AMD EPYC 4344P vs Intel Core i9-13950HX Comparison

The AMD EPYC 4344P and Intel Core i9-13950HX occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, yet their benchmark scores reveal a surprisingly close overall contest. The AMD server chip, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, goes head-to-head against Intel’s 24-core, 32-thread mobile powerhouse. The data shows a clear split: Intel dominates the multi-threaded and aggregate workloads, while AMD delivers a stunning victory in a key single-threaded test. This comparison is not about a single winner, but about which processor’s specific strengths align with the demands of a given task.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic divergence in the data is in the Cinebench R23 single-core test. The AMD EPYC 4344P scores 4042, which is a 92.8% advantage over the Intel Core i9-13950HX’s 2096. This is a massive margin, indicating that for lightly-threaded tasks that rely on raw per-core performance, the EPYC is fundamentally faster. However, this result is an outlier in the single-threaded category. In the PassMark single-thread test, Intel wins with a score of 3899 versus AMD’s 3526, a 9.6% difference. The R20 single-core test also goes to Intel, with a score of 2041 against AMD’s 1697, a 16.9% gap. The EPYC’s R15 single-core win is also substantial (407 vs 297, a 37% lead), but the R23 result suggests a specific workload where AMD’s architecture excels.

When the workload scales up, Intel’s core count advantage becomes decisive. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel wins with a score of 4529 against AMD’s 2886, a 36.3% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar pattern, with Intel scoring 14462 versus AMD’s 12027, a 16.8% margin. Interestingly, the R23 multi-core test is nearly a tie, with Intel scoring 28681 and AMD closely following at 28636, a mere 0.2% difference. This suggests that while Intel has more cores, AMD’s Zen 4 architecture is highly efficient, allowing it to nearly match the Intel part in this specific long-duration test.

The PassMark suite reinforces Intel’s dominance in throughput-heavy tasks. In integer math, Intel scores 147091 against AMD’s 105779, a 28.1% lead. The floating-point math test shows an even larger gap, with Intel scoring 105553 versus AMD’s 63309, a 40% advantage. Data compression also favors Intel, with a score of 510258 versus AMD’s 402701, a 21.1% lead. The multi-threaded PassMark score reflects this, with Intel at 41614 and AMD at 33325, a 19.9% difference. Intel also wins in data encryption (30805 vs 24476, a 20.5% lead) and physics (2668 vs 1987, a 25.5% lead). The only close PassMark contest is in extended instructions, where Intel’s 29779 barely beats AMD’s 29582, a 0.7% margin.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental design philosophies behind these chips are starkly different. The AMD EPYC 4344P is built on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael, and uses a 5 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. It is a server/workstation part with 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i9-13950HX, on the other hand, is based on the Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-HX, and uses a 10 nm process from Intel. It is a mobile processor with 24 cores and 32 threads. This difference in core count is the single most important architectural factor explaining the multi-threaded performance gap.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel’s design has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core caches on the Intel part may contribute to its higher single-threaded scores in some tests, but the AMD chip’s smaller core count and 5 nm process likely allow for higher clock speeds, which is reflected in its R23 single-core win. The EPYC has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, while the i9-13950HX has a lower base clock of 2.20 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz.

Memory support is another differentiator. The AMD EPYC 4344P supports only DDR5 memory, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both have dual-channel memory buses. The AMD part has a listed memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while this data is not available for the Intel part. Both processors support ECC memory. The AMD chip has a smaller die size at 71 mm² and 6,570 million transistors, while Intel’s die is 257 mm². The EPYC also offers 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), compared to Intel’s 20 Gen 5 lanes.

FAQ

Q: Why does the AMD EPYC 4344P win the Cinebench R23 single-core test by such a large margin?

A: The AMD chip scores 4042 in that test, which is 92.8% higher than Intel’s 2096. This suggests that the EPYC’s Zen 4 architecture, combined with its 5 nm process and 5.30 GHz boost clock, provides superior per-core performance in this specific workload, despite the Intel chip having a higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz.

Q: Is the Intel Core i9-13950HX always faster in multi-core tasks?

A: Not always. While Intel wins Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests by 36.3% and 16.8% respectively, the R23 multi-core test is a near dead heat. Intel scores 28681 and AMD scores 28636, a difference of only 0.2%. This indicates that in some sustained workloads, the AMD chip’s efficiency can compensate for its lower core count.

Q: Which processor has a higher core count?

A: The Intel Core i9-13950HX has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD EPYC 4344P has 8 cores and 16 threads. This is a significant difference that explains Intel’s general advantage in multi-threaded benchmarks.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The AMD EPYC 4344P has an average benchmark score of 45122 and is in the 89th percentile, while the Intel Core i9-13950HX has an average score of 44342 and is in the 88th percentile. The AMD chip has a slightly higher average score despite losing most head-to-head tests.

Q: What are the memory support differences?

A: The AMD EPYC 4344P supports only DDR5 memory, while the Intel Core i9-13950HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both have dual-channel memory buses, and both support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in their sockets and market segments?

A: The AMD EPYC 4344P uses the AMD Socket AM5 and is a server/workstation part. The Intel Core i9-13950HX uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket and is a mobile processor.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 4344P | Intel Core i9-13950HX |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Manufacturer | AMD | Intel |

| Series | EPYC 4004 | Core 13th Gen |

| Cores | 8 | 24 |

| Threads | 16 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.30 GHz | 5.50 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 55 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 1964 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Raphael | Raptor Lake-HX |

| Process Node | 5 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| Transistors | 6,570 million | N/A |

| Die Size | 71 mm² | 257 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | N/A |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2024-05-20 | 2023-01-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $329 | $590 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | 100-000001479 | SRMEB |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 4344P wins in only two of the seventeen head-to-head benchmarks, but one of those wins is massive. Its 92.8% victory in Cinebench R23 single-core is the clearest indicator of its strength. This suggests the EPYC is a winner for tasks that are heavily dependent on single-threaded performance, such as certain legacy applications, lightly-threaded databases, or specific scientific simulations that cannot easily leverage multiple cores. Its 37% win in Cinebench R15 single-core reinforces this. The EPYC also has a slightly higher average benchmark score (45122 vs 44342) and a higher percentile ranking (89th vs 88th).

The Intel Core i9-13950HX is the clear winner in the vast majority of tests, particularly those that scale with core count. Its wins in integer math (28.1% lead), floating-point math (40% lead), and multi-threaded PassMark (19.9% lead) point to its strength in content creation, video rendering, and complex data analysis. It also wins in data compression and encryption, making it a strong choice for file archiving and security-related workloads. The Intel chip’s consistent wins in the PassMark suite, along with its 24 cores, make it the better option for heavily parallelized tasks.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on workload. The AMD EPYC 4344P is the pick for single-threaded performance supremacy. Its 92.8% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is a definitive statement. If a user’s primary applications are bottlenecked by single-core speed, the EPYC is the superior part. Its higher average benchmark score and lower launch MSRP of $329, compared to Intel’s $590, further strengthen its position in this specific use case.

The Intel Core i9-13950HX is the pick for multi-threaded throughput. It wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with decisive margins in floating-point math (40%), integer math (28.1%), and R15 multi-core (36.3%). For users who run heavily threaded workloads like 3D rendering, video editing, or scientific computing, the Intel chip’s 24 cores and 32 threads deliver significantly more performance. Its wins in data compression and encryption also make it a better all-around workhorse for mixed-use scenarios. The choice is not about which is the better CPU, but which set of performance characteristics is more valuable for the intended application.