AMD EPYC 7251 vs Intel Core i9-9980HK Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a remarkably consistent pattern: the AMD EPYC 7251 wins every single head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Core i9-9980HK. Across all six Cinebench comparisons, the EPYC 7251 holds a lead of roughly