AMD EPYC 7F72 vs AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 dominates in single-threaded workloads, while the AMD EPYC 7F72 takes the majority of multi-threaded and memory-sensitive tests. Out of the 11 shared benchmark comparisons, the EPYC 7F72 wins 9, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 wins 2.

The most striking result is in PassMark single-thread performance. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 scores 4619, which is 93.8% ahead of the EPYC 7F72's 2384. This is a massive gap, more than the difference between any two consecutive generations of desktop processors. For workloads that depend on low-latency single-core response, such as legacy database queries, interactive sessions, or lightly threaded application logic, this advantage is decisive.

In multi-threaded performance, the EPYC 7F72 claims the lead, but not by an overwhelming margin given its core count advantage. The PassMark multi-thread score for the EPYC 7F72 is 52740, which is 7.7% ahead of the Ryzen 9 PRO 9945's 48664. The EPYC 7F72 has twice the cores and twice the threads, so the fact that it only leads by 7.7% in this aggregate test shows how efficient the Zen 5 architecture in the Ryzen part is per-core.

The data compression test shows a larger gap. The EPYC 7F72 scores 808795, which is 28.3% ahead of the Ryzen 9 PRO 9945's 579972. Similarly, in random string sorting, the EPYC 7F72 leads by 39%, scoring 102436 versus 62458. These tests are heavily dependent on memory bandwidth and cache capacity, areas where the EPYC platform has structural advantages.

Data encryption shows the biggest multi-threaded delta. The EPYC 7F72 scores 56261, which is 45.9% ahead of the Ryzen 9 PRO 9945's 30450. This test scales strongly with core count and memory throughput, and the EPYC's 24 cores and eight-channel memory bus make the difference.

The physics test is the most lopsided result in the entire comparison. The EPYC 7F72 scores 6459, which is 55.1% ahead of the Ryzen 9 PRO 9945's 2902. This workload appears to be highly parallel and memory-bandwidth-sensitive, playing directly into the EPYC's strengths.

In the remaining tests, the margins are smaller. Floating point math is nearly identical, with the EPYC 7F72 scoring 108437 versus 107340, a delta of just 1%. Integer math shows a 5.5% advantage for the EPYC 7F72, scoring 181103 versus 171175. Extended instructions also show a 5.5% advantage for the EPYC 7F72, with scores of 46936 and 44374 respectively. Prime number finding shows a 31.3% lead for the EPYC 7F72, scoring 498 versus 342.

The average benchmark score tells a different story than the head-to-head wins. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has an average benchmark score of 96083, while the EPYC 7F72 sits at 85072. This is because the Ryzen part's single-thread score is extremely high relative to its multi-thread scores, and the average pulls in that direction. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 sits at the 96th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 4565P at 95764 (0.3% behind) and the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D at 97453 (1.4% ahead). The EPYC 7F72 also sits at the 96th percentile, with nearest rivals including the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus at 84003 (1.3% behind) and the AMD EPYC 9135 at 82980 (2.5% behind).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of AMD's server and workstation lineup. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename, part of the 9000 series. The EPYC 7F72 uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Rome codename. This is a two-generation gap in microarchitecture, and the data reflects that in single-thread performance.

The manufacturing process differs substantially. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 is fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC, while the EPYC 7F72 uses a 7 nm process, also from TSMC. The transistor counts reflect the different design approaches. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has 16,630 million transistors across a die size of 2x 70.6 mm², while the EPYC 7F72 has 3,800 million transistors on a single 74 mm² die. The Ryzen part's chiplet design with two dies explains the higher total transistor count despite fewer cores.

Core and thread counts are a major differentiator. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the EPYC 7F72 has 24 cores and 48 threads. The EPYC doubles the parallel processing capacity, which shows up in the multi-threaded benchmark results.

Cache hierarchies are organized differently. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The EPYC 7F72 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 192 MB of shared L3 cache. The EPYC's larger L3 cache, three times the Ryzen's capacity, helps in workloads that repeatedly access large working sets.

