AMD EPYC 7203P vs Intel Core 5 220H Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7203P and Intel Core 5 220H are two processors that land at nearly identical average benchmark scores, yet they achieve that parity through completely different architectural approaches. The EPYC 7203P, a server-class Zen 3 part, and the Core 5 220H, a mobile Raptor Lake chip, sit at opposite ends of the computing spectrum. Benchmark data shows the AMD part wins 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, while the Intel chip takes 5, but the margin of victory in each case tells a more nuanced story about their respective strengths.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD EPYC 7203P has an average benchmark score of 28583, while the Intel Core 5 220H scores 28574. The deltaPct between them is 0%, meaning they are statistically tied in overall performance.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core rendering performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7203P dominates in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 18714 versus the Intel Core 5 220H’s 11198, a 67.1% advantage. In the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD part leads by a smaller 2.8% margin (1886 vs 1835).

Q: What is the biggest performance gap in either direction?

A: The largest single-test margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the AMD EPYC 7203P scores 145 versus the Intel Core 5 220H’s 82, a 76.8% difference. The biggest Intel win is in PassMark floating point math, where it leads by 28.3% (51671 vs 37049).

Q: Which processor has better single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H wins PassMark single-thread tests with a score of 3405 versus the AMD EPYC 7203P’s 2537, a 25.5% advantage. However, in Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD part edges ahead by 0.6% (1109 vs 1102).

Q: How do the two chips differ in memory channel support?

A: The AMD EPYC 7203P supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s and ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 220H supports dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 memory, has no ECC support, and no memory bandwidth figure is listed.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD EPYC 7203P has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 220H has 12 cores and 16 threads. Despite fewer cores, the AMD chip wins the majority of multi-threaded benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7203P is built on the Zen 3 architecture with the Milan codename, fabricated on a 7 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core 5 220H uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-H codename, built on a 10 nm process by Intel. These process node differences are reflected in transistor counts: the AMD chip has 8,300 million transistors across a 2x 81 mm² die, while no transistor or die size data is available for the Intel part.

Cache hierarchies diverge significantly. The EPYC 7203P has 64 KB L1 cache per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a large 64 MB shared L3 cache. The Core 5 220H has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and only 18 MB shared L3. This 46 MB difference in L3 cache is a primary reason why the AMD part excels in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression.

Memory architecture is another major differentiator. The EPYC 7203P supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support, making it suitable for server workloads requiring data integrity. The Core 5 220H supports dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5, lacks ECC support, and has no listed memory bandwidth figure. The EPYC also offers 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip provides 8 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only) and includes integrated Iris Xe Graphics 80EU.

The Intel part has a significantly higher boost clock at 4.90 GHz versus 3.40 GHz for the AMD chip, but the AMD part has a slightly higher base clock at 2.80 GHz versus 2.70 GHz. Power envelopes differ dramatically: the EPYC 7203P has a 120 W TDP, while the Core 5 220H is rated at 45 W. The AMD processor targets the server/workstation segment, while the Intel chip is designed for mobile applications.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD EPYC 7203P secures its largest victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 18714 against the Intel Core 5 220H’s 11198, a 67.1% advantage. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the AMD part scores 2642 versus 1853, a 42.6% lead. These two tests alone demonstrate that the AMD architecture delivers substantially better rendering performance across both single and multi-threaded workloads.

PassMark physics testing shows another decisive AMD win, with scores of 2077 versus 1478 for the Intel chip, a 40.5% margin. In PassMark find prime numbers, the AMD part scores 145 against Intel’s 82, a 76.8% gap that represents the largest single-test difference between the two processors. Data encryption also favors AMD by 14.6% (17434 vs 15216), while random string sorting shows a 19.1% AMD advantage (33873 vs 28438).

