channel bus. The EPYC offers over three times the memory bandwidth.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The EPYC 7451 supports ECC memory, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 does not.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 uses a 7 nm process from TSMC, while the EPYC 7451 uses a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The Ryzen's process node is more advanced.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The EPYC 7451 has an average benchmark score of 5915, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 has an average score of 5610. Both sit in the 61st percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. Core count: 24 versus 8. Thread count: 48 versus 16. Base clock: 2.30 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. Boost clock: 3.20 GHz versus 4.40 GHz. Thermal design power: 180 watts versus 65 watts. Socket: SP3 versus AM4. Architecture: Zen versus Zen 2. Codename: Naples versus Matisse. Process node: 14 nm versus 7 nm. Foundry: GlobalFoundries versus TSMC.

Transistor count is 4,800 million versus 3,800 million. Die size is 213 mm² versus 74 mm². L1 cache is 96 KB per core versus 64 KB per core. L3 cache is 64 MB shared versus 32 MB. Memory bus is eight-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth is 170.6 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s. ECC support is present on the EPYC, absent on the Ryzen. PCIe generation is Gen 3 versus Gen 4 with 24 lanes on the CPU. Market segment is server/workstation versus desktop. Release date is June 28, 2017, versus September 29, 2019. Part numbers are PS7451BDVHCAF and 100-000000073. The EPYC belongs to the EPYC 7001 series while the Ryzen belongs to the 3000 series, with respective generations listed as EPYC (Zen (Naples)) and Ryzen 7 (Zen 2 (Matisse)).

The Verdict

The data points to a clear overall winner in raw compute performance: the AMD EPYC 7451. It wins every head-to-head benchmark by margins of 5.4% to 5.5%, regardless of core count or test type. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 never takes a single victory across the six recorded comparisons. However, the context matters. The EPYC achieves this with 24 cores and 48 threads versus the Ryzen's 8 cores and 16 threads, a threefold core advantage that might lead one to expect a larger performance gap. Instead, the Ryzen's higher clocks of 4.40 GHz boost versus 3.20 GHz boost, combined with the more efficient 7 nm Zen 2 architecture, close much of the distance.

For users who need maximum multi-threaded throughput, the EPYC 7451 is the logical choice. Its 64 MB of L3 cache, eight-channel memory with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC support make it suitable for server and workstation environments where data integrity and memory capacity are critical. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700, with its lower 65 watt TDP, dual-channel memory, and lack of ECC, targets a different use case entirely. The EPYC's lead in every Cinebench test, even single-core, is notable given the Ryzen's higher clock speed. This suggests the EPYC's architecture extracts more instruction-level performance per clock cycle in these workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The EPYC 7451 wins in all measured benchmarks, so the question becomes where its strengths matter most. The eight-channel memory bus and 170.6 GB/s bandwidth give it a decisive edge in memory-heavy server workloads, database operations, and virtualized environments where many threads access large shared datasets. The 64 MB L3 cache reduces latency for repeated data access patterns common in scientific computing and enterprise software. ECC support ensures data integrity in mission-critical deployments. The 24-core, 48-thread configuration excels in rendering, compilation, and simulation tasks that scale with core count.

The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700, despite losing every benchmark, wins in other dimensions. Its 65 watt TDP makes it far more power-efficient for desktop use. The 7 nm process and smaller 74 mm² die allow for a compact AM4 platform. The Gen 4 PCIe with 24 lanes provides faster connectivity for modern storage devices and graphics cards. The higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz gives it responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks, even though the Cinebench single-core tests still favor the EPYC. For a desktop workstation where space, power, and platform cost are constraints, the Ryzen offers a balanced package.

The data ultimately shows two processors designed for different worlds. The EPYC 7451 targets rack-mounted servers where core count, memory bandwidth, and ECC reliability are paramount. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 targets professional desktops where efficiency, platform compatibility, and modern I/O matter more than raw multi-threaded throughput. The benchmark sweep does not tell the full story, because the EPYC's advantages in memory and cache cannot be fully expressed in Cinebench alone. Similarly, the Ryzen's advantages in power draw and PCIe generation do not appear in these scores. Users should select based on workload characteristics: the EPYC for scale-out compute, the Ryzen for desktop productivity with lower power demands.