AMD EPYC 9334 vs AMD Ryzen 3 8440U Comparison

The AMD EPYC 9334 and AMD Ryzen 3 8440U are both Zen 4 designs from AMD, but they occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum. The EPYC 9334 is a 32-core server processor built for the data center, while the Ryzen 3 8440U is a 4-core mobile chip designed for thin and light laptops. The recorded benchmark data shows a one-sided contest: the EPYC 9334 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with margins between 406.3% and 409.1%. Yet the Ryzen 3 8440U counters with a higher boost clock, a smaller process node, and integrated graphics, making it the more practical choice for portable systems.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head record is unambiguous. The EPYC 9334 takes all six Cinebench comparisons, both single-core and multi-core. In multi-core workloads, the EPYC's 32 cores and 64 threads simply overwhelm the Ryzen 3's 4 cores and 8 threads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result shows the EPYC scoring 55,110 against 10,884 for the Ryzen 3, a 406.3% advantage. The single-core gap is even larger in percentage terms: the EPYC scores 7,780 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1,536 for the Ryzen 3, a 406.5% lead.

The Ryzen 3 8440U does not win any of the recorded head-to-head benchmarks. Its wins are contextual rather than numerical. It offers a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz and a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz, compared to 2.70 GHz and 3.90 GHz for the EPYC. It also draws far less power, with a 28W TDP versus 210W. For a laptop, that efficiency is the entire point. The Ryzen 3 also includes a Radeon 740M integrated GPU, which the EPYC lacks entirely.

The database's percentile rankings place both chips at the 70th percentile among all CPUs, but their average benchmark scores tell different stories. The EPYC 9334 averages 15,940 across its recorded benchmarks, while the Ryzen 3 8440U averages 16,663. That puts the Ryzen 3 slightly ahead in the aggregate, despite losing every head-to-head Cinebench test, because the Ryzen 3's Passmark results are included in its average while the EPYC's are not. This is a reminder that average scores mix different workload types, and the Cinebench suite is only one lens.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use the Zen 4 architecture, but they are distinct silicon designs. The EPYC 9334 carries the Genoa codename and belongs to the EPYC 9004 series, while the Ryzen 3 8440U is part of the 8000 series with the Hawk Point codename. The EPYC is built on TSMC's 5 nm process, while the Ryzen 3 uses a 4 nm process. The transistor counts reflect the scale difference: the EPYC packs 52,560 million transistors across four 72 mm² dies, while the Ryzen 3 integrates 20,900 million transistors on a single 137 mm² die.

Cache hierarchies diverge sharply. Both allocate 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is 128 MB on the EPYC versus 8 MB on the Ryzen 3. That difference in L3 capacity is a major factor in server workloads that repeatedly access large datasets, and it helps explain why the EPYC maintains such a large lead in threaded tests.

Memory support is another fundamental split. The EPYC 9334 uses a twelve-channel DDR5 memory bus with 460.8 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Ryzen 3 8440U uses a dual-channel DDR5 bus with 89.6 GB/s. The EPYC also supports ECC memory; the Ryzen 3 does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the EPYC provides Gen 5 with 128 lanes, while the Ryzen 3 provides Gen 4 with 14 lanes.

The sockets are incompatible. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP5, the Ryzen 3 uses AMD Socket FP7. The EPYC is a server/workstation part, the Ryzen 3 is a mobile part. The EPYC has no integrated graphics; the Ryzen 3 includes Radeon 740M. The EPYC launched on 2022-11-09 with a launch MSRP of $2990. The Ryzen 3 launched on 2023-12-05 with no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD EPYC 9334 wins every multi-core Cinebench test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 55,110 versus 10,884 for the Ryzen 3 8440U, a 406.3% advantage. The R20 multi-core result is 23,146 versus 4,571, also a 406.4% lead.

Q: Does the Ryzen 3 8440U win any benchmark?

A: In the recorded head-to-head comparisons, no. The EPYC 9334 wins all six Cinebench tests. However, the Ryzen 3 has a higher average benchmark score of 16,663 compared to 15,940 for the EPYC, because its Passmark results are included in the database average.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The Ryzen 3 8440U has a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz and a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The EPYC 9334 runs at 2.70 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: Both use 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache is 128 MB on the EPYC 9334 and 8 MB on the Ryzen 3 8440U.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The EPYC 9334 supports ECC memory. The Ryzen 3 8440U does not.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Ryzen 3 8440U includes a Radeon 740M integrated GPU. The EPYC 9334 has no integrated graphics.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 9334 | AMD Ryzen 3 8440U |

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

| Cores | 32 | 4 |

| Threads | 64 | 8 |

| Base clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.90 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 210W | 28W |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP5 | AMD Socket FP7 |

| Codename | Genoa | Hawk Point |

| Process node | 5 nm | 4 nm |

| Transistors | 52,560 million | 20,900 million |

| Die size | 4x 72 mm² | 137 mm² |

| L3 cache | 128 MB shared | 8 MB shared |

| Memory bus | Twelve-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 460.8 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 128 lanes | Gen 4, 14 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | None | Radeon 740M |

| Market segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Release date | 2022-11-09 | 2023-12-05 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite paints a consistent picture. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 9334 scores 5,555 against 1,097 for the Ryzen 3, a 406.4% margin. The single-core R15 test shows 784 versus 154, a 409.1% lead, the largest percentage gap in the entire comparison.

Cinebench R20 follows the same pattern. Multi-core: 23,146 versus 4,571, a 406.4% advantage. Single-core: 3,267 versus 645, a 406.5% lead.

Cinebench R23, the most recent of the three, delivers the same story. Multi-core: 55,110 versus 10,884, a 406.3% margin. Single-core: 7,780 versus 1,536, a 406.5% lead.

The consistency of these margins is notable. Every single-core test shows a delta between 406.5% and 409.1%, and every multi-core test falls between 406.3% and 406.4%. That uniformity suggests the performance gap is structural, driven by the core count and cache size differences, rather than by workload-specific factors. The EPYC's 32 cores and 128 MB of L3 cache give it a decisive advantage in both single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench runs, while the Ryzen 3's smaller 8 MB L3 and 4 cores limit its ceiling.

The EPYC 9334's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core Ultra 5 134U with an average score of 15,910 (0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen 5 40 at 15,882 (0.4% behind), the AMD EPYC 75F3 at 15,859 (0.5% behind), and the AMD EPYC 9354P at 15,826 (0.7% behind). The Ryzen 3 8440U's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U at 16,753 (0.5% ahead), the Intel Core i5-1235U at 16,770 (0.6% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U at 16,827 (1% ahead), and the Intel Core i3-12100E at 16,853 (1.1% ahead).

The data shows that the EPYC 9334 is a compute monster in threaded workloads, while the Ryzen 3 8440U is a low-power mobile chip that trades raw throughput for portability and efficiency. The right choice depends entirely on the use case: a server rack wants the EPYC, a laptop wants the Ryzen 3.