AMD EPYC 7573X vs AMD EPYC 7742 Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7573X and AMD EPYC 7742 are both high-core-count server processors on the AMD Socket SP3 platform, but they represent distinct generations of AMD’s EPYC lineup. The 7573X is a 32-core Milan-X part built on Zen 3, while the 7742 is a 64-core Rome part based on Zen 2. Benchmark results show the 7573X winning every head-to-head test, yet the margins are remarkably slim given the 32-core disadvantage it faces. This analysis examines the data to explain where each processor excels and what the architectural differences mean for real-world workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7573X wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons in the data, covering both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests across R15, R20, and R23 versions. Its largest margin of victory is a 0.4% lead in every single test, which is consistent across the board. This means the 7573X holds a uniform advantage in both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads, a result that is unusual for a processor with half the core count of its rival.

The AMD EPYC 7742 does not win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. However, its strength lies in raw core count: with 64 cores and 128 threads versus the 7573X’s 32 cores and 64 threads, it offers double the parallel processing capacity on paper. The benchmark data shows that this core advantage does not translate into a performance win in Cinebench, where the 7573X’s superior per-core architecture compensates for the core deficit. The 7742’s role is better suited to workloads that scale with thread count but are not fully captured by the Cinebench suite, though the data does not provide such benchmarks.

In terms of overall standing, the 7573X sits at the 71st percentile of all CPUs, while the 7742 sits at the 70th percentile. Their average benchmark scores are 17070 for the 7573X and 16998 for the 7742, placing them nearly identical in aggregate performance. The 7573X’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-11400 (deltaPct 0), Intel Core Ultra 7 164U (deltaPct 0), and AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (deltaPct 0.2), while the 7742’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1260P (deltaPct -0.1), AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (deltaPct -0.2), and AMD EPYC 7702 (deltaPct 0.4). These comparisons show that both processors perform at a level comparable to mainstream desktop and mobile chips in average score, despite their server pedigree.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7573X is built on the Zen 3 architecture with the codename Milan-X, while the AMD EPYC 7742 uses the older Zen 2 architecture with the codename Rome. Both are manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC, but their die configurations differ substantially. The 7573X uses a multi-chip design with 8 dies of 81 mm² each, containing 33,200 million transistors. In contrast, the 7742 has a single 74 mm² die with 3,800 million transistors, reflecting a different approach to chiplet integration.

The cache hierarchy is where the 7573X gains a significant architectural edge. It features 768 MB of shared L3 cache, which is three times the 256 MB of shared L3 cache on the 7742. This massive L3 cache is the defining feature of the Milan-X series, designed to improve performance in cache-sensitive workloads. Per-core L1 cache differs as well: the 7573X has 64 KB per core, while the 7742 has 96 KB per core. Both share the same 512 KB of L2 cache per core.

Clock speeds also favor the 7573X. It runs at a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the 7742 runs at 2.25 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The 7573X has a higher thermal design power (TDP) of 280 watts versus 225 watts for the 7742, reflecting its higher clock speeds and larger cache. Both processors support DDR4 memory with an eight-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth, and both support ECC memory.

The 7573X is part of the EPYC 7003 series and was released on 2022-03-21, while the 7742 is part of the EPYC 7002 series and was released on 2019-08-06. Both are active in production and target the Server/Workstation market segment. The 7573X has a launch MSRP of $5590, while the 7742 has no launch MSRP listed in the data. Both processors use the AMD Socket SP3 and support PCIe Gen 4, though the 7573X specifies 128 lanes (CPU only) while the 7742 does not specify lane count.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are consistent across all six Cinebench tests, with the AMD EPYC 7573X winning each by a delta of 0.4%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 7573X scores 5948 against the 7742’s 5923. The single-core R15 test shows 839 versus 836. Moving to R20, the multi-core scores are 24787 for the 7573X and 24682 for the 7742, while single-core results are 3499 and 3484 respectively.

Cinebench R23, the most recent test in the set, shows the largest absolute margins. The 7573X scores 59017 in multi-core, while the 7742 scores 58769, a difference of 248 points. In single-core R23, the 7573X scores 8331 against 8296 for the 7742, a difference of 35 points. These margins, while small in percentage terms, are consistent across every test, suggesting a fundamental per-core performance advantage for the 7573X that is not offset by the 7742’s double core count.

The data shows that the 7573X’s victory is not a matter of a single workload type. It wins multi-core tests by the same 0.4% margin as single-core tests, which is remarkable given that multi-core performance should theoretically favor the 64-core 7742. This indicates that the 7573X’s Zen 3 architecture and larger L3 cache provide a per-thread efficiency that the 7742’s Zen 2 architecture cannot match, even with twice as many cores available.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture: the 7573X averages 17070 across all benchmarks, while the 7742 averages 16998. This 72-point difference in average score corresponds to the 0.4% delta seen in individual tests. The percentile rankings of 71 versus 70 further confirm that the 7573X holds a slight but consistent edge in the overall performance distribution.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications beyond their architecture and cache. The core count is the most obvious difference: the 7573X has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the 7742 has 64 cores and 128 threads. This is a 2x difference in parallel capacity. Clock speeds also differ, with the 7573X running at 2.80 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost compared to the 7742’s 2.25 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost.

Thermal design power differs by 55 watts, with the 7573X rated at 280 watts and the 7742 at 225 watts. The L3 cache is dramatically different: 768 MB shared on the 7573X versus 256 MB shared on the 7742, a 3x difference. Per-core L1 cache differs as well, with the 7573X offering 64 KB per core and the 7742 offering 96 KB per core. L2 cache is identical at 512 KB per core.

The die configuration is another point of divergence. The 7573X uses 8 dies of 81 mm² each, totaling a larger physical footprint, while the 7742 uses a single die of 74 mm². Transistor counts also differ significantly: 33,200 million for the 7573X versus 3,800 million for the 7742. This reflects the additional cache and newer architecture in the 7573X.

Release dates separate the two by nearly three years: the 7573X launched on 2022-03-21, while the 7742 launched on 2019-08-06. The 7573X carries a launch MSRP of $5590, while the 7742 has no listed launch MSRP. Both support DDR4 memory with eight-channel access and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, and both support ECC memory. The 7573X specifies PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the 7742 specifies PCIe Gen 4 without a lane count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD EPYC 7742 has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7573X has 32 cores and 64 threads.

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

A: The AMD EPYC 7573X has 768 MB of shared L3 cache, which is three times the 256 MB of shared L3 cache on the AMD EPYC 7742.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD EPYC 7573X has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 7742 has a boost clock of 3.40 GHz.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7573X has an average benchmark score of 17070, while the AMD EPYC 7742 has an average score of 16998, a difference of 72 points.

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD EPYC 7573X wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, each by a delta of 0.4%, while the AMD EPYC 7742 wins none.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket?

A: Yes, both the AMD EPYC 7573X and the AMD EPYC 7742 use the AMD Socket SP3.