AMD EPYC 7203P vs Intel Core i9-11950H Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7203P and Intel Core i9-11950H are both 8-core, 16-thread processors, but they serve entirely different markets with different design priorities. The data shows a clear split: the EPYC 7203P wins 12 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel part takes 5. The EPYC’s victories are concentrated in multi-threaded and security-oriented workloads, whereas the Intel chip dominates in raw single-thread performance and specific math operations. The average benchmark scores are close — 28,583 for the EPYC versus 28,332 for the Core i9 — but the distribution of wins tells a more nuanced story about which processor suits which task.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7203P is the decisive winner in multi-core rendering and encryption tasks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 18,714 against 17,279 for the Intel part, an 8.3% advantage. The gap is consistent across all three Cinebench versions, with the EPYC leading by the same 8.3% in R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. The EPYC also dominates in data encryption, scoring 17,434 versus 12,658 — a massive 37.7% lead. Prime number finding shows the largest single delta at 55.9%, with the EPYC scoring 145 against 93. Physics simulation is another blowout: the EPYC scores 2,077 against 1,013, a 105% advantage that doubles the Intel result.

The Intel Core i9-11950H wins where single-thread speed and certain math workloads matter. Its PassMark single-thread score is 3,141 versus 2,537 for the EPYC, a 19.2% lead. That advantage carries into integer math, where Intel scores 74,649 against 67,083 (10.1% higher), and floating-point math, where Intel posts 44,137 versus 37,049 (16.1% higher). Extended instructions also favor Intel, with a score of 16,361 against 14,466 (11.6% higher). These wins are notable because they show the Intel chip’s higher boost clock — 5.00 GHz versus 3.40 GHz — translating directly into faster execution of latency-sensitive, single-threaded code.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for server and workstation workloads: the AMD EPYC 7203P is the superior processor for multi-threaded throughput, encryption, and physics calculations. Its 105% advantage in PassMark physics and 37.7% lead in data encryption make it the clear choice for scientific computing, cryptographic workloads, and heavily parallel rendering. The EPYC’s 8.3% edge across every Cinebench multi-core test reinforces this conclusion. With 12 wins out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, the EPYC is the overall performance leader in the aggregate.

The Intel Core i9-11950H is the better pick only if single-thread performance and specific math operations are the sole priority. Its 19.2% lead in PassMark single-thread, combined with wins in integer math (10.1%), floating-point math (16.1%), and extended instructions (11.6%), makes it suitable for lightly threaded applications that depend on clock speed. However, these wins are fewer and narrower. The Intel part is also end-of-life, while the EPYC remains active in production. For anyone choosing between these two, the benchmark record favors the EPYC for almost every meaningful workload classification.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the AMD EPYC 7203P is in PassMark physics, where it scores 2,077 against 1,013 for the Intel Core i9-11950H. That 105% delta is more than double and shows a fundamental advantage in simulation workloads. The second-largest win is in prime number finding, with the EPYC at 145 versus 93 (55.9% ahead). Data encryption is next, with the EPYC at 17,434 versus 12,658 (37.7% ahead). These three tests alone establish the EPYC’s dominance in computational intensity.

The Intel Core i9-11950H’s biggest win is in PassMark single-thread, scoring 3,141 against 2,537 (19.2% ahead). Floating-point math shows Intel at 44,137 versus 37,049 (16.1% ahead), and extended instructions see Intel at 16,361 versus 14,466 (11.6% ahead). Integer math is closer but still Intel’s, at 74,649 versus 67,083 (10.1% ahead). Notably, the EPYC wins all three Cinebench single-core tests by 8.3-8.6%, which contrasts with Intel’s PassMark single-thread win — the two benchmarks measure different aspects of single-thread performance, and the EPYC is competitive in Cinebench’s rendering-focused single-core test.

Random string sorting goes to the EPYC at 33,873 versus 29,375 (15.3% ahead), and multi-thread PassMark shows the EPYC at 22,017 versus 20,900 (5.3% ahead). Data compression is a narrow EPYC win at 254,215 versus 246,195 (3.3% ahead). The EPYC’s Cinebench wins are all exactly 8.3% in multi-core tests, and 8.3-8.6% in single-core tests, reflecting consistent architectural efficiency across generations of the benchmark.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD EPYC 7203P has an average benchmark score of 28,583, compared to 28,332 for the Intel Core i9-11950H. The EPYC also ranks at the 80th percentile among all CPUs, the same percentile as the Intel part.

Q: How much faster is the EPYC in data encryption?

A: The EPYC scores 17,434 in PassMark data encryption, which is 37.7% higher than the Intel chip’s 12,658. This is one of the largest performance gaps between the two processors.

Q: What is the Intel chip’s biggest advantage?

A: The Intel Core i9-11950H leads by 19.2% in PassMark single-thread, scoring 3,141 versus 2,537. It also leads in integer math, floating-point math, and extended instructions by margins between 10.1% and 16.1%.

Q: Does the EPYC win every Cinebench test?

A: Yes. The EPYC wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core), with multi-core leads of 8.3% and single-core leads of 8.3-8.6%.

Q: Which processor has more memory bandwidth?

A: The EPYC supports eight-channel memory with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip uses dual-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s. This four-fold bandwidth difference helps explain the EPYC’s multi-threaded advantages.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD EPYC 7203P has a production status of "Active," while the Intel Core i9-11950H is listed as "End-of-life."

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7203P is built on TSMC’s 7 nm process using the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan. It belongs to the EPYC 7003 series and targets the server/workstation segment. The Intel Core i9-11950H uses Intel’s 10 nm process with the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically Tiger Lake-H, and targets mobile platforms. The EPYC has 8,300 million transistors on a die size of 2x 81 mm², while the Intel chip has a single 190 mm² die with no transistor count listed.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The EPYC provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The EPYC’s 64 MB L3 cache is 2.67 times larger than Intel’s 24 MB, which contributes to its better performance in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression and encryption. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not.

PCIe connectivity is another major divergence. The EPYC provides 128 Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip offers 20 Gen 4 lanes. This makes the EPYC suitable for heavy expansion and multi-GPU configurations, whereas the Intel part is limited to mobile form factors. The EPYC has no integrated graphics, while the Intel chip includes UHD Graphics 750.

Specification Differences

The socket and form factor are fundamentally different: the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3 for server platforms, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1787 for mobile. Base clocks differ at 2.80 GHz for the EPYC versus 2.10 GHz for Intel, but boost clocks reverse the order — 3.40 GHz for EPYC versus 5.00 GHz for Intel. The TDP is also starkly different, with the EPYC at 120 watts and the Intel part at 35 watts, reflecting the server versus mobile design targets.

Memory support is the same type (DDR4), but the memory bus differs: eight-channel for the EPYC versus dual-channel for Intel. Resulting memory bandwidth is 204.8 GB/s for the EPYC and 51.2 GB/s for Intel. ECC memory is supported only on the EPYC. The release dates are 2023-09-04 for the EPYC and 2021-05-10 for the Intel chip, and the launch MSRP is $348 for the EPYC and $556 for the Intel part. The EPYC’s part number is 100-000001287100-100001287WOF, while Intel’s is SRKT6. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.