The Intel Core 5 220H fights back in several math-intensive workloads. Its most significant win is in PassMark floating point math, scoring 51671 versus the AMD chip’s 37049, a 28.3% margin. PassMark single-thread testing shows Intel ahead by 25.5% (3405 vs 2537), and PassMark integer math gives Intel an 8.8% edge (73555 vs 67083). The Intel part also wins PassMark extended instructions by a slim 1.2% margin (14642 vs 14466).

In the remaining benchmarks, AMD holds narrower leads. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 2.8% AMD advantage (1886 vs 1835), while Cinebench R15 single-core is close at 1.5% (266 vs 262). Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core both show 0.6% AMD leads (7859 vs 7812 and 1109 vs 1102, respectively). PassMark data compression gives AMD a 2.5% edge (254215 vs 247921), and PassMark multithread shows a 0.6% AMD win (22017 vs 21884).

Specification Differences

The AMD EPYC 7203P has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 220H has 12 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are nearly identical at 2.80 GHz for AMD and 2.70 GHz for Intel, but boost clocks differ substantially: 3.40 GHz for AMD versus 4.90 GHz for Intel. TDP ratings are 120 W for the AMD part and 45 W for the Intel chip.

Socket requirements are incompatible: AMD uses Socket SP3, while Intel uses BGA 1744. The AMD processor is built on a 7 nm process with 8,300 million transistors, while the Intel chip uses a 10 nm process with no transistor data listed. Cache configurations differ in every level: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core versus Intel’s 80 KB, 512 KB L2 per core versus Intel’s 2 MB, and 64 MB shared L3 versus Intel’s 18 MB.

Memory support shows AMD offering DDR4 only with eight-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and no bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported by AMD but not Intel. PCIe connectivity favors AMD with 128 Gen 4 lanes versus Intel’s 8 Gen 5 lanes. The Intel chip includes integrated Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics. Release dates differ by over a year: the AMD EPYC launched on 2023-09-04, and the Intel Core 5 220H launched on 2024-12-17.

The Verdict

The data shows two processors that achieve nearly identical average scores through vastly different means. The AMD EPYC 7203P wins 12 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including decisive victories in Cinebench R23 multi-core (67.1% ahead) and physics processing (40.5% ahead). Its 64 MB L3 cache and eight-channel memory bandwidth make it the clear choice for server workloads, data compression, and multi-threaded rendering tasks.

The Intel Core 5 220H wins 5 benchmarks, with its strongest results in floating point math (28.3% ahead) and single-thread PassMark testing (25.5% ahead). Its higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz and integrated graphics make it suitable for mobile applications where single-thread responsiveness and power efficiency (45 W TDP versus 120 W) are priorities. The Intel chip’s 12 cores provide more physical parallelism, though the AMD part still wins most multi-threaded tests.

For users building a server or workstation where ECC memory, massive memory bandwidth, and cache-heavy workloads matter, the AMD EPYC 7203P is the data-backed choice. For mobile users needing integrated graphics, higher single-thread PassMark performance, and lower power consumption, the Intel Core 5 220H is the better fit.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7203P wins in rendering benchmarks across all Cinebench versions, with advantages ranging from 0.6% in R20 multi-core to 67.1% in R23 multi-core. It also leads in data compression (2.5%), data encryption (14.6%), find prime numbers (76.8%), physics (40.5%), random string sorting (19.1%), and multithread (0.6%). These wins point to workloads involving large datasets, cryptographic operations, and parallel task execution.

The Intel Core 5 220H wins in floating point math (28.3%), integer math (8.8%), extended instructions (1.2%), and single-thread PassMark tests (25.5%). These victories suggest strength in numerically intensive calculations, general arithmetic processing, and applications that rely on high per-core performance rather than cache capacity.

The benchmark distribution reveals a clear trade-off: the AMD EPYC 7203P excels in memory-bandwidth-hungry and cache-sensitive tasks, while the Intel Core 5 220H dominates in raw computational throughput per core. Users prioritizing server-grade reliability and multi-threaded server workloads should select the AMD part, while those needing integrated graphics, higher clock speeds, and mobile efficiency should choose the Intel chip.