AMD EPYC 7232P vs Intel Core i5-1250P Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split here is unusually one-sided. Across all six recorded Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i5-1250P takes every single win. The AMD EPYC 7232P does not win a single recorded benchmark. That does not mean the EPYC is useless, but it does mean that in the specific workloads captured by these tests, the Intel part is consistently ahead.

The i5-1250P wins by the same margin in every test: 3.7%. That consistency is notable. Whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded, the Intel chip maintains the same advantage. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5 scores 15610 against the EPYC's 15055. In single-core R23, it is 2203 versus 2125. The same 3.7% gap appears in R15 and R20 as well, both single and multi-threaded.

If you are looking at raw render performance, the i5-1250P is the pick. It delivers higher scores across every Cinebench iteration. The EPYC 7232P, despite being a server-class part with a much higher TDP, cannot match those numbers. The data does not show any workload category where the EPYC pulls ahead.

However, the EPYC's value shows in areas the Cinebench suite does not measure. It has eight memory channels, 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and ECC support. The i5-1250P has dual-channel memory, 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and no ECC. For memory bandwidth and expansion capacity, the EPYC is the obvious choice. But strictly from the recorded benchmark data, the Intel part wins every comparison.

Architecture Differences

These two processors come from entirely different design philosophies. The i5-1250P is a mobile chip built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture, using a 10 nm process fabricated by Intel. It has 12 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its L3 cache is 12 MB shared, with 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The die size is 217 mm². It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. It has integrated Iris Xe graphics with 80 execution units. Its TDP is 28 watts.

The EPYC 7232P is a server processor based on AMD's Zen 2 architecture, codename Rome, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. Its L3 cache is 16 MB per die, totaling 32 MB across the chip. L1 is 64 KB per core, L2 is 512 KB per core. It uses 7,600 million transistors across two dies, each 74 mm². Memory support is DDR4 only, but through an eight-channel bus with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth. It supports ECC memory. It has no integrated graphics. Its TDP is 120 watts, and it uses the AMD Socket SP3.

The core count difference is significant. The i5 has 12 cores against the EPYC's 8, though both have 16 threads. The i5 compensates for its lower base clock with a much higher boost clock. The EPYC's 3.10 GHz base is higher than the i5's 1.70 GHz base, but the Intel part boosts to 4.40 GHz versus the EPYC's 3.20 GHz. That boost advantage shows up clearly in the single-thread benchmarks.

Cache topology also differs. The i5 uses a shared 12 MB L3, while the EPYC splits 16 MB per die for a total of 32 MB. The EPYC has more total L3, but the i5 has larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations. Memory bandwidth is a different story entirely: the EPYC's eight-channel DDR4 setup delivers 85.3 GB/s, a massive figure for a dual-channel mobile chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Every head-to-head result shows the Intel Core i5-1250P winning by exactly 3.7%. The scores are close, but the consistency of the margin is remarkable.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5 scores 1573 against the EPYC's 1517. That is a 56-point gap. In single-core R15, it is 222 versus 214, an 8-point gap. Both show the same 3.7% delta.

Cinebench R20 multicore: i5 scores 6556, EPYC scores 6323. The 233-point difference is again 3.7%. Single-core R20: 925 versus 892, a 33-point gap.

Cinebench R23 multicore: i5 scores 15610, EPYC scores 15055. That is a 555-point difference. Single-core R23: 2203 versus 2125, a 78-point gap.

The largest absolute margin is in R23 multicore, where the i5 leads by 555 points. The smallest absolute margin is in R15 single-core, where it leads by 8 points. But relative performance is identical across all tests.

The EPYC's closest competitor in the database is the Intel Xeon E-2288G, with an average score of 4373 against the EPYC's 4354, a delta of negative 0.4%. The EPYC also sits near the Intel Core i7-7820X, which is 0.8% behind it. For the i5-1250P, its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-12700TE at a 0% delta, and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 at negative 0.4%. Neither chip's rival list includes the other, which reflects their different market positions.

