AMD EPYC 7452 vs AMD EPYC 7453 Comparison
AMD EPYC 7452
EPYC 7453
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: AMD EPYC 7452 vs AMD EPYC 7453
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The AMD EPYC 7453 wins every single benchmark in the recorded head-to-head comparison, taking all six tests with a consistent 5.6% margin across the board. This is a rare outcome in the database: the newer Milan part beats the older Rome part in both multi-core and single-core workloads, and the delta is identical in every test, which points to a pure architectural clock-for-clock advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.
In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7453 scores 4151 against the EPYC 7452's 3930. The single-core test shows the same pattern: 585 versus 554. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 17297 against 16377, while single-core lands at 2441 versus 2312. The Cinebench R23 results continue the trend: 41185 versus 38993 in multi-core, and 5814 versus 5505 in single-core. Every one of these results carries the same 5.6% delta, so the EPYC 7453's edge is uniform regardless of thread count or workload intensity.
The average benchmark score in the database tells a similar story. The EPYC 7453 sits at 11912, while the EPYC 7452 sits at 11279. That is a gap of roughly 633 points, or about 5.6% when measured against the older chip's average. The percentile rankings are close: the EPYC 7453 ranks in the 67th percentile against all CPUs, while the EPYC 7452 ranks in the 66th. Both are solidly mid-pack for server processors, but the newer part holds a measurable edge.
Notably, the EPYC 7452's closest rival in the database is the Intel Core i5-1145G7 with a 0% delta, while the EPYC 7453's closest rival is the Intel Core i7-7700, also at 0%. The 7453 also sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X (0.7% behind) and the Intel Xeon Bronze 3408U (0.9% behind). The 7452, for its part, sits near the AMD EPYC 7402 (0.3% behind) and the AMD EPYC 73F3 (0.5% behind). The database places both chips in similar performance territory relative to their peers, but the 7453 is consistently ahead of the 7452 in every recorded metric.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different generations of AMD's EPYC lineup, and the architectural gap explains the benchmark results. The EPYC 7453 is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan, part of the EPYC 7003 series. The EPYC 7452 uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome, part of the EPYC 7002 series. Both are fabricated on TSMC's 7 nm process node, so the manufacturing process is identical, but the underlying microarchitecture differs significantly.
The core counts go in opposite directions from what one might expect. The EPYC 7452 has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the EPYC 7453 has 28 cores and 56 threads. Despite having four fewer cores and eight fewer threads, the 7453 still outperforms the 7452 in every multi-core benchmark. That is a direct consequence of Zen 3's improved instruction-per-clock (IPC) over Zen 2. The 7453's base clock is 2.75 GHz versus the 7452's 2.20 GHz, and its boost clock is 3.45 GHz versus 3.35 GHz. Higher clocks on a newer architecture explain why the 7453 wins despite the core deficit.
Cache configurations also differ. The EPYC 7453 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The EPYC 7452 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 128 MB of shared L3 cache. The 7452 has more L1 per core and twice the L3 cache, but the 7453's smaller L3 is paired with a more efficient architecture. The transistor counts reflect the design changes: the 7453 uses 16,600 million transistors across a 4x 81 mm² die configuration, while the 7452 uses 3,800 million transistors on a single 74 mm² die. The 7453's multi-die layout with far more transistors is the physical embodiment of Zen 3's more complex execution resources.
Power draw differs substantially. The EPYC 7453 has a TDP of 225 watts, while the EPYC 7452 has a TDP of 155 watts. The newer chip consumes more power to achieve its higher clocks and IPC, but the performance-per-watt tradeoff is still favorable given the uniform 5.6% performance lead. Both processors use the AMD Socket SP3, support DDR4 memory over an eight-channel memory bus, and deliver 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. The PCIe configuration is similar but not identical: the 7453 lists Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the 7452 lists Gen 4 without a lane count in the database.
The release dates reflect the generational gap. The EPYC 7453 launched on 2021-03-14, while the EPYC 7452 launched on 2019-08-06. The production status for both is active. The EPYC 7453 has a launch MSRP of $1570, while the 7452 has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores?
A: The AMD EPYC 7452 has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7453 has 28 cores and 56 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the 7453 wins all multi-core benchmarks.
Q: Why does the EPYC 7453 win multi-core tests despite having fewer cores?
A: The 7453 uses the Zen 3 architecture with a base clock of 2.75 GHz and a boost clock of 3.45 GHz, compared to the 7452's Zen 2 architecture with a 2.20 GHz base and 3.35 GHz boost. The combination of higher clocks and a newer microarchitecture overcomes the 4-core deficit.
Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23?
A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC 7453 scores 41185 against the EPYC 7452's 38993. In single-core, the 7453 scores 5814 against 5505. Both deltas are 5.6% in favor of the 7453.
Q: How do the cache sizes compare?
A: The EPYC 7453 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7452 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 128 MB of shared L3. The 7452 has more L1 and twice the L3, but the 7453 still wins on performance.
Q: What is the power draw difference?
A: The EPYC 7453 has a TDP of 225 watts, while the EPYC 7452 has a TDP of 155 watts. The 7453 uses more power but delivers a 5.6% performance advantage in every recorded benchmark.
Q: Do both processors support the same memory configuration?
A: Yes. Both support DDR4 memory over an eight-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, and both support ECC memory. Both use the AMD Socket SP3.
Specification Differences
The specifications that differ between the two processors are as follows. The EPYC 7453 has 28 cores and 56 threads, while the EPYC 7452 has 32 cores and 64 threads. The base clock differs: 2.75 GHz for the 7453 versus 2.20 GHz for the 7452. The boost clock differs: 3.45 GHz for the 7453 versus 3.35 GHz for the 7452. The TDP is 225 watts for the 7453 and 155 watts for the 7452. The architecture is Zen 3 for the 7453 and Zen 2 for the 7452, with codenames Milan and Rome respectively. The generation field lists Zen 3 (Milan) for the 7453 and Zen 2 (Rome) for the 7452.
The transistor count is 16,600 million for the 7453 versus 3,800 million for the 7452. The die size is 4x 81 mm² for the 7453 versus 74 mm² for the 7452. L1 cache is 64 KB per core for the 7453 versus 96 KB per core for the 7452. L3 cache is 64 MB shared for the 7453 versus 128 MB shared for the 7452. The PCIe listing differs: the 7453 lists Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the 7452 lists Gen 4 without a lane count. The release date is 2021-03-14 for the 7453 and 2019-08-06 for the 7452. The launch MSRP is $1570 for the 7453, with no recorded MSRP for the 7452. The part numbers differ: 100-000000319 for the 7453 and 100-000000057 for the 7452.
The specifications that are identical include the manufacturer (AMD), the socket (AMD Socket SP3), the process node (7 nm), the foundry (TSMC), L2 cache (512 KB per core), memory support (DDR4), memory bus (Eight-channel), memory bandwidth (204.8 GB/s), ECC memory support (true), integrated graphics (none), market segment (Server/Workstation), production status (Active), and multiplier unlock status (false).
The Verdict
The data points to a clear winner: the AMD EPYC 7453. It wins all six head-to-head benchmarks with a uniform 5.6% margin, and it achieves this while using fewer cores. The 7453's Zen 3 architecture, higher base and boost clocks, and higher TDP combine to deliver superior performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The 7453 also holds a higher average benchmark score (11912 versus 11279) and a higher percentile ranking (67th versus 66th).
The EPYC 7452 is not a poor processor. It has more cores, more threads, more L1 cache per core, and twice the L3 cache. It also draws 70 watts less power. But none of those advantages translate into benchmark wins. The 7452's closest rivals in the database include the AMD EPYC 7402 (0.3% behind) and the AMD EPYC 73F3 (0.5% behind), which places it in the same general performance class as the 7453's rivals. The 7453's closest rivals include the Intel Core i7-7700 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X (0.7% behind).
For a server workload where every percentage point of throughput matters, the EPYC 7453 is the better choice based on the recorded data. The 5.6% performance advantage is consistent across all six Cinebench tests, which suggests it will hold in a wide range of applications. The 7452's only advantages are core count, cache capacity, and power efficiency, but those do not show up as performance wins in the database.
Where Each One Wins
The AMD EPYC 7453 wins in every benchmark category where performance is measured. In single-core workloads, it leads by 5.6% in Cinebench R15 (585 versus 554), Cinebench R20 (2441 versus 2312), and Cinebench R23 (5814 versus 5505). In multi-core workloads, it leads by the same 5.6% margin in all three Cinebench versions: R15 (4151 versus 3930), R20 (17297 versus 16377), and R23 (41185 versus 38993). The 7453 is the pick for any workload where raw compute throughput is the priority, whether that is single-threaded code that cannot use multiple cores or highly parallel multi-threaded rendering and simulation tasks.
The AMD EPYC 7452 does not win any benchmark, but it has structural advantages that matter in specific deployment scenarios. It offers 32 cores and 64 threads versus the 7453's 28 cores and 56 threads, so in a purely core-count-bound licensing or virtual machine scenario, the 7452 provides 4 more physical cores and 8 more threads. It also has 128 MB of shared L3 cache versus 64 MB, which could benefit workloads with very large working sets that fit in cache. Its TDP is 155 watts versus 225 watts, which translates to lower power draw and potentially simpler cooling requirements in dense server environments. For a deployment where power budget is the primary constraint and the 5.6% performance gap is acceptable, the 7452 has a role. But for pure performance per the database's benchmark results, the 7453 is the definitive winner.