AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X vs AMD EPYC 7702

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X vs AMD EPYC 7702 tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for rendering, machine learning, streaming, programming, video editing. Here is all information from various benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as MATLAB, UserBenchmark, PassMark, Blender, 3DMark, PCMark 10, GeekBench 6, 5.2, RealBench, WPrime, Handbrake, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), AIDA64, SuperPi, VeraCrypt, Prime95, Dolphin Emulator, 7zip, Furmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Death Stranding
DOOM: Eternal
Fortnite
Last Man Standing
Borderlands 3
Halo Infinite
Valheim
Grand Theft Auto V
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Apex Legends
Watch Dogs Legion
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Red Dead Redemption 2
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Rainbow Six Siege
Cyberpunk 2077
Overwatch
Valorant
Fallout 76

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD EPYC 7702 or AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

69%

EPYC 7702

71%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, EPYC 7702 is 2% better than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

65%

EPYC 7702

81%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Battlefield V, Forza Horizon 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Hitman 3, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Metro Exodus, DOTA 2A, League of Legends (LOL), Monster Hunter World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Half-Life: Alyx, Ghostrunner, NBA 2K20, Control, Horizon Zero Dawn, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	115.8	143.1
Valorant	131.6	162.6
Cyberpunk 2077	73.7	91.0
Apex Legends	123.7	152.8
Call of Duty Warzone	98.7	121.9
Overwatch	106.6	131.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	90.8	112.2
DOOM Eternal	65.8	81.3
Warzone	102.7	126.8
Assassin's Creed	110.6	136.6
Valheim	109.3	134.9

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The tested computers not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

15%

EPYC 7702

17%

To make a finishing resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the EPYC 7702 is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X as it consumes less power: 280W vs. 200W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, streaming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	AMD EPYC 7702
Cinbench 15 Single-core	209	216
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	7398	8896
Cinbench 20 Single-core	509	406
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	17444	18857
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1270	996
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	47102	49035

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	AMD EPYC 7702
Single-Core	2686	2099
Multi-Core	64446	71929

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	AMD EPYC 7702
Single-Core	1312	1023
Multi-Core	27290	53995

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	AMD EPYC 7702
Announcement date	November 25, 2019	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Server
Socket	sTRX4	SP3
Core name	Castle Peak	Rome
Architecture	Zen 2	Zen
Generation	3	2
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	3.4 MHz
Frequency	3.7 MHz	2 MHz
Cores	32	64
Threads	64	128
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	22600 millions	86000 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	280 W	200 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	2MB
L2 cache	16MB
L3 cache	128MB	256MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	100-000000011 100-100000011WOF	100-000000038 100-100000038WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is 45% better than EPYC 7702 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that EPYC 7702 has 32 more core than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is better: 10
The number of parameters for which AMD EPYC 7702 is better: 23
Although it should be realized that all the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and AMD EPYC 7702 before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X specs and review.

• AMD EPYC 7702 specs and review.