Both processors land at the 58th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores differ: the i5 averages 4515, while the EPYC averages 4354. That is a 161-point gap in average score, consistent with the head-to-head results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-1250P has 12 cores and 16 threads. The AMD EPYC 7232P has 8 cores and 16 threads. The i5 has 4 more physical cores, but both support 16 threads.

Q: Does the EPYC support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD EPYC 7232P supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-1250P does not support ECC. This is a key distinction for server and workstation reliability use cases.

Q: How much memory bandwidth does each processor provide?

A: The EPYC 7232P has an eight-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The i5-1250P has a dual-channel memory bus, and the database does not list a bandwidth figure for it. The EPYC also supports DDR4 memory only, while the i5 supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-1250P wins with a score of 15610 against the EPYC's 15055. That is a 3.7% advantage. The i5 also wins every other recorded Cinebench test by the same margin.

Q: Are these processors in the same market segment?

A: No. The i5-1250P is a mobile processor with integrated Iris Xe graphics, targeting laptops and compact systems. The EPYC 7232P is a server/workstation processor with no integrated graphics, designed for socket SP3 platforms.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The i5-1250P has a 28 watt TDP, while the EPYC 7232P has a 120 watt TDP. The EPYC draws substantially more power, which reflects its server orientation and higher base clock.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. Here is the breakdown of where they diverge:

• Cores: 12 (i5-1250P) versus 8 (EPYC 7232P)
• Base clock: 1700 MHz versus 3100 MHz
• Boost clock: 4.40 GHz versus 3.20 GHz
• TDP: 28 W versus 120 W
• Socket: Intel BGA 1744 versus AMD Socket SP3
• Architecture: Alder Lake versus Zen 2 (Rome)
• Process node: 10 nm (Intel) versus 7 nm (TSMC)
• Foundry: Intel versus TSMC
• Transistors: Not listed versus 7,600 million
• Die size: 217 mm² versus 2x 74 mm²
• L1 cache: 80 KB per core versus 64 KB per core
• L2 cache: 1.25 MB per core versus 512 KB per core
• L3 cache: 12 MB shared versus 16 MB per die, 32 MB total
• Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 versus DDR4 only
• Memory bus: Dual-channel versus Eight-channel
• Memory bandwidth: Not listed versus 85.3 GB/s
• ECC memory: No versus Yes
• PCIe: Gen 4, 20 lanes versus Gen 4, 128 lanes
• Integrated graphics: Iris Xe 80EU versus none
• Market segment: Mobile versus Server/Workstation
• Release date: 2022-02-22 versus 2019-08-06
• Launch MSRP: None listed versus $450
• Part number: SRLD8 versus 100-000000081

The only fields where they match are threads (both 16), PCIe generation (both Gen 4), production status (both active), and multiplier unlock (both locked).

The Verdict

The recorded data makes the choice straightforward for raw Cinebench performance: the Intel Core i5-1250P wins every test by 3.7%. If your priority is render scores in this benchmark suite, pick the i5-1250P.

The EPYC 7232P does not win a single recorded benchmark. But the data also shows why it exists. It offers ECC memory, eight-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and 32 MB of L3 cache. Those are server features the i5 cannot match. The EPYC also has a higher base clock at 3.10 GHz, though its boost clock is much lower at 3.20 GHz.

For a mobile workstation or thin laptop, the i5-1250P is the obvious choice. Its 28 watt TDP, integrated Iris Xe graphics, and DDR4/DDR5 support fit that role. For a server rack or workstation requiring ECC and massive memory bandwidth and PCIe expansion, the EPYC 7232P is the right tool despite losing every Cinebench test.

The average benchmark scores reflect this: the i5 sits at 4515, the EPYC at 4354. Both are at the 58th percentile of all CPUs. The i5 is 3.7% faster in every measured workload, but the EPYC brings platform capabilities that the benchmark suite does not capture. Choose based on the platform requirements, not just the render scores. The i5 wins the benchmarks, but the EPYC wins on server infrastructure features.