Streamlined 48-core AMD EPYC 9474F outscores 64-core Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX in PassMark's CPU Mark test suite

AMD launched the Genoa series of Zen 4 EPYC server chips in November 2022 but a couple of samples of one particular SKU have just recently appeared on the PassMark database. The 48-core, 96-thread EPYC 9474F has soared to near the top of the website’s CPU Mark chart, producing a result of 99,068. While there is still a high margin for error here, it is an astonishing benchmark that leaves the AMD EPYC 9474F in second position. Only the 96-core EPYC 9654 has a higher score than its Genoa relative, but it also has twice the core count to its advantage and comes with a much higher price tag: US$11,805 vs. US$6,780.

However, where it could be expected to see a 96-core server chip easily demolish even a 64-core Zen 3 Ryzen Threadripper, which it did, it’s still intriguing to see a 48-core variant from the same series also overpower the PRO 5995WX. Despite having 16 cores fewer, the streamlining effects of both the Zen 4 architecture and the 5 nm fabrication process have helped the AMD EPYC 9474F force its way past the Chagall chip, even if it’s only by +2.52% in this particular test suite. Unsurprisingly, the Threadripper part gains the advantage in single-core testing thanks to its 4.5 GHz boost (9474F: 4.1 GHz maximum).

Of course, you would expect generational performance increases, especially between AMD’s Zen families. However, it’s worth remembering that this is a 48-core chip outmuscling a 64-core processor that has been designed purely for (business/professional) power. The AMD EPYC 9474F utilizes a default TDP of 360 W (5995WX: 280 W) to push its fewer cores to greater performance levels, with the server part producing on average 2,064 per core compared to the 1,510 per core score for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO unit. That’s +36.7% per core difference for +28.6% greater TDP requirement; per core score might not be the best or completely accurate way to compare benchmark execution but it’s plain to see there is good improvement in performance efficiency. 

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