Amd Epyc 7452 Vs Intel Xeon E5-2673 V4: Which One Reigns Supreme In 2023?

In the realm of server processors, the AMD EPYC 7452 and Intel Xeon E5-2673 V4 stand as two prominent contenders. These CPUs are designed to power a wide range of enterprise applications, from cloud computing and virtualization to data analytics and high-performance computing. In this comprehensive comparison, we will delve into the intricate details of these two server processors, examining their architecture, performance, features, and suitability for various workloads. By the end of this analysis, you will gain a clear understanding of which CPU emerges as the superior choice for your specific server requirements.

Architecture and Design

The AMD EPYC 7452 is built upon the Zen 2 microarchitecture, featuring a monolithic design that integrates multiple CPU cores, memory controllers, and I/O components onto a single die. This approach enables efficient utilization of die space and reduces communication latencies between different components. On the other hand, the Intel Xeon E5-2673 V4 adopts a multi-chip module (MCM) design, where multiple CPU dies are interconnected via a high-speed interconnect fabric. This design allows for greater flexibility in scaling core counts and memory capacity.

Core Count and Thread Count

The AMD EPYC 7452 boasts an impressive 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5-2673 V4 offers 18 cores and 36 threads. The higher core count and thread count of the EPYC 7452 provide it with an advantage in workloads that benefit from parallel processing and multithreading. Such workloads include virtualization, cloud computing, and data-intensive applications.

Clock Speed and Boost Frequency

The AMD EPYC 7452 operates at a base clock speed of 2.3 GHz and can boost up to 3.3 GHz. The Intel Xeon E5-2673 V4 has a slightly higher base clock speed of 2.3 GHz but a lower boost frequency of 3.2 GHz. While clock speed is an important factor in determining single-threaded performance, modern workloads often rely on multiple cores and threads, making the overall core count and thread count more critical in many real-world scenarios.

Cache Memory

The AMD EPYC 7452 features a generous 256 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Xeon E5-2673 V4 has 45 MB of L3 cache. The larger L3 cache of the EPYC 7452 can significantly improve performance in applications that require frequent access to large datasets, such as in-memory databases and data analytics workloads.

Memory Support

Both the AMD EPYC 7452 and Intel Xeon E5-2673 V4 support quad-channel DDR4 memory. The EPYC 7452 supports memory speeds up to 3200 MT/s, while the Xeon E5-2673 V4 supports memory speeds up to 2400 MT/s. The EPYC 7452 also offers a higher maximum memory capacity of 2 TB compared to the Xeon E5-2673 V4’s 1 TB.

Performance and Benchmarks

In terms of performance, the AMD EPYC 7452 generally outperforms the Intel Xeon E5-2673 V4 in a wide range of benchmarks. For instance, in the SPECrate2017_int benchmark, which measures integer performance, the EPYC 7452 delivers up to 20% higher performance than the Xeon E5-2673 V4. Similarly, in the SPECrate2017_fp benchmark, which measures floating-point performance, the EPYC 7452 demonstrates a significant performance advantage over the Xeon E5-2673 V4.

Power Consumption and Efficiency

The AMD EPYC 7452 has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 225W, while the Intel Xeon E5-2673 V4 has a TDP of 165W. This means that the EPYC 7452 consumes more power than the Xeon E5-2673 V4. However, the EPYC 7452 also delivers higher performance, resulting in better power efficiency.

Features and Technologies

The AMD EPYC 7452 and Intel Xeon E5-2673 V4 offer a range of advanced features and technologies to enhance performance and security. These features include support for virtualization, hardware-accelerated encryption, and error-correcting code (ECC) memory. Additionally, the EPYC 7452 supports AMD’s Infinity Fabric technology, which enables high-speed communication between multiple EPYC processors in a single system.

Suitability for Different Workloads

The AMD EPYC 7452 is an excellent choice for workloads that require high core counts, large memory capacity, and high bandwidth. Such workloads include virtualization, cloud computing, data analytics, and high-performance computing.