AMD EPYC 4124P vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V and AMD EPYC 4124P occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, yet their average benchmark scores place them within 0.6% of each other. The Intel part is a Lunar Lake mobile processor with 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD chip is a Zen 4-based server/workstation part with 4 cores and 8 threads. Both achieve the 76th percentile against all CPUs, but their performance profiles diverge sharply across different workloads. The data shows a clear split: Intel dominates in most single-threaded and floating-point tasks, while AMD counters in specific integer-heavy and data-processing scenarios.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in this comparison is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V scores 191 against the EPYC 4124P’s 89, a massive 114.6% advantage. This is the largest delta across all 17 head-to-head benchmarks and indicates a fundamental difference in how each architecture handles this specific mathematical workload. Similarly, in floating-point math, Intel leads with a score of 56,923 versus 31,518, an 80.6% margin that underscores the Lunar Lake design’s strength in parallel floating-point operations.

The physics test also favors Intel heavily, with the Ultra 7 266V scoring 1,608 against 1,087 for the EPYC, a 47.9% lead. Encryption performance shows an 18.8% Intel advantage, with scores of 13,822 versus 11,630. In the extended instructions test, Intel wins by 5.8% with 15,928 against 15,049. All Cinebench results are similarly one-sided: the Intel part wins R15 multicore (1,667 vs 1,538, +8.4%), R15 singlecore (235 vs 216, +8.8%), R20 multicore (6,948 vs 6,410, +8.4%), R20 singlecore (980 vs 904, +8.4%), R23 multicore (16,544 vs 15,264, +8.4%), and R23 singlecore (2,335 vs 2,154, +8.4%). The PassMark multithread test gives Intel a 7.3% win (19,461 vs 18,139), and single-thread performance is a narrow 1.2% Intel advantage (3,943 vs 3,897).

AMD’s wins are fewer but notable. The largest AMD victory is in integer math, where the EPYC 4124P scores 52,855 against Intel’s 41,558, a 21.4% margin. Data compression also goes to AMD, with 204,926 versus 187,050, an 8.7% lead. Random string sorting completes the AMD sweep with 24,259 against 22,905, a 5.6% advantage. These three wins highlight the EPYC’s proficiency in integer-centric data manipulation tasks, even as it loses ground in most other categories.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, establishing itself as the more versatile performer in this matchup. Its strengths are concentrated in rendering, physics simulation, encryption, and floating-point mathematics. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16,544 versus 15,264 indicates that the Intel part is better suited for 3D rendering and content creation workloads that rely on sustained multi-threaded performance. The 80.6% lead in floating-point math suggests superiority in scientific computing and simulation tasks that heavily utilize FPU operations.

The AMD EPYC 4124P wins three benchmarks, and each victory points to a specific use case. The 21.4% lead in integer math (52,855 vs 41,558) makes it the better choice for database operations, financial calculations, and general business logic that depend on integer arithmetic. The 8.7% win in data compression (204,926 vs 187,050) positions it well for file archiving, backup systems, and data transfer workloads. The 5.6% edge in random string sorting (24,259 vs 22,905) further reinforces its suitability for text processing and data indexing tasks. These three wins cluster around data-centric server workloads, which aligns with the EPYC’s server/workstation market segment.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V uses the Lunar Lake architecture on a 3 nm TSMC process node, while the AMD EPYC 4124P uses Zen 4 (Raphael) on a 5 nm TSMC node. The Intel part has 8 cores and 8 threads with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The AMD part has 4 cores and 8 threads with a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 5.10 GHz. This core count difference explains why Intel wins most multi-threaded benchmarks despite AMD’s higher clocks.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Intel part has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD’s larger L3 cache likely contributes to its wins in data compression and integer math, where larger working sets can be cached. Intel’s larger per-core L1 and L2 caches may help with its floating-point and physics performance.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel part supports LPDDR5X with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The AMD part supports DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. Intel’s 64% bandwidth advantage (136.5 GB/s vs 83.2 GB/s) is significant for memory-intensive workloads. The AMD part supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not. PCIe connectivity differs sharply: the Intel part offers Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only). This makes the EPYC far more suitable for systems with multiple expansion cards or storage devices. The Intel part includes Arc 140V integrated graphics, while the AMD part includes Radeon Graphics. The Intel TDP is 17 watts versus AMD’s 65 watts, reflecting the mobile versus server design goals. The AMD part also has a specified transistor count of 6,570 million and a die size of 71 mm², while the Intel part does not list these figures.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload requirements. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is the superior processor for most general-purpose and compute-heavy tasks. Its 8-core design delivers consistent 8.4% advantages across all Cinebench versions, and its dominance in floating-point math (80.6% lead), physics (47.9% lead), and encryption (18.8% lead) makes it the stronger choice for rendering, scientific simulation, and security-related workloads. The 14 out of 17 benchmark wins, including all six Cinebench tests, establish it as the better all-round performer.

The AMD EPYC 4124P is the specialized choice for integer and data-processing environments. Its 21.4% lead in integer math and 8.7% lead in data compression point toward database servers, data analytics, and file management systems where these operations dominate. The 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes and ECC memory support, combined with its server/workstation market segment, make it more appropriate for enterprise infrastructure roles where data integrity and I/O expansion are critical. Its higher clock speeds (3.80 GHz base, 5.10 GHz boost) do not overcome Intel’s core count advantage in most tests, but they help keep single-thread performance nearly competitive at just 1.2% behind.

For mobile or low-power deployments, the Intel part’s 17-watt TDP is compelling, though the data does not include power consumption benchmarks. For server environments requiring ECC memory and extensive PCIe connectivity, the AMD part is the only option between these two. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 23,297 for Intel versus 23,167 for AMD — but the composition of those scores could not be more different.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V scores 3,943 in PassMark single-thread, which is 1.2% higher than the AMD EPYC 4124P’s score of 3,897. Intel also wins all Cinebench single-core tests by 8.4% to 8.8%.

Q: What is the biggest performance difference between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V scores 191 versus the AMD EPYC 4124P’s 89, a 114.6% advantage for Intel.

Q: In which benchmarks does the AMD EPYC 4124P outperform the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V?

A: The AMD EPYC 4124P wins three benchmarks: integer math (52,855 vs 41,558, +21.4%), data compression (204,926 vs 187,050, +8.7%), and random string sorting (24,259 vs 22,905, +5.6%).

Q: How do the memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has a memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s, which is significantly higher than the AMD EPYC 4124P’s 83.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD EPYC 4124P supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V does not list ECC support in its specifications.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the AMD EPYC 4124P?

A: The AMD EPYC 4124P has a launch MSRP of $149. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V does not have a listed launch MSRP in the data.