AMD EPYC 4484PX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265K Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has 20 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD EPYC 4484PX has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel part trades simultaneous multithreading for additional physical cores.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD EPYC 4484PX wins decisively with a score of 6065 versus 2020 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, a 66.7% advantage. This is the single largest benchmark gap between the two processors in the recorded data.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 4484PX has 128 MB of shared L3 cache, which includes a 64 MB 3D V-Cache slice. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has 30 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds?

A: The AMD EPYC 4484PX has a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD EPYC 4484PX provides 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU.

Q: How do the overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has an average benchmark score of 70879, which is 4.5% higher than the AMD EPYC 4484PX's average of 67822. Both processors sit at the 94th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is built on Arrow Lake architecture and uses a 3 nm process node from TSMC. It packs 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The AMD EPYC 4484PX uses Zen 4 architecture (Raphael codename) on a 5 nm process node, also from TSMC, with 17,840 million transistors across a dual-die layout of 2x 71 mm².

The cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Intel part allocates 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, with 30 MB shared L3. The AMD part has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and a much larger 128 MB shared L3 that includes a 64 MB 3D V-Cache slice. That extra L3 capacity is a major architectural distinction, since the AMD processor can hold far more working data close to the cores.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K uses 20 cores without hyperthreading, so 20 threads total. The AMD EPYC 4484PX uses 12 cores with simultaneous multithreading, yielding 24 threads. This creates a core-count versus thread-count tradeoff: Intel has more physical cores, AMD has more logical threads.

Both processors support DDR5 memory and ECC memory. The Intel part has a dual-channel memory bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD part also uses dual-channel but with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part includes integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units, while the AMD part has integrated Radeon Graphics.

The Intel processor is unlocked, allowing multiplier adjustment, while the AMD EPYC is locked. The Intel part is classified for the desktop market segment, the AMD part for server/workstation use. The Intel part uses Intel Socket 1851, the AMD part uses AMD Socket AM5. The AMD EPYC has 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus Intel's 20.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, but the AMD EPYC 4484PX takes the two most striking victories.

In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD EPYC 4484PX scores 42964 versus 35850 for Intel, a 16.6% advantage. This is notable because the Intel part has 20 cores while AMD has only 12, yet AMD's higher clocks and large cache deliver the win. The gap in Cinebench R23 singlecore is even more extreme: AMD scores 6065 versus 2020, a 66.7% margin. This suggests the AMD architecture extracts significantly more work per clock in this particular rendering workload.

The Intel part dominates the older Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel scores 5020 versus 4330, a 15.9% win. The same 15.9% delta appears in R15 singlecore (708 versus 611), R20 multicore (20918 versus 18044), and R20 singlecore (2953 versus 2547). The consistent 15.9% margin across all four older Cinebench tests indicates a uniform advantage in those workloads.

PassMark results show a mixed picture. Intel wins floating point math by a massive 96.6% margin, scoring 189629 versus 96446. That is the largest percentage win for either processor in any test. Intel also leads in data encryption by 32.2% (48246 versus 36499), extended instructions by 25.4% (54333 versus 43315), and single-thread performance by 19.6% (4928 versus 4119).

The AMD EPYC 4484PX counters in PassMark integer math, scoring 162993 versus 143242, a 12.1% win. It also wins PassMark physics by 24.4% (4938 versus 3731). Intel takes PassMark multithread by 15.9% (58594 versus 50547), data compression by 10.3% (665554 versus 603371), find prime numbers by 15.5% (491 versus 425), and random string sorting by 11.3% (79752 versus 71642).

The overall pattern is clear: Intel wins the majority of tests, but AMD wins the most modern Cinebench R23 workloads and specific integer/physics tasks. The R23 singlecore result is particularly anomalous, with a 66.7% gap that dwarfs all other single-thread differences.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every core specification:

• Cores: Intel 20, AMD 12
• Threads: Intel 20, AMD 24
• Base clock: Intel 3.90 GHz, AMD 4.40 GHz
• Boost clock: Intel 5.50 GHz, AMD 5.60 GHz
• TDP: Intel 125 W, AMD 120 W
• Socket: Intel Socket 1851, AMD Socket AM5
• Process node: Intel 3 nm, AMD 5 nm
• Transistor count: Intel 17,800 million, AMD 17,840 million
• Die size: Intel 243 mm², AMD 2x 71 mm²
• L1 cache per core: Intel 192 KB, AMD 64 KB
• L2 cache per core: Intel 3 MB, AMD 1 MB
• L3 cache shared: Intel 30 MB, AMD 128 MB (with 64 MB 3D V-Cache)
• Memory bandwidth: Intel 102.4 GB/s, AMD 83.2 GB/s
• PCIe lanes: Intel 20 Gen 5, AMD 28 Gen 5
• Integrated graphics: Intel Arc Xe-LPG 64EU, AMD Radeon Graphics
• Market segment: Intel Desktop, AMD Server/Workstation
• Multiplier unlocked: Intel yes, AMD no
• Release date: Intel 2024-10-23, AMD 2024-05-20
• Launch MSRP: Intel $394, AMD $599

Both support DDR5 and ECC memory, and both use dual-channel memory buses.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K wins in the majority of workloads. It takes all four older Cinebench tests (R15 and R20, both single and multi-core) with a consistent 15.9% margin. It also wins PassMark multithread, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, find prime numbers, floating point math, random string sorting, and single-thread tests. The floating point math result is particularly strong, with Intel nearly doubling AMD's score.

The Intel part also offers higher memory bandwidth (102.4 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s) and more physical cores, which helps in workloads that scale with core count rather than thread count. Its unlocked multiplier makes it more flexible for systems where overclocking is desired. The lower launch MSRP of $394 versus $599 is a specification fact, though the database does not assess value.

The AMD EPYC 4484PX wins in Cinebench R23 multicore by 16.6% and in R23 singlecore by an enormous 66.7%. It also wins PassMark integer math by 12.1% and PassMark physics by 24.4%. The 128 MB L3 cache with 3D V-Cache clearly benefits the R23 rendering workload, where the larger cache likely reduces memory access latency. The higher base and boost clocks (4.40 GHz and 5.60 GHz) also contribute to its single-thread dominance in that test.

The AMD part has 28 PCIe lanes versus Intel's 20, which matters for server or workstation builds with many expansion cards or high-speed storage devices. It also has more threads (24 versus 20) despite fewer cores, which can help in heavily threaded server workloads.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows a clear split based on workload type. For general desktop computing, rendering with older Cinebench versions, floating point calculations, data compression, and most PassMark workloads, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is the stronger choice. It wins 13 of 17 comparisons and holds a higher average benchmark score (70879 versus 67822). Its 20 physical cores and higher memory bandwidth give it a broad advantage across many tasks.

The AMD EPYC 4484PX is the pick for Cinebench R23 workloads, where it beats Intel by 16.6% in multicore and 66.7% in single-core. It also wins integer math and physics tests. The 128 MB L3 cache with 64 MB 3D V-Cache appears to provide a significant edge in those specific rendering and physics scenarios. For a server or workstation deployment focused on those workloads, AMD has the measured advantage.

Users building a desktop system with a motherboard on Intel Socket 1851 should lean toward the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, given its 20-core configuration, unlocked multiplier, and 13 benchmark wins. Users building a server or workstation on AMD Socket AM5 should consider the EPYC 4484PX, especially if Cinebench R23 performance or large cache capacity is a priority. The EPYC's 28 PCIe lanes also support more expansion hardware. The data does not support a single universal winner; the correct choice depends entirely on the target workload.