AMD EPYC 74F3 vs AMD EPYC 7552 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a remarkably consistent picture across every recorded test. The AMD EPYC 74F3 wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with a uniform performance advantage of roughly 5.7% in both single-core and multi-core workloads. This consistency suggests the EPYC 74F3 holds a meaningful architectural edge, not just a situational one. For workloads that prioritize raw throughput per core, the EPYC 74F3 is the clear choice. However, the EPYC 7552 offers double the core count, 48 cores versus 24, and 96 threads versus 48, which matters for heavily parallelized server workloads where thread count can scale beyond what the 74F3 delivers. The data indicates the 74F3 wins every benchmark, but the 7552 remains a credible option for environments that need the extra physical core count. The average benchmark score for the EPYC 74F3 is 14915, while the EPYC 7552 sits at 14115, a difference of about 5.7% overall. The 74F3 also ranks in the 69th percentile among all CPUs, slightly ahead of the 7552's 68th percentile. For buyers optimizing purely for benchmark performance, the 74F3 wins outright. For buyers optimizing for core density and thread parallelization, the 7552 provides more hardware threads, albeit with lower clock speeds and a slightly lower average benchmark score. The 74F3 is the faster processor in every recorded test; the 7552 is the higher-core-count processor. The choice depends entirely on whether the application scales with clock speed or with thread count. The launch MSRP for the 74F3 is $2900, and for the 7552 it is $4025.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD EPYC 74F3 has an average benchmark score of 14915, compared to 14115 for the AMD EPYC 7552. That places the 74F3 about 5.7% higher in the database's aggregate metric.

Q: Does the EPYC 7552 outperform the EPYC 74F3 in any benchmark?

A: No. In the recorded head-to-head data, the 74F3 wins all six tests: Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core variants. The 7552 records zero wins.

Q: How do the core counts differ between these two processors?

A: The EPYC 7552 features 48 cores and 96 threads, while the EPYC 74F3 offers 24 cores and 48 threads. The 7552 has double the core and thread count, yet still trails in every recorded benchmark.

Q: Are both processors compatible with the same motherboard socket?

A: Yes, both use the AMD Socket SP3 platform. Both also support DDR4 memory with an eight-channel memory bus and 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth, along with ECC memory support.

Q: What is the performance difference in single-core Cinebench R23?

A: The EPYC 74F3 scores 7279 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the EPYC 7552 scores 6889. The 74F3 leads by 5.7%.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The EPYC 74F3 has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, while the EPYC 7552 boosts to 3.30 GHz. The 74F3 also has a higher base clock at 2.80 GHz versus 2.20 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors belong to different Zen generations. The AMD EPYC 74F3 is built on Zen 3 architecture and carries the codename Milan, while the AMD EPYC 7552 uses Zen 2 architecture and is codenamed Rome. Both are manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC, but the chip designs differ substantially. The 74F3 lists 33,200 million transistors across a die size of 4x 81 mm², whereas the 7552 lists 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. That transistor count disparity is striking, and it reflects the different physical layouts of the two generations.

Cache configurations also differ. The 74F3 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 256 MB L3 cache. The 7552 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 192 MB L3 cache. So the 74F3 offers more total L3 cache despite having half the cores, a difference that helps explain its consistent win in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests. The L1 cache is larger per core on the 7552, but the 74F3 compensates with a dramatically larger shared L3 pool.

The generation gap also matters for instruction efficiency. Zen 3 architecture, as used in the 74F3, delivers higher instructions per clock compared to the Zen 2 used in the 7552. The benchmark results reflect this: even with half the cores, the 74F3 outperforms the 7552 in every multi-core test. The 74F3 was released on 2021-03-14, while the 7552 was released earlier on 2019-08-06. The newer architecture brings the performance edge.

Both CPUs share several platform-level features. They use the same AMD Socket SP3, support DDR4 memory, run an eight-channel memory bus, provide 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth, and both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity is identical as well: Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor includes integrated graphics, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The production status for both is listed as Active.

Specification Differences

The core counts represent the largest specification gap. The EPYC 7552 packs 48 cores and 96 threads, exactly double the 24 cores and 48 threads of the EPYC 74F3. Clock speeds favor the 74F3, which runs at a 2.80 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost, compared to 2.20 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost for the 7552. The 74F3 also carries a higher TDP at 240, while the 7552 is rated at 200.

Architecture and codename differ: Zen 3 with codename Milan for the 74F3, Zen 2 with codename Rome for the 7552. The transistor counts and die sizes are also different, as noted earlier. Cache totals diverge as well, with the 74F3 offering 256 MB of shared L3 versus 192 MB on the 7552, and 64 KB L1 per core versus 96 KB L1 per core.

The launch MSRP differs as well. The EPYC 74F3 launched at $2900, while the EPYC 7552 launched at $4025. Both have part numbers listed in the database: the 74F3 is 100-000000317100-100000317WOF, and the 7552 is 100-000000076. The 7552 belongs to the EPYC 7002 series, while the 74F3 has no series designation listed.

The release dates show a clear generational gap: the 74F3 arrived on 2021-03-14, roughly 19 months after the 7552's 2019-08-06 release. Both processors share identical memory support, PCIe lanes, socket compatibility, ECC support, and market segment classification as Server/Workstation parts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably uniform. In every test, the AMD EPYC 74F3 wins with a delta of 5.7%, except for Cinebench R15 single-core where the delta is 5.6%. The consistency of these margins suggests a fixed architectural advantage rather than workload-specific behavior.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 74F3 scores 5197 against 4919 for the 7552, a 5.7% lead. In single-core R15, the 74F3 scores 733 versus 694, a 5.6% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows 21657 for the 74F3 and 20496 for the 7552, again a 5.7% gap. Single-core R20 follows the same pattern: 3057 versus 2893, a 5.7% lead.

The R23 tests confirm the trend. Multi-core R23 has the 74F3 at 51566 and the 7552 at 48801, a 5.7% advantage. Single-core R23 shows 7279 versus 6889, also 5.7%. The consistency across single-core and multi-core tests is notable because the 7552 has twice as many cores. If thread scaling were the dominant factor, the 7552 should close the gap in multi-core tests, but it does not. The 74F3's architectural efficiency, higher clocks, and larger L3 cache apparently overcome its core-count deficit.

The nearest rival data provides additional context. The 74F3's closest competitor in the database is the AMD EPYC 7702P with an average score of 15130, where the 74F3 trails by 1.4%. It is also close to the Intel Core i3-1315U, which scores 15022, putting the 74F3 behind by 0.7%. The 74F3 sits just ahead of the Intel Core i7-9750H, which scores 14886, a 0.2% edge, and the Intel Core i3-10320 at 14852, a 0.4% edge. The 7552's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6756E at 14163, where the 7552 trails by 0.3%, the Intel Core i5-10400F at 14185, a 0.5% gap, the Intel Core i5-10400 at 14037, where the 7552 leads by 0.6%, and the Intel Core 7 160UL at 14232, a 0.8% deficit.

The percentile rankings place the 74F3 at the 69th percentile among all CPUs, one point above the 7552's 68th percentile. The average benchmark scores, 14915 versus 14115, reinforce the same conclusion: the 74F3 holds a real, measurable performance advantage across the board, even against a processor with twice the core count.