AMD EPYC 7742 vs AMD Ryzen 5 4500 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data in the database is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7742 wins all six recorded comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 5 4500. There are no benchmark categories where the Ryzen 5 4500 takes the lead among the six shared tests.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC 7742 scores 5923 against the Ryzen 5 4500's 1378, a delta of -76.7% for the Ryzen part. The single-core R15 result shows a similar gap: 836 for the EPYC versus 194 for the Ryzen, a -76.8% delta. These percentage deltas indicate the EPYC is roughly four times faster in both metrics, which is consistent with the extreme core-count disparity.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the EPYC 7742 records 24682 in multicore while the Ryzen 5 4500 manages 5744, again a -76.7% delta. Single-core R20 shows 3484 versus 810, a -76.8% delta. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23: multicore 58769 for the EPYC against 13677 for the Ryzen (-76.7%), and single-core 8296 versus 1930 (-76.7%). The consistency of these deltas across all three Cinebench generations suggests the performance ratio is stable regardless of workload scaling.

The overall wins tally in the database is 0 for the Ryzen 5 4500 and 6 for the EPYC 7742. While the Ryzen part has no head-to-head victories, its absolute scores are not trivial: the R23 multicore score of 13677 is respectable for a 6-core desktop chip, but the EPYC's 58769 is in a different performance class entirely. The single-core deltas are notable because they show the EPYC's advantage is not purely from core count; even with lower base and boost clocks, the server chip leads by roughly 76.8% in single-threaded workloads. This indicates architectural benefits beyond raw frequency.

For context on the Ryzen 5 4500's broader standing, its average benchmark score is 17333, placing it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 210 at 17321 (0.1% delta), Intel Core 7 150U at 17395 (-0.4%), and Intel Core i5-12450H at 17239 (0.5%). The EPYC 7742, despite its massive thread count, sits at a 70th percentile with an average score of 16998, with nearest rivals like the Intel Core i7-1260P at 17007 (-0.1%) and AMD Ryzen 5 3600 at 17035 (-0.2%). This is a crucial observation: the EPYC's average benchmark score is actually slightly lower than the Ryzen 5 4500's, because its benchmark suite in the database includes only Cinebench tests, while the Ryzen part includes a broader set of 3DMark, Geekbench, and Passmark tests. The head-to-head Cinebench results, however, tell the real story for compute-heavy workloads.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Zen 2 architecture and the 7 nm process node from TSMC, but their implementations diverge sharply. The Ryzen 5 4500 uses the Renoir codename, while the EPYC 7742 uses Rome. The Ryzen part is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop chip with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The EPYC 7742 is a 64-core, 128-thread server processor with a base clock of 2.25 GHz and boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The clock speeds favor the Ryzen, yet the EPYC still wins single-threaded tests, as noted above.

The cache hierarchy differs substantially. The Ryzen 5 4500 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7742 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 256 MB of shared L3. The L3 cache difference is the most dramatic: 256 MB versus 8 MB, a 32x gap. This massive L3 pool is likely a significant factor in the EPYC's single-threaded advantage, as it allows far more working set to remain on-chip.

Transistor counts and die sizes also differ. The Ryzen 5 4500 lists 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The EPYC 7742 lists 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. The Ryzen's higher transistor count and larger die reflect its integrated design approach for desktop use, while the EPYC's smaller die per chiplet suggests a multi-die packaging strategy typical of server parts.

Memory support shows a clear split. Both support DDR4, but the Ryzen 5 4500 uses a dual-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support. The EPYC 7742 uses an eight-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and supports ECC memory. The memory bandwidth difference is 153.6 GB/s in favor of the EPYC, which is critical for server workloads that stream large datasets.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The Ryzen 5 4500 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The EPYC 7742 provides PCIe Gen 4, though the database does not list a lane count. The generation jump from Gen 3 to Gen 4 doubles the per-lane bandwidth, which matters for storage and accelerator connectivity.

The sockets are incompatible: the Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4, the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3. The Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $129, while the EPYC has a locked multiplier and no listed MSRP. The Ryzen targets the desktop market segment and was released in April 2022; the EPYC targets server/workstation and was released in August 2019. Both remain in active production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD EPYC 7742 wins all six recorded head-to-head tests, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multicore modes. The Ryzen 5 4500 has zero wins in these comparisons.

Q: How large is the multicore performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The EPYC 7742 scores 58769 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Ryzen 5 4500 scores 13677. The delta is -76.7% for the Ryzen part, meaning the EPYC delivers roughly 4.3 times the multicore score.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 4500 beat the EPYC 7742 in any benchmark category?

A: No. The database's head-to-head section shows no wins for the Ryzen 5 4500. However, its average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 17333, which is slightly higher than the EPYC's 16998, because the two parts were tested with different benchmark suites.

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

A: The Ryzen 5 4500 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The EPYC 7742 has 64 cores and 128 threads. The EPYC provides 58 more cores and 116 more threads.

Q: How does memory bandwidth compare between the two?

A: The Ryzen 5 4500 supports dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC 7742 supports eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, which is 153.6 GB/s higher.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The EPYC 7742 supports ECC memory, while the Ryzen 5 4500 does not. This aligns with the EPYC's server/workstation market positioning.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split by workload type and platform. For any compute-heavy, multi-threaded workload that can use 64 cores, the EPYC 7742 is the obvious choice. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 58769 is more than four times the Ryzen 5 4500's 13677, and its 256 MB of L3 cache plus 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth make it suited for data-intensive server tasks. The ECC memory support and PCIe Gen 4 further reinforce its enterprise credentials.

For desktop use, however, the Ryzen 5 4500 has advantages that the head-to-head tests do not capture. Its lower TDP of 65 watts versus 225 watts, its unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and its standard AM4 socket make it a practical choice for consumer builds. The Ryzen also has a higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz versus 3.40 GHz, which helps in lightly threaded desktop tasks, even though the EPYC still wins the recorded single-threaded tests due to its architectural advantages.

The EPYC 7742 is not a realistic desktop part: its SP3 socket, eight-channel memory requirements, and server market segment exclude it from consumer motherboards. Conversely, the Ryzen 5 4500 cannot scale to server-class workloads: 6 cores, 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, and no ECC support are hard limits. The database shows the EPYC 7742 as the performance leader in every shared test, but the Ryzen 5 4500 remains competitive within its own benchmark suite, sitting at the 71st percentile versus the EPYC's 70th.

The practical verdict is that buyers should choose based on platform, not raw scores. Server operators with SP3 infrastructure should pick the EPYC 7742 for its massive core count, cache, and memory bandwidth. Desktop builders on AM4 should pick the Ryzen 5 4500 for its lower power draw, unlocked multiplier, and adequate performance for consumer workloads. No single processor serves both markets, and the benchmark data reflects that separation.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 4500 | AMD EPYC 7742 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 64 |

| Threads | 12 | 128 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.25 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 225 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Codename | Renoir | Rome |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 256 MB (shared) |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | 3,800 million |

| Die Size | 156 mm² | 74 mm² |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | false | true |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | 2022-04-03 | 2019-08-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $129 | Not listed |

| Multiplier Unlocked | true | false |

| Part Number | 100-000000xxx | 100-000000053 |