AMD EPYC 7702 vs AMD Ryzen 5 4500 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the AMD EPYC 7702 across every shared benchmark test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7702 scores 5900 against the Ryzen 5 4500's 1378, a delta of -76.6% from the perspective of the Ryzen part. That pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the EPYC 7702 posts 24586 versus 5744, again a -76.6% difference. The largest absolute gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core: the EPYC 7702 reaches 58539 while the Ryzen 5 4500 manages 13677, maintaining the same -76.6% delta.

Single-thread performance tells a similar story, though the margins are proportionally identical. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the EPYC 7702 scores 832 against 194 for the Ryzen 5 4500, a -76.7% delta. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 3470 versus 810, also -76.7%. Cinebench R23 single-core completes the set: 8264 versus 1930, with a -76.6% delta. The consistency of these deltas across both multi-core and single-core tests suggests the performance gap is not a scaling artifact but a fundamental per-thread and per-core advantage for the EPYC 7702.

The Ryzen 5 4500 has no wins in this head-to-head comparison. Out of six benchmark comparisons, the EPYC 7702 takes all six. The average benchmark scores in the database reflect a closer overall picture: the Ryzen 5 4500 averages 17333, while the EPYC 7702 averages 16932. This near parity in average score, despite the lopsided Cinebench results, indicates that the Ryzen 5 4500 benefits from a broader benchmark suite that includes single-threaded and light-threaded workloads where it is more competitive. However, in the specific tests where both parts were measured, the EPYC 7702 dominates by roughly three-quarters across the board.

Percentile rankings place the Ryzen 5 4500 at the 71st percentile of all CPUs, while the EPYC 7702 sits at the 70th percentile. These nearly identical percentile positions, combined with the similar average scores, suggest that the database's overall ranking treats these parts as comparable in aggregate performance. The head-to-head Cinebench results, however, reveal that the EPYC 7702 has a decisive edge in rendering-style workloads, while the Ryzen 5 4500 likely performs relatively better in other benchmark categories that are not shared between the two.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use the Zen 2 architecture and are fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Ryzen 5 4500 belongs to the 4000 series with the Renoir codename, while the EPYC 7702 is part of the EPYC 7002 series with the Rome codename. The Ryzen 5 4500 is a desktop part, and the EPYC 7702 targets server and workstation environments.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The Ryzen 5 4500 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the EPYC 7702 has 64 cores and 128 threads. The Ryzen 5 4500's base clock is 3.60 GHz with a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, whereas the EPYC 7702's base clock is 2000.00 MHz (2.00 GHz) with a boost clock of 3.35 GHz. Despite the EPYC 7702's lower clocks, its massive core count drives the multi-core benchmark advantage.

Cache hierarchies are notably different. The Ryzen 5 4500 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The EPYC 7702 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 256 MB of shared L3 cache. The EPYC 7702's 256 MB L3 cache is 32 times larger than the Ryzen 5 4500's 8 MB, which contributes to its ability to feed 64 cores efficiently.

Memory support also diverges. Both support DDR4, but the Ryzen 5 4500 uses a dual-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the EPYC 7702 uses an eight-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC 7702 supports ECC memory; the Ryzen 5 4500 does not. PCIe capabilities differ as well: the Ryzen 5 4500 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the EPYC 7702 provides Gen 4. The transistor counts differ: the Ryzen 5 4500 has 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the EPYC 7702 has 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. This reflects the different chiplet designs, though the database does not specify chiplet versus monolithic construction directly.

The Ryzen 5 4500 has an unlocked multiplier, while the EPYC 7702 does not. The Ryzen 5 4500 uses AMD Socket AM4, and the EPYC 7702 uses AMD Socket SP3. The Ryzen 5 4500 was released on 2022-04-03, while the EPYC 7702 was released on 2019-08-06. The Ryzen 5 4500 has a launch MSRP of $129; the EPYC 7702 has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench benchmarks?

