AMD EPYC 7601 vs Intel Pentium Gold G7400 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is decisively one-sided. Across all six Cinebench tests, the AMD EPYC 7601 wins every single matchup, with deltas that are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7601 scores 3003 against the Pentium Gold G7400's 574, a 423.2% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: 423 versus 80, a 428.8% lead. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the EPYC 7601 posts 12516 multi-core and 1766 single-core, versus 2394 and 337 respectively for the Pentium, yielding deltas of 422.8% and 424%.

Cinebench R23 continues the trend with the EPYC 7601 reaching 29800 multi-core and 4207 single-core, while the Pentium Gold manages 5700 and 804. The delta percentages hover between 422.8% and 423.3% across all multi-core and single-core tests, suggesting a consistent performance scaling factor rather than workload-specific variability. Notably, the single-core deltas are not smaller than the multi-core ones—they are actually slightly larger in R15 (428.8% vs 423.2%) and R23 (423.3% vs 422.8%). This indicates the EPYC 7601's advantage is not merely a function of core count; its per-thread performance also outclasses the Pentium Gold by a wide margin.

The benchmark data shows no test where the Intel Pentium Gold G7400 manages to close the gap. The win count stands at 6 for the AMD EPYC 7601 and 0 for the Pentium Gold. Even in the single-core tests, which typically favor higher base clocks and newer architectures, the EPYC 7601's 2.20 GHz base clock and 3.20 GHz boost clock are sufficient to dominate the Pentium's 3.70 GHz fixed clock. This is a complete sweep, and the numbers leave no room for ambiguity.

Architecture Differences

The architectural chasm between these two processors explains the benchmark outcomes. The AMD EPYC 7601 is built on the Zen architecture with the Naples codename, part of the EPYC 7001 series. It packs 32 cores and 64 threads on a 14 nm process node fabricated by GlobalFoundries. The die size is 213 mm², containing 4,800 million transistors. In contrast, the Intel Pentium Gold G7400 uses the Alder Lake architecture (codename Alder Lake-S) on Intel's 10 nm process, with just 2 cores and 4 threads.

Cache hierarchies diverge sharply. The EPYC 7601 allocates 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a massive 64 MB shared L3 cache. The Pentium Gold G7400 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and only 6 MB of shared L3. The EPYC's 64 MB L3 is more than ten times larger, which is critical for server workloads with large working sets.

Memory support differs fundamentally. The EPYC 7601 supports DDR4 with an eight-channel memory bus, delivering 170.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Pentium Gold G7400 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 but uses a dual-channel bus, with no bandwidth figure listed in the data. ECC memory is supported by the AMD part but not by the Intel part. PCIe generations also differ: the EPYC 7601 uses Gen 3, while the Pentium Gold G7400 uses Gen 5.

The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket SP3 versus Intel Socket 1700. The EPYC 7601 targets the server/workstation segment, while the Pentium Gold G7400 is a desktop part. The EPYC 7601 has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Pentium Gold G7400 is locked. The Pentium Gold G7400 includes integrated UHD Graphics 710; the EPYC 7601 has no integrated graphics. Finally, the power envelopes are wildly different: 180 W TDP for the EPYC versus 46 W for the Pentium, though the EPYC's much larger transistor count and core count justify this.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows the AMD EPYC 7601 winning all six Cinebench comparisons. This makes the use-case split straightforward: the EPYC 7601 wins everywhere in the tested workloads. The multi-core results (R15: 3003 vs 574, R20: 12516 vs 2394, R23: 29800 vs 5700) indicate that for heavily parallel workloads like rendering, compilation, or scientific computing, the EPYC 7601 is in a different league. The 32-core configuration provides massive throughput that a 2-core part cannot approach.

The single-core results (R15: 423 vs 80, R20: 1766 vs 337, R23: 4207 vs 804) are more surprising. Even in single-threaded tasks, the EPYC 7601 holds a roughly 4.2x advantage. This suggests the Zen architecture's IPC, combined with the higher boost clock of 3.20 GHz (versus the Pentium's fixed 3.70 GHz), is sufficient to overcome the clock speed deficit. The Pentium Gold's higher base clock does not translate into faster single-thread performance in these benchmarks.

For the Pentium Gold G7400, the additional PassMark tests in its benchmark list—data compression (72591), data encryption (3694), extended instructions (4887), find prime numbers (33), floating point math (14458), integer math (18675), multithread (6704), physics (575), random string sorting (7278), and single thread (2982)—provide a broader picture. However, since the head-to-head data only includes Cinebench tests, these PassMark scores cannot be directly compared to the EPYC 7601. The Pentium Gold's integrated graphics and lower TDP (46 W) suggest it is designed for basic desktop tasks, but the available comparative data does not show any workload where it outpaces the EPYC 7601.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7601 has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Pentium Gold G7400 has 2 cores and 4 threads. This 16x core advantage is the primary driver of the multi-core benchmark gaps.

Q: Does the Intel Pentium Gold G7400 win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The head-to-head data covers six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, each with multi-core and single-core variants), and the AMD EPYC 7601 wins all six. The win count is 6 for AMD and 0 for Intel.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC 7601 scores 4207 versus 804 for the Pentium Gold G7400, a 423.3% advantage. In R15 single-core, the scores are 423 versus 80, a 428.8% lead. The EPYC 7601 wins single-core tests by roughly the same margin as multi-core tests.

Q: How do the memory buses compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7601 uses an eight-channel DDR4 memory bus with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Pentium Gold G7400 uses a dual-channel bus supporting DDR4 and DDR5, but no bandwidth figure is provided in the data.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD EPYC 7601 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Pentium Gold G7400 does not.

Q: What are the cache sizes?

A: The EPYC 7601 has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 64 MB shared L3. The Pentium Gold G7400 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3.

The Verdict

The data presents a stark choice. The AMD EPYC 7601 outperforms the Intel Pentium Gold G7400 in every benchmark where both were tested, with deltas consistently above 422%. For any workload represented by the Cinebench suite—whether single-threaded or multi-threaded—the EPYC 7601 is the clear performance leader. Its 32 cores, 64 threads, 64 MB L3 cache, and eight-channel memory support make it suited for server and workstation tasks that demand maximum throughput.

The Intel Pentium Gold G7400, with its 2 cores, 4 threads, 6 MB L3 cache, and dual-channel memory, occupies a fundamentally different market segment. Its 46 W TDP and integrated UHD Graphics 710 point toward low-power desktop use, but the head-to-head data shows no scenario where it wins. The single-core results are particularly telling: despite a higher base clock (3.70 GHz vs 2.20 GHz), the Pentium Gold loses by over 420% in every single-core test. This indicates that the EPYC 7601's architecture provides superior per-thread performance, not just more threads.

Given the benchmark results, the AMD EPYC 7601 is the choice for anyone prioritizing raw performance in Cinebench-style workloads. The Pentium Gold G7400 would only be appropriate if the workload is outside the tested benchmarks and the platform requirements—such as the Intel Socket 1700, PCIe Gen 5, or integrated graphics—are mandatory. However, within the scope of the provided data, the EPYC 7601 wins all six head-to-head matchups, and the numbers leave no basis for recommending the Pentium Gold on performance grounds alone. The EPYC 7601's percentile rank of 65 versus the Pentium's 64 is close, but that ranking reflects all CPUs, not this direct comparison, where the EPYC 7601's average benchmark score of 8619 versus 8515 further confirms its edge.