AMD EPYC 7473X vs AMD EPYC 7702P Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7702P and AMD EPYC 7473X are both active server/workstation processors built for AMD Socket SP3, but they represent two very different approaches to the EPYC line. The 7702P is a 64-core Zen 2 part from the 7002 series, while the 7473X is a 24-core Zen 3 part with a massive L3 cache from the 7003 series. Benchmark data shows the 7702P winning every single head-to-head Cinebench test, though the margins are surprisingly narrow given the core count disparity.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The EPYC 7702P takes a clean sweep of all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but the victories are uniformly tight. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 7702P scores 5272 against the 7473X’s 5078, a 3.8% lead. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story: 744 versus 716, a 3.9% advantage for the older chip. This pattern holds across every generation of Cinebench. In R20 multicore, the 7702P posts 21969 versus 21162, again 3.8% ahead. Single-core R20 sees 3101 versus 2987, a 3.8% margin. The R23 results are the most decisive in absolute terms: the 7702P scores 52308 while the 7473X manages 50388, a 3.8% difference. Even in R23 single-core, the 7702P’s 7384 edges out the 7473X’s 7113 by 3.8%.

The consistency of the 3.8% delta across all tests is striking. It suggests the 7702P’s advantage is structural rather than workload-specific. With 64 cores and 128 threads, the 7702P should theoretically dominate in multicore workloads, yet the 7473X’s higher 3.70 GHz boost clock and Zen 3 architecture close most of the gap. The 7473X’s single-core deficit is more surprising — Zen 3 typically outperforms Zen 2 clock-for-clock — but the data shows the 7702P winning every single-threaded test by the same 3.8% margin.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The 7702P has an average score of 15130 across all benchmarks, placing it in the 69th percentile of all CPUs. The 7473X averages 14574, also in the 69th percentile. The 7702P’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-1315U at 15022 (0.7% behind) and the Intel Core 5 211TE at 15370 (1.6% ahead). The 7473X is exactly tied with the Intel Xeon 6315P at 14574, with the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U just 0.1% behind at 14589. Both processors sit in remarkably similar competitive territory despite their architectural differences.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD EPYC 7702P wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests against the EPYC 7473X. The 7473X has zero wins across R15, R20, and R23 in both multicore and single-core variants.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multicore workloads?

A: The 7702P leads by exactly 3.8% in all three multicore tests: R15 (5272 vs 5078), R20 (21969 vs 21162), and R23 (52308 vs 50388). The margin is identical across every generation of Cinebench.

Q: Does the 7473X have any advantage in single-core performance?

A: No. The 7702P wins every single-core test by 3.8-3.9%. In R15 single-core, the 7702P scores 744 versus 716 (3.9% lead), and in R20 single-core it scores 3101 versus 2987 (3.8% lead). The R23 single-core result is 7384 versus 7113, a 3.8% margin.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The 7702P’s average score of 15130 puts it 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i3-1315U and 1.6% behind the Intel Core 5 211TE. The 7473X’s average of 14574 ties the Intel Xeon 6315P exactly, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U trails by just 0.1%.

Q: What is the release date difference between the two?

A: The EPYC 7702P was released on 2019-08-06, while the EPYC 7473X launched on 2022-03-21. The 7473X is roughly two and a half years newer, yet it still trails in every benchmark.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory configuration?

A: Yes. Both support DDR4 memory with an eight-channel memory bus and 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth. Both also support ECC memory and use PCIe Gen 4, though the 7473X specifies 128 lanes (CPU only).

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: pick the AMD EPYC 7702P if benchmark performance is the sole criterion. It wins every single Cinebench test across three different versions, with a consistent 3.8% multicore advantage and a 3.8-3.9% single-core advantage. The 7702P achieves this with 64 cores and 128 threads, compared to the 7473X’s 24 cores and 48 threads, making its victory particularly notable given the 40-core deficit it overcomes through sheer core count.

The 7473X is not without merit, but the benchmark evidence does not favor it. Its 768 MB of shared L3 cache is three times larger than the 7702P’s 256 MB, yet this does not translate into any Cinebench win. Its higher base clock (2.80 GHz vs 2.00 GHz) and boost clock (3.70 GHz vs 3.35 GHz) also fail to overcome the 7702P’s core advantage. The 7473X does have a newer architecture — Zen 3 versus Zen 2 — but the data shows this does not compensate for the core deficit.

For buyers choosing between these two, the 7702P is the clear performance pick. The 7473X might be considered if its 768 MB L3 cache is expected to help in specific non-Cinebench workloads, but within the measured benchmark suite, it trails consistently. The 7702P also has a higher average benchmark score (15130 vs 14574) and a better competitive position against its nearest rivals. The 7473X’s only advantage in the spec sheet is its 2022 release date and its $3900 launch MSRP, which is stated for reference only.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is core count. The EPYC 7702P has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the EPYC 7473X has 24 cores and 48 threads. The 7702P has a lower base clock of 2.00 GHz versus the 7473X’s 2.80 GHz, and a lower boost clock of 3.35 GHz versus 3.70 GHz. Thermal design power also differs: the 7702P is rated at 200 W, while the 7473X draws 240 W.

Cache configuration is a major differentiator. The 7702P has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 256 MB of shared L3 cache. The 7473X has 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, but its shared L3 cache is 768 MB — three times larger. The transistor count reflects this: the 7702P has 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die, while the 7473X has 33,200 million transistors across 8x 81 mm² dies.

Release dates differ significantly: the 7702P launched on 2019-08-06, while the 7473X launched on 2022-03-21. The 7473X has a launch MSRP of $3900, while the 7702P has no listed launch MSRP. Both use the AMD Socket SP3, support DDR4 memory, and have identical eight-channel memory buses with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory and PCIe Gen 4, though the 7473X specifies 128 lanes (CPU only) while the 7702P simply lists Gen 4. Neither has integrated graphics, and both are multiplier-unlocked: false.

Architecture Differences

The EPYC 7702P is built on Zen 2 architecture under the codename Rome, part of the EPYC 7002 series. The EPYC 7473X uses Zen 3 architecture under the codename Milan-X, part of the EPYC 7003 series. Both are fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC, but the transistor counts tell a different story: the 7702P packs 3,800 million transistors on a single 74 mm² die, while the 7473X uses 33,200 million transistors across 8x 81 mm² dies.

The cache hierarchy differs beyond the L3 capacity. The 7702P allocates 96 KB of L1 cache per core, while the 7473X uses 64 KB per core. Both have 512 KB of L2 per core, but the 7473X’s 768 MB of shared L3 is its defining feature, dwarfing the 7702P’s 256 MB. This massive L3 cache is why the 7473X carries the Milan-X codename, indicating a specialized variant focused on cache-heavy workloads.

The 7473X’s newer Zen 3 architecture delivers a higher base clock (2.80 GHz) and boost clock (3.70 GHz) than the 7702P’s Zen 2 (2.00 GHz base, 3.35 GHz boost). However, the 7702P compensates with 64 cores versus 24. The 7473X also has a higher TDP of 240 W versus 200 W. Both share the same socket, memory support, and PCIe generation, but the 7473X’s PCIe Gen 4 specification explicitly mentions 128 lanes (CPU only), which is a more detailed description than the 7702P’s simple “Gen 4.” The 7473X’s 2022 release date makes it the newer design by roughly two and a half years, yet the benchmark data shows the older 7702P maintaining a consistent lead across all tested workloads.