AMD EPYC 4545P vs Intel Xeon 6517P Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two server processors into distinct usage profiles. The AMD EPYC 4545P takes 12 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Xeon 6517P wins 5. The AMD part dominates single-threaded performance, integer math, and all Cinebench render tests. The Intel part counters in physics simulation, extended instruction workloads, data compression, prime number finding, and floating-point math.

For content creation and software compilation, the AMD EPYC 4545P is the clear choice. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 47,079 against 42,352 represents an 11.2% advantage. The single-core results are even more lopsided: the AMD chip scores 6,646 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 5,979, again an 11.2% gap. PassMark single-thread testing confirms this pattern with 4,318 points for AMD versus 3,311 for Intel, a 30.4% difference. That is the largest single-core margin recorded in the dataset.

The AMD processor also excels at integer-heavy calculations. Its PassMark integer math score of 213,485 dwarfs the Intel part's 162,671, a 31.2% advantage. This is the biggest win for either processor in any test. Random string sorting, a proxy for memory access patterns and branch handling, also favors AMD at 73,850 versus 67,480, a 9.4% edge.

The Intel Xeon 6517P takes the physics workload category decisively. Its PassMark physics score of 4,452 beats the AMD part's 3,260 by 26.8%. That is Intel's largest margin of victory. Data compression also goes to Intel, with 653,338 versus 636,279, a 2.6% difference. Extended instruction processing favors Intel by 10.9%, scoring 51,891 versus 46,231. Prime number generation sees Intel at 335 versus 292, a 12.8% lead. Floating-point math is nearly tied, with Intel at 127,497 and AMD at 126,505, a razor-thin 0.8% margin.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core rendering performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 4545P wins every Cinebench multi-core test. It scores 4,745 in R15, 19,773 in R20, and 47,079 in R23, each about 11.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon 6517P's 4,268, 17,787, and 42,352.

Q: Is the single-core performance gap consistent across benchmarks?

A: Yes, but the magnitude varies. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests all show an 11.1% to 11.2% advantage for AMD. PassMark single-thread shows a much larger 30.4% difference, with AMD at 4,318 and Intel at 3,311.

Q: What is the Intel Xeon 6517P best at?

A: The Intel part wins in physics simulation (4,452 vs 3,260, a 26.8% lead), data compression (653,338 vs 636,279), extended instructions (51,891 vs 46,231), prime number finding (335 vs 292), and floating-point math (127,497 vs 126,505).

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Xeon 6517P, with an eight-channel DDR5 memory bus delivering 409.6 GB/s. The AMD EPYC 4545P uses dual-channel DDR5 at 89.6 GB/s. This is a 4.6 times difference in theoretical bandwidth.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD EPYC 4545P and Intel Xeon 6517P support ECC memory.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 4545P has an average benchmark score of 75,373, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Xeon 6517P averages 72,350, in the 94th percentile. AMD leads by roughly 4.2%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite is a clean sweep for AMD. Across R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core tests show an 11.1% to 11.2% advantage. The R15 multi-core result of 4,745 versus 4,268 is representative. The consistency of this margin across all six Cinebench tests suggests a fundamental architectural advantage in CPU-bound render workloads.

PassMark integer math produces the most dramatic result. AMD scores 213,485 against Intel's 162,671, a 31.2% lead. This aligns with the single-thread PassMark gap of 30.4%, where AMD records 4,318 and Intel 3,311. Both results point to higher per-core throughput for the Zen 5 architecture in these workloads.

The encryption test also favors AMD substantially. AMD scores 37,598 versus Intel's 32,385, a 16.1% advantage. Random string sorting sees AMD ahead by 9.4%, with 73,850 versus 67,480. The PassMark multi-thread score follows the same direction: AMD at 53,504, Intel at 49,786, a 7.5% edge.

Intel's strongest counter is physics simulation. The Xeon 6517P scores 4,452 versus 3,260, a 26.8% margin. This is the largest delta in any test. Prime number finding also goes to Intel by 12.8%, with 335 against 292. Extended instructions favor Intel by 10.9%, 51,891 versus 46,231. Data compression is a narrow Intel win at 2.6%, 653,338 versus 636,279. Floating-point math is nearly even, with Intel ahead by just 0.8%.

The overall pattern is clear: AMD wins 12 tests, Intel wins 5. AMD's victories tend to be larger in magnitude, while Intel's wins are concentrated in physics and specific instruction sets.

Specification Differences

The two processors share several core specifications: both have 16 cores, 32 threads, support DDR5 memory, and ECC memory. Both are active production server/workstation parts. Both are socketed, with no unlocked multipliers. Both use PCIe Gen 5.