Memory support is another major split. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The EPYC 7F72 supports DDR4 over an eight-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The EPYC offers more than twice the memory bandwidth, which is a critical factor in the compression, sorting, encryption, and physics test advantages.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 provides PCIe Gen 5 with 24 CPU lanes. The EPYC 7F72 provides PCIe Gen 4, though the lane count is not specified in the database. The Ryzen part also includes integrated Radeon Graphics, while the EPYC 7F72 has no integrated graphics.

The sockets are incompatible. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 uses AMD Socket AM5, while the EPYC 7F72 uses AMD Socket SP3. These platforms are not interchangeable, so the choice of processor dictates the motherboard and memory architecture.

Clock speeds reflect the different design priorities. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The EPYC 7F72 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The Ryzen part boosts 1.70 GHz higher, which explains its massive single-thread advantage.

Power envelopes are very different. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the EPYC 7F72 has a TDP of 240 watts. The EPYC draws significantly more power to feed its additional cores and memory channels.

Both processors support ECC memory, which is a requirement for many server and workstation deployments. Both are listed as active production parts in the database.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear division of use cases. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 is the choice for single-thread-sensitive workloads. Its 93.8% single-thread advantage over the EPYC 7F72 is the largest gap in the entire benchmark set. For applications that cannot parallelize well, or where per-core responsiveness is the bottleneck, the Ryzen part will deliver dramatically better performance.

The EPYC 7F72 is the choice for throughput-oriented workloads that can use more cores and more memory bandwidth. Its 24 cores and 48 threads, combined with 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth and 192 MB of shared L3 cache, give it clear advantages in data compression (28.3% ahead), random string sorting (39% ahead), data encryption (45.9% ahead), and physics (55.1% ahead).

For mixed workloads, the choice is less obvious. The average benchmark score favors the Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 at 96083 versus 85072 for the EPYC 7F72. This suggests that for a generic mix of tasks, the Ryzen part performs better on average, driven by its exceptional single-thread score. But for sustained multi-threaded server workloads, the EPYC's wins in 9 of 11 benchmarks are more relevant.

The platform implications are significant. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 uses Socket AM5 with DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5, while the EPYC 7F72 uses Socket SP3 with DDR4 and PCIe Gen 4. The Ryzen part has a 65 watt TDP versus 240 watts for the EPYC. The Ryzen part includes integrated graphics, which can simplify system bring-up and reduce the need for a discrete GPU in basic deployments.

The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 also has a much higher boost clock at 5.40 GHz versus 3.70 GHz for the EPYC 7F72, and it is built on a more advanced 4 nm process versus 7 nm. The EPYC 7F72 was released in April 2020, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 was released in September 2025, a gap of over five years in the database's recorded release dates.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the EPYC 7F72 has 24 cores and 48 threads. The Ryzen part has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, while the EPYC has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz.

The process node is 4 nm for the Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 and 7 nm for the EPYC 7F72. Transistor count is 16,630 million for the Ryzen part and 3,800 million for the EPYC. Die size is 2x 70.6 mm² for the Ryzen part and 74 mm² for the EPYC. The Ryzen part uses the Granite Ridge codename and Zen 5 architecture, while the EPYC uses the Rome codename and Zen 2 architecture.

Cache configurations differ. The Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3. The EPYC 7F72 has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 192 MB shared L3.

Memory support differs by generation and width. The Ryzen part uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC uses DDR4 with an eight-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe support is Gen 5 with 24 lanes for the Ryzen part, and Gen 4 for the EPYC. The Ryzen part has integrated Radeon Graphics, while the EPYC has none. The socket is AM5 for the Ryzen and SP3 for the EPYC. TDP is 65 watts for the Ryzen and 240 watts for the EPYC. The release dates are September 2025 for the Ryzen and April 2020 for the EPYC.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 is far ahead, scoring 4619 in PassMark single-thread tests versus 2384 for the AMD EPYC 7F72, a 93.8% advantage.

Q: Which processor has better multi-thread performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7F72 leads, scoring 52740 in PassMark multi-thread tests versus 48664 for the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945, a 7.7% advantage.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7F72 has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The AMD EPYC 7F72 has 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth over an eight-channel DDR4 bus. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has 89.6 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 bus.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 7F72 has 192 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has 64 MB of L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 and the AMD EPYC 7F72 support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 includes Radeon Graphics. The AMD EPYC 7F72 has no integrated graphics.