AMD EPYC 4565P vs Intel Xeon 6520P Comparison

The AMD EPYC 4565P and Intel Xeon 6520P represent two distinct approaches to the server/workstation CPU, with the data revealing a clear split between single-thread dominance and raw multi-threaded throughput in specific workloads. The AMD part wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel part takes 5, but the margins in those Intel wins are often substantial, painting a nuanced picture of which processor suits which task.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 4565P is the clear victor in every Cinebench test, across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core variants. The margins are consistent at 1.7% in each case, indicating a uniform clock-for-clock advantage in rendering workloads. Its single-thread Passmark score of 4712 dwarfs the Xeon’s 3356, a 40.4% lead, which is the largest single-core gap in the entire dataset. This dominance extends to integer math (250683 vs 214288, a 17% win) and data encryption (48268 vs 45188, a 6.8% win). The AMD chip also edges ahead in data compression (860786 vs 841518, a 2.3% win) and the overall Passmark multithread score (63474 vs 62936, a 0.9% win).

The Intel Xeon 6520P, despite losing the overall multithread race, wins where its higher core count and larger cache can be leveraged. Its most dramatic victory is in Passmark physics, scoring 7209 against the AMD’s 2976, a 58.7% advantage. It also wins floating point math (162862 vs 152003, a 6.7% lead) and random string sorting (95736 vs 81318, a 15.1% lead). The Xeon’s prime number finding score of 526 is nearly double the AMD’s 294, representing a 44.1% lead, and it narrowly takes extended instructions (64557 vs 64345, a 0.3% margin). These results indicate a processor that excels in heavily parallel, memory-bandwidth-sensitive, or specialized instruction workloads.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD EPYC 4565P is the superior choice for general-purpose compute, particularly for workloads dominated by single-threaded performance, integer math, and encryption. Its consistent 1.7% lead in all Cinebench versions, combined with a 40.4% single-thread Passmark advantage, makes it the default recommendation for database servers, application servers, and any environment where per-core performance and responsiveness are critical. The 0.9% overall multithread win, despite having 8 fewer cores than the Xeon, further underscores the efficiency of the Zen 5 architecture.

The Intel Xeon 6520P is the pick for a narrower set of specialized tasks. The 58.7% physics win and the 44.1% prime number advantage signal that this processor is better suited for scientific simulation, financial modeling, or other workloads that heavily utilize floating-point and specific instruction sets. Its 15.1% lead in random string sorting suggests an edge in certain data manipulation tasks. However, these wins are offset by a 40.4% single-thread deficit, meaning the Xeon will feel slower in any latency-sensitive or lightly threaded application. For a mixed workload environment, the AMD part is the safer bet; for a specialized, highly parallel number-crunching role, the Xeon’s specific strengths may justify its selection.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking data point is the Passmark single-thread test, where the AMD EPYC 4565P scores 4712 versus the Xeon’s 3356. The 40.4% delta is not a marginal improvement; it is a generational leap in per-core capability. This pattern repeats across the Cinebench suite, where the AMD chip wins each test by exactly 1.7%, from the R15 multi-core score of 5484 against 5392 to the R23 single-core score of 7680 against 7552.

On the multi-threaded front, the AMD’s integer math score of 250683 versus 214288 represents a 17% victory, indicating that the Zen 5 cores are significantly more efficient at processing integer workloads per thread. The data encryption win is also notable: 48268 versus 45188, a 6.8% margin, suggesting a hardware advantage in cryptographic operations.

The Intel Xeon’s wins, however, are not trivial. The Passmark physics score of 7209 against 2976 is a 58.7% blowout, indicating a massive advantage in physics simulation workloads. The prime number test shows a 526 to 294 score, a 44.1% lead, which is a classic indicator of strong integer division and loop performance in specific patterns. Floating point math goes to the Xeon at 162862 versus 152003, a 6.7% win, and random string sorting sees the Xeon leading 95736 to 81318, a 15.1% margin. Even in extended instructions, the Xeon manages a narrow 0.3% win, scoring 64557 to 64345.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 4565P wins all single-core tests, with a Passmark single-thread score of 4712 versus 3356 for the Intel Xeon 6520P, a 40.4% difference.

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded rendering?

A: The AMD EPYC 4565P wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with 54405 points against the Xeon’s 53495, a 1.7% lead, and also takes the Passmark multithread test by 0.9%.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon 6520P win any major benchmark categories?

A: Yes, it wins Passmark physics (7209 vs 2976, a 58.7% lead), prime numbers (526 vs 294, a 44.1% lead), floating point math, random string sorting, and extended instructions.

Q: What is the difference in core counts?

A: The Intel Xeon 6520P has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the AMD EPYC 4565P has 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD EPYC 4565P has a boost clock of 5.70 GHz, compared to the Intel Xeon 6520P’s 4.00 GHz.

Q: How does the overall average benchmark score compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 4565P has an average benchmark score of 95764, placing it 2.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon 6520P’s average of 93786.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different silicon. The AMD EPYC 4565P uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Grado, fabricated on a 4 nm TSMC process. It is a 16-core, 32-thread part with a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz, drawing 170 W TDP. It features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory interface is dual-channel DDR5, providing 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. It has 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes and includes integrated Radeon Graphics. This part is part of the EPYC 4005 series and uses the AMD Socket AM5.

The Intel Xeon 6520P is based on the Granite Rapids architecture, part of the Xeon 6 family, and is built on a 5 nm Intel process with a die size of 598 mm². It is a 24-core, 48-thread processor with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, with a 210 W TDP. Its cache hierarchy is larger: 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a 144 MB shared L3. The memory subsystem is eight-channel DDR5, offering 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth, over 4.5 times that of the AMD part. It provides 88 PCIe Gen 5 lanes and has no integrated graphics. It uses the Intel Socket 4710.

These differences explain the benchmark results. The AMD’s higher clocks and newer process node drive its single-thread and integer math victories. The Intel’s higher core count, massive L3 cache, and eight-channel memory bandwidth enable its wins in physics, floating-point, and string sorting, which are often memory-bandwidth-bound. The 24 PCIe lanes on the AMD versus 88 on the Intel also indicate a different target platform: the AMD is a dual-channel, mid-range socket, while the Intel is a high-end, eight-channel server platform designed for maximum memory throughput and I/O expansion.