The differences start with clock speeds. The Intel Xeon 6517P has a higher base clock at 3.20 GHz versus AMD's 3.00 GHz. The AMD EPYC 4545P counters with a much higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus Intel's 4.20 GHz. This 1.2 GHz boost advantage explains AMD's single-core dominance.

Thermal design power differs dramatically. The Intel part draws 190W TDP, while the AMD part is rated at 65W. That is nearly a three-fold difference in power budget. The AMD processor achieves higher benchmark scores with far lower thermal requirements.

Memory channels and bandwidth diverge sharply. Intel uses an eight-channel memory bus with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth. AMD uses a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s. The Intel platform provides 4.6 times the theoretical memory bandwidth, which may matter for memory-bound workloads despite AMD's CPU performance edge.

PCIe lane counts also differ. Intel provides 88 CPU lanes of PCIe Gen 5, while AMD provides 24 lanes. This makes the Intel platform more suitable for systems with many expansion cards, GPUs, or NVMe drives.

Cache configurations are distinct. AMD uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. Intel uses 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 72 MB of shared L3. Intel has larger per-core caches and more total L3. The AMD part has a smaller die footprint at 2x 70.6 mm², built on TSMC's 4 nm process with 16,630 million transistors. Intel's process node is 5 nm, fabricated by Intel itself.

The AMD part includes integrated Radeon Graphics, while the Intel Xeon has no integrated graphics. Socket types differ: AMD uses Socket AM5, Intel uses Socket 4710.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 4545P belongs to the EPYC 4005 series, codenamed Grado, built on Zen 5 architecture. It uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, with a dual-chiplet design measuring 2x 70.6 mm². The transistor count is 16,630 million. The Intel Xeon 6517P is part of the Xeon 6 family, codenamed Granite Rapids, using Granite Rapids-SP architecture. It is built on Intel's 5 nm process.

The Zen 5 design emphasizes high clock speeds and strong single-thread performance. The 5.40 GHz boost clock is exceptionally high for a server processor. The 4 nm process from TSMC enables this clock headroom while keeping TDP at just 65W. The dual-die layout with 70.6 mm² per die suggests a compute-dense design with efficient power delivery.

Granite Rapids-SP takes a different approach. It uses a monolithic design on Intel's 5 nm node. The higher 190W TDP reflects a power-hungry architecture. The base clock of 3.20 GHz is higher than AMD's, but the boost ceiling of 4.20 GHz is significantly lower. This explains why Intel wins physics and floating-point tests but loses single-thread and integer workloads.

Memory architecture differences are architectural, not just spec-level. Intel's eight-channel memory controller provides massive bandwidth, suited for large in-memory databases and HPC workloads. AMD's dual-channel design is more modest, but the Zen 5 core design compensates with higher per-core performance. The L3 cache difference (72 MB shared on Intel versus 64 MB on AMD) gives Intel an edge in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression.

The integrated Radeon Graphics on the AMD part is notable for a server processor, allowing basic display output without a discrete GPU. Intel's Xeon has no such capability. The PCIe lane difference (88 versus 24) is a major architectural differentiator for platform expansion.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split recommendation. The AMD EPYC 4545P is the better choice for single-threaded applications, software compilation, integer processing, and general CPU-bound server tasks. Its 30.4% lead in PassMark single-thread and 31.2% lead in integer math are decisive. The 11.2% Cinebench margins across all render tests make it the obvious pick for content creation and simulation workloads that rely on per-core speed. The 65W TDP is a substantial operational advantage, allowing denser server deployments with lower cooling requirements.

The Intel Xeon 6517P is the better choice for memory-bandwidth-intensive applications. Its eight-channel DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s provides 4.6 times the bandwidth of AMD's dual-channel setup. The physics simulation advantage of 26.8% suggests Intel's architecture handles certain scientific workloads better. The 88 PCIe lanes enable far more expansion capacity for GPU clusters or storage servers. The extended instruction lead of 10.9% matters for workloads that use specialized instruction sets.

For most general-purpose server workloads, the AMD EPYC 4545P offers superior compute performance per watt and per core. The data shows it wins more tests, with larger margins, while consuming less than half the TDP. The Intel part is specialized: it wins where memory bandwidth and physics simulation dominate. The AMD processor's 95th percentile standing versus Intel's 94th percentile confirms the overall ranking.

The average benchmark scores tell the final story: AMD at 75,373, Intel at 72,350. That 4.2% gap, combined with AMD's 12-to-5 test win count, makes the EPYC 4545P the more balanced processor for mixed workloads. The Xeon 6517P remains a strong option for memory-bound and physics-heavy environments, but the AMD part is the safer default choice from the recorded data.