AMD EPYC 4245P vs Intel Xeon w3-2525 Comparison

The AMD EPYC 4245P and Intel Xeon w3-2525 are both server/workstation processors aimed at similar buyers, but they approach the job from completely different angles. The EPYC 4245P is a 6-core Zen 5 part built on a 4nm process with a 65W TDP, while the Xeon w3-2525 is an 8-core Sapphire Rapids chip on a 10nm process with a 175W TDP. Benchmark results show the AMD part winning 14 of the 17 head-to-head tests, but the Intel chip takes decisive wins in specific workloads that matter for certain professional use cases. This analysis breaks down where each processor excels and which type of user should choose which.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher single-thread performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 4245P wins every single-core benchmark in the data. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3757 against the Intel Xeon w3-2525's 3404, a 10.4% advantage. The PassMark single-thread test shows an even larger gap: 4575 versus 3426, a 33.5% lead for AMD.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon w3-2525 win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes, it wins three tests. The Intel chip leads in PassMark data compression (341629 vs 339408, a 0.7% edge), PassMark extended instructions (27882 vs 26547, a 4.8% lead), and PassMark floating-point math (68230 vs 57965, a 15% advantage).

Q: How do the two compare in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The EPYC 4245P leads in all Cinebench multi-core tests and in PassMark multithread. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 26618 versus Intel's 24117, a 10.4% win. The PassMark multithread test shows a 9.5% advantage for AMD (31063 vs 28373).

Q: Which processor has more memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Xeon w3-2525 has significantly more memory bandwidth at 140.8 GB/s, compared to the AMD EPYC 4245P's 89.6 GB/s. This is due to the Intel chip's quad-channel memory bus versus the AMD chip's dual-channel bus.

Q: What is the difference in PCIe lane count?

A: The Intel Xeon w3-2525 provides 64 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while the AMD EPYC 4245P offers 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. This is a substantial difference for systems requiring many expansion cards or high-speed storage devices.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD EPYC 4245P and the Intel Xeon w3-2525 support ECC memory, which is critical for workstation reliability and data integrity.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial. The AMD EPYC 4245P is built on Zen 5 architecture with the codename "Grado" and uses a 4nm process from TSMC. It packs 8,315 million transistors into a 70.6 mm² die. The Intel Xeon w3-2525 uses Sapphire Rapids architecture on Intel's 10nm process. The fact that the AMD chip achieves this on a much smaller die with fewer transistors while delivering competitive or better performance in most tests confirms the efficiency of the Zen 5 design.

Cache configurations differ notably. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the AMD chip has 1 MB of L2 per core while the Intel chip has 2 MB per core. The L3 cache is a different story: the EPYC 4245P has 32 MB shared, while the Xeon w3-2525 has 22.5 MB. This larger L3 pool likely contributes to AMD's wins in integer-heavy and encryption workloads.

The core counts and clock speeds also tell a story. The Intel part has 8 cores and 16 threads, but runs at a 3.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost. The AMD part has 6 cores and 12 threads, yet boosts to 5.40 GHz with a 3.90 GHz base. This clock advantage explains why the EPYC 4245P dominates single-threaded tests despite having fewer cores.

The AMD chip includes Radeon Graphics as integrated graphics, while the Intel Xeon w3-2525 has no integrated graphics (N/A). This means the AMD part can drive a display without a discrete GPU, a practical advantage for basic workstation setups.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern: the EPYC 4245P wins every test by roughly 10.4%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 2682 versus Intel's 2430. The single-core R15 test shows 378 vs 342, also a 10.5% win. This pattern repeats in R20 and R23, with the multi-core and single-core deltas both landing at 10.4%. The consistency of this margin across all Cinebench tests suggests a fundamental per-clock advantage for Zen 5 in this rendering workload.

PassMark results are more varied. The Intel Xeon w3-2525 takes the floating-point math test decisively, scoring 68230 versus AMD's 57965 — a 15% lead. This is the largest Intel win in the entire dataset. Intel also edges out AMD in extended instructions (27882 vs 26547, a 4.8% lead) and data compression (341629 vs 339408, a slim 0.7% margin).

The AMD EPYC 4245P responds with several dominant wins in PassMark tests. The biggest is find prime numbers, where AMD scores 193 versus Intel's 129 — a 49.6% advantage. The physics test shows a 38.7% lead (2637 vs 1901), and single-thread performance is 33.5% higher (4575 vs 3426). Integer math goes to AMD by 13.5% (95120 vs 83806), and random string sorting favors AMD by 14.3% (39916 vs 34933). Data encryption also goes to AMD with an 8.1% lead (18466 vs 17086).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. The AMD EPYC 4245P has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Xeon w3-2525 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds favor AMD: 3.90 GHz base and 5.40 GHz boost versus Intel's 3.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost.

Power consumption is a major differentiator. The AMD chip has a 65W TDP, while the Intel chip draws 175W. This is a 110W difference that affects cooling requirements, power supply sizing, and operating costs in dense server environments.

Memory architecture differs significantly. Both support DDR5, but the AMD chip uses a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip uses quad-channel memory with 140.8 GB/s. The Intel part also offers 64 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus AMD's 24 lanes, making it more suitable for systems with many high-bandwidth peripherals.

Socket compatibility diverges completely. The AMD EPYC 4245P uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel Xeon w3-2525 uses Intel Socket 4677. Process node also differs: 4nm for AMD, 10nm for Intel. The AMD chip's launch MSRP is $239, while the Intel chip's launch MSRP is $609.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 4245P is the clear winner for single-threaded performance and general-purpose compute. Its 33.5% lead in PassMark single-thread and 10.4% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core make it ideal for workloads that depend on fast per-core execution. The 49.6% advantage in prime number finding and 38.7% lead in physics simulation point to strengths in scientific and mathematical tasks. The 13.5% integer math win and 14.3% random string sorting advantage suggest it handles general data processing and sorting tasks more efficiently.

The Intel Xeon w3-2525 wins in floating-point math with a 15% lead, making it the better choice for FPU-heavy calculations like certain scientific simulations and financial modeling. Its 4.8% edge in extended instructions indicates an advantage in workloads utilizing advanced SIMD instruction sets. The small 0.7% win in data compression, combined with the massive memory bandwidth advantage (140.8 GB/s vs 89.6 GB/s) and 64 PCIe lanes, makes the Intel chip more suited for data-intensive applications that require moving large amounts of information between memory, storage, and accelerators.

The Verdict

The benchmark data makes the choice relatively straightforward for most users. The AMD EPYC 4245P wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests and delivers superior performance in the most common workstation tasks: rendering, encryption, integer math, sorting, and single-threaded applications. Its 65W TDP and $239 launch MSRP make it dramatically more power-efficient and accessible than the Intel Xeon w3-2525. For users running general server workloads, compile jobs, or single-thread-heavy applications, the EPYC 4245P is the better choice based on the data.

The Intel Xeon w3-2525 earns its place in specific scenarios. Its 15% lead in floating-point math and 4.8% advantage in extended instructions, combined with quad-channel memory (140.8 GB/s) and 64 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, make it the superior option for compute-heavy scientific workloads, high-bandwidth data pipelines, or systems requiring many expansion cards. The 8-core/16-thread configuration also provides more physical cores for parallel tasks. However, a 175W TDP and $609 launch MSRP mean it costs more to buy and run. Users with FPU-intensive applications or massive I/O requirements should consider the Xeon w3-2525; everyone else should look at the EPYC 4245P first.