A: The AMD EPYC 7702 wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 58539 versus the Ryzen 5 4500's 13677, a -76.6% delta from the Ryzen's perspective.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 4500 faster in any shared benchmark?

A: No. In the six head-to-head benchmarks recorded, the EPYC 7702 wins all six. The Ryzen 5 4500 has zero wins.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 5 4500 has an average benchmark score of 17333, while the EPYC 7702 averages 16932. The Ryzen 5 4500 is slightly higher in this aggregate metric, despite losing every shared Cinebench test.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Ryzen 5 4500 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The EPYC 7702 has 64 cores and 128 threads.

Q: Do both processors use the same architecture and process node?

A: Yes, both use Zen 2 architecture and a 7 nm process node from TSMC. The Ryzen 5 4500 has the Renoir codename, and the EPYC 7702 has the Rome codename.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The EPYC 7702 supports ECC memory. The Ryzen 5 4500 does not support ECC memory, according to the database.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. Core count: 6 versus 64. Thread count: 12 versus 128. Base clock: 3.60 GHz versus 2000.00 MHz. Boost clock: 4.10 GHz versus 3.35 GHz. TDP: 65 versus 200. Socket: AMD Socket AM4 versus AMD Socket SP3. Codename: Renoir versus Rome. Generation: Ryzen 5 (Zen 2 (Renoir)) versus EPYC (Zen 2 (Rome)).

Transistor count: 9,800 million versus 3,800 million. Die size: 156 mm² versus 74 mm². L1 cache: 64 KB per core versus 96 KB per core. L2 cache: 512 KB per core for both, no difference. L3 cache: 8 MB shared versus 256 MB shared. Memory bus: dual-channel versus eight-channel. Memory bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s versus 204.8 GB/s. ECC memory: false versus true. PCIe: Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 4.

Market segment: desktop versus server/workstation. Release date: 2022-04-03 versus 2019-08-06. Launch MSRP: $129 versus null. Multiplier unlocked: true versus false. Part number: 100-000000xxx versus 100-000000038.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split between two very different roles. The AMD EPYC 7702 is the definitive choice for heavily threaded workloads. Its 64 cores and 128 threads, combined with a 256 MB L3 cache and eight-channel memory support, deliver Cinebench multi-core scores that are roughly 4.3 times higher than the Ryzen 5 4500 across R15, R20, and R23. The EPYC 7702 also wins every single-core Cinebench test, albeit with the same proportional margin, which is notable given its lower boost clock of 3.35 GHz versus 4.10 GHz on the Ryzen 5 4500. For server or workstation environments where rendering, simulation, or database workloads dominate, the EPYC 7702's specifications align directly with those demands.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500, on the other hand, serves a different purpose. Its 6 cores and 12 threads, dual-channel memory, and 65 W TDP make it suited for desktop use. Its average benchmark score of 17333 is actually higher than the EPYC 7702's 16932, and its percentile ranking of 71 is one point higher. This suggests that in the broader benchmark suite, which includes tests outside the shared Cinebench set, the Ryzen 5 4500 holds its own or even outperforms the EPYC 7702. The Ryzen 5 4500 also has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, and a launch MSRP of $129, which the database records but does not use for comparison.

Users should choose the EPYC 7702 if their workloads scale with core count, require ECC memory, or need the higher memory bandwidth of eight channels. The EPYC 7702's Gen 4 PCIe support also offers newer connectivity options. Users should choose the Ryzen 5 4500 for desktop builds where the lower TDP, higher boost clock, and unlocked multiplier are relevant. The Ryzen 5 4500 is not competitive with the EPYC 7702 in the shared Cinebench tests, but its superior average benchmark score and percentile ranking indicate that it excels in other workload categories not captured in the head-to-head comparison. The two processors are not direct competitors; they occupy different market segments, and the data supports selecting based on workload type rather than raw benchmark dominance.