AMD EPYC 7251 vs Intel Core i7-8086K Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unusual matchup: a desktop enthusiast processor from Intel against a server-focused AMD EPYC part. Across every recorded Cinebench test, the AMD EPYC 7251 wins outright. The Intel Core i7-8086K does not claim a single benchmark victory in the head-to-head comparison. The EPYC 7251 leads by 5.7% in both multi-core and single-core tests consistently, from Cinebench R15 through R23.

Who should pick which? The data suggests the AMD EPYC 7251 is the stronger compute performer for anyone running Cinebench workloads, which are representative of content creation and rendering tasks. Its 8 cores and 16 threads outpace the i7-8086K's 6 cores and 12 threads in every measured scenario. The EPYC 7251 also carries ECC memory support and eight-channel memory, making it the more robust choice for workstation or server duty. The Intel Core i7-8086K, however, offers integrated UHD Graphics 630, a feature entirely absent from the AMD part, which matters for systems that need a display output without a discrete GPU. The i7-8086K also boosts to 5.00 GHz, a much higher clock than the EPYC 7251's 2.90 GHz, though that clock advantage does not translate into a win in any recorded benchmark.

For a straight compute comparison, the EPYC 7251 is the winner. For a desktop build where integrated graphics and a familiar Socket 1151 platform matter, the i7-8086K remains a viable pick, but it will trail in rendering workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7251 wins every head-to-head benchmark in the database. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1279 against the i7-8086K's 1206, a 5.7% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 180 versus 170, again a 5.7% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the EPYC 7251 posts 5331 multi-core versus 5029, and 752 single-core versus 709. The gap holds steady at 5.7% in both. Cinebench R23 shows the same story: 12694 multi-core against 11975, and 1792 single-core against 1690. The consistency of the 5.7% delta across every test is remarkable; the EPYC 7251 does not just win, it wins by the same margin everywhere.

The Intel i7-8086K has no wins in the head-to-head records. Its strengths lie outside the benchmark suite. It includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, so a system can output video without an add-in card. It also uses the Intel Socket 1151 platform, which is a desktop mainstream socket, whereas the EPYC 7251 requires AMD Socket SP3, a server platform. The i7-8086K also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, though the recorded benchmarks reflect stock performance only.

For users who need raw Cinebench throughput, the EPYC 7251 is the clear choice. For users who need integrated graphics or prefer a desktop platform, the i7-8086K offers capabilities the EPYC 7251 lacks, even though it loses every compute benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different worlds. The Intel Core i7-8086K uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process from Intel. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its thermal design power is 95 W. The cache hierarchy is 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. Memory support is dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported. The i7-8086K has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU and includes integrated UHD Graphics 630. It was released on 2018-06-04 with a launch MSRP of $425, and it is marked as end-of-life. The part number is SR3QQBX80684I78086K.

The AMD EPYC 7251 belongs to the EPYC 7001 series, using the Zen architecture under the Naples codename. It is built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. The TDP is 120 W. Cache is 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. Memory is eight-channel DDR4 with 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth, and ECC memory is supported. PCIe is Gen 3, with the lane count not specified in the database for this part. There is no integrated graphics. The EPYC 7251 was released on 2017-06-28, is still marked as active, and has no launch MSRP recorded. The part number is PS7251BFV8SAFPS7251BFAFWOF.

Several architectural differences explain the benchmark results. The EPYC 7251 has 2 more cores and 4 more threads, which helps in multi-core Cinebench. It also has substantially more memory bandwidth: 153.6 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s, due to eight-channel memory versus dual-channel. The L3 cache is nearly three times larger, 32 MB versus 12 MB. Its L1 and L2 caches are also larger per core. The i7-8086K fights back with far higher clocks, 5.00 GHz boost versus 2.90 GHz, but that is not enough to overcome the EPYC 7251's core count and memory advantages in the recorded tests.

The i7-8086K is a desktop part with integrated graphics and a mainstream socket. The EPYC 7251 is a server/workstation part with ECC memory and eight-channel bandwidth. The process node is identical, 14 nm, but the foundries differ: Intel for the i7, GlobalFoundries for the EPYC.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD EPYC 7251 scores 12694, while the Intel Core i7-8086K scores 11975. The EPYC 7251 leads by 5.7%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-8086K win any benchmark against the EPYC 7251?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the EPYC 7251 winning all six recorded Cinebench tests, with the i7-8086K winning zero.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7251 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-8086K does not.

Q: Can either processor output video without a discrete graphics card?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-8086K, which includes integrated UHD Graphics 630. The AMD EPYC 7251 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7251 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i7-8086K has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD EPYC 7251 provides 153.6 GB/s over eight channels. The Intel Core i7-8086K provides 42.7 GB/s over dual channels.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are uniform: the AMD EPYC 7251 wins every test by exactly 5.7%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7251 scores 1279 against 1206 for the i7-8086K. That is a 73-point gap, roughly 6% of the Intel part's score. The single-core R15 test shows 180 versus 170, a 10-point margin. The EPYC 7251's advantage in single-core is notable because the i7-8086K has a 5.00 GHz boost clock, far higher than the EPYC 7251's 2.90 GHz. The data indicates that core architecture and cache efficiency matter more than raw clock speed in this comparison.

Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern. Multi-core scores are 5331 for the EPYC 7251 and 5029 for the i7-8086K. Single-core is 752 versus 709. The 5.7% delta persists. In R23, the EPYC 7251 reaches 12694 multi-core, while the i7-8086K manages 11975. Single-core R23 is 1792 versus 1690. Across six tests, the EPYC 7251 never dips below a 5.6% lead, and it is exactly 5.7% in five of them, with R15 single-core at 5.6%. This consistency suggests a structural advantage rather than workload-specific luck.

The average benchmark scores in the database also reflect the separation. The i7-8086K has an average score of 3800, placing it in the 56th percentile among all CPUs. The EPYC 7251 has an average score of 3671, also in the 56th percentile. The i7-8086K sits slightly above its nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i7-9700KF at 3787 (0.3% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 at 3777 (0.6% delta). The EPYC 7251's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X at 3673 (0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i3-13100E at 3668 (0.1% delta). Both CPUs occupy the same percentile tier, but the EPYC 7251 wins every direct comparison test.

The biggest win for the EPYC 7251 in absolute terms is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 719 points higher than the i7-8086K. The smallest gap is in R15 single-core, a 10-point difference. The i7-8086K's strongest result relative to its rival is in R15 single-core, where the 5.6% deficit is the closest it comes to a win. The data shows a processor that cannot close the gap despite a much higher boost clock and a lower TDP of 95 W versus 120 W. The EPYC 7251 simply outworks the i7-8086K in every recorded Cinebench scenario, making it the superior choice for rendering workloads in this head-to-head.