AMD EPYC 7473X vs AMD EPYC 7552 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data presents a clean sweep: the AMD EPYC 7473X wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads. The AMD EPYC 7552, despite having twice the core count, does not claim a single victory in any of the measured tests. This makes the use-case split unusually straightforward, but the reasons behind it are worth dissecting.

For single-threaded tasks, the 7473X is the clear choice. Its base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost clock of 3.70 GHz exceed the 7552's 2.20 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost, and the newer Zen 3 architecture delivers higher instructions per clock. The data shows single-core deltas of 3.2% in Cinebench R15, R20, and 3.3% in R23, all favoring the 7473X. Workloads like database queries, web serving, or lightly threaded application logic benefit from this edge.

For multi-threaded throughput, the 7552's 48 cores and 96 threads would seem advantageous on paper. Yet the 7473X's 24 cores and 48 threads still outperform it by 3.2% to 3.3% across R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. This indicates that the 7473X's massive 768 MB shared L3 cache, enabled by 3D V-Cache technology, compensates for the core deficit. Memory-bound workloads, large in-memory datasets, and virtualization environments with high cache pressure favor the 7473X.

The 7552 does retain one structural advantage: raw core count. Applications that scale linearly with cores beyond 24, such as certain high-performance computing simulations or batch rendering pipelines, could theoretically use the extra 24 cores. However, within the recorded Cinebench results, that advantage does not translate into a win. The 7552 also matches the 7473X in memory bandwidth at 204.8 GB/s and PCIe lanes at Gen 4, 128 lanes, so platform-level throughput is equivalent.

In summary, the 7473X wins every measured benchmark, making it the preferred part for both latency-sensitive and cache-heavy workloads. The 7552's role is best described as a high-core-count alternative for software that can exploit parallelism beyond what the 7473X offers, though the data does not capture such a scenario.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations of AMD's EPYC lineup. The 7473X is from the EPYC 7003 series, built on the Zen 3 architecture with the Milan-X codename. The 7552 belongs to the EPYC 7002 series, using the Zen 2 architecture with the Rome codename. Both use the same 7 nm process node from TSMC, and both fit the AMD Socket SP3.

The transistor counts differ dramatically. The 7473X packs 33,200 million transistors across eight dies, each 81 mm², for a total die area of 648 mm². The 7552 uses a single 74 mm² die with 3,800 million transistors. This reflects the 3D stacked cache on the 7473X, which adds a large amount of L3 cache on top of the compute dies. The 7552's smaller die and lower transistor count indicate a simpler, more conventional design.

Cache configurations are the most significant architectural split. The 7473X has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, identical to the 7552's 512 KB L2 per core. But the L3 cache is radically different: the 7473X features 768 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 7552 has only 192 MB. This fourfold difference in L3 capacity is the defining feature of the Milan-X part, enabling far higher hit rates for large working sets. The 7552's L1 is 96 KB per core, slightly larger than the 7473X's 64 KB, but that does not compensate for the L3 gap.

Memory support is identical: DDR4, eight-channel, with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth and ECC support. Both processors also offer PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU, and neither includes integrated graphics. The 7473X is a locked multiplier part, as is the 7552.

The release dates place the 7552 first, launching in August 2019, while the 7473X arrived in March 2022. The 7473X also carries a higher TDP of 240 watts versus the 7552's 200 watts, reflecting the additional cache dies and higher clocks. Production status for both is active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite provides six data points, and the 7473X wins every one. The margins are consistent, hovering around 3.2% to 3.3%, which suggests a uniform architectural advantage rather than workload-specific quirks.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 7473X scores 5078 against the 7552's 4919, a 3.2% delta. The single-core R15 result shows 716 versus 694, again a 3.2% edge. This pattern repeats in R20: multi-core is 21162 against 20496 (3.2%), and single-core is 2987 against 2893 (3.2%). The R23 results show the widest margins: multi-core at 50388 versus 48801 (3.3%), and single-core at 7113 versus 6889 (3.3%).

The multi-core results are particularly telling because the 7552 has double the cores and threads (48/96 versus 24/48). A 3.2% to 3.3% deficit despite a 2x core advantage implies that the 7473X's per-core efficiency, driven by Zen 3 and the enormous L3 cache, is substantially higher. The 7552's Zen 2 architecture and smaller cache cannot keep pace even with more execution units.

The single-core results reinforce this. The 7473X's boost clock is 3.70 GHz versus 3.30 GHz, a 12% clock advantage, but the actual score delta is only 3.3%. This suggests that the 7552's IPC is closer to the 7473X than clock speeds alone would indicate, but the 7473X still wins due to the combination of higher clocks and better cache behavior.

Looking at average benchmark scores, the 7473X records 14574 against the 7552's 14115, a 3.2% overall edge. The 7473X also sits at the 69th percentile of all CPUs, while the 7552 is at the 68th percentile. The nearest rivals for the 7473X include the Intel Xeon 6315P at identical average score (14574, 0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U at 14589 (-0.1%), and the Intel Core i5-9600K at 14605 (-0.2%). The 7552's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6756E at 14163 (-0.3%), the Intel Core i5-10400F at 14185 (-0.5%), and the Intel Core i5-10400 at 14037 (0.6%). These comparisons show both parts occupying similar mid-range territory in the overall CPU landscape, despite their server-class positioning.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD EPYC 7552 has 48 cores and 96 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7473X has 24 cores and 48 threads.

Q: Does the higher core count of the 7552 translate to better multi-core performance?

A: No. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 7473X scores 50388 versus the 7552's 48801, a 3.3% advantage for the 7473X despite half the cores.

Q: What is the L3 cache difference between the two?

A: The 7473X has 768 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 7552 has 192 MB. This is a fourfold difference in favor of the 7473X.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket and memory platform?

A: Yes, both use AMD Socket SP3, support DDR4 memory with eight-channel configuration, and provide 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth and PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The 7473X boosts to 3.70 GHz, while the 7552 boosts to 3.30 GHz. The 7473X also has a higher base clock at 2.80 GHz versus 2.20 GHz.

Q: How do their overall benchmark averages compare?

A: The 7473X records an average benchmark score of 14574, which is 3.2% higher than the 7552's 14115.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 7473X | AMD EPYC 7552 |

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

| Series | EPYC 7003 series | EPYC 7002 series |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Milan-X | Rome |

| Cores | 24 | 48 |

| Threads | 48 | 96 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| TDP | 240 W | 200 W |

| Transistors | 33,200 million | 3,800 million |

| Die Size | 8x 81 mm² | 74 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 768 MB (shared) | 192 MB (shared) |

| Release Date | 2022-03-21 | 2019-08-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $3900 | $4025 |

The specification table highlights the core count reversal: the 7552 has double the cores but loses in every benchmark. The 7473X compensates with higher clocks, a newer architecture, and a vastly larger L3 cache. The 7552's launch MSRP was $4025, slightly higher than the 7473X's $3900, though pricing analysis is outside the scope of this data. Both parts are production-active and share the same memory, PCIe, and ECC capabilities. The 7473X draws 40 more watts of TDP, a reasonable trade for the performance and cache advantage it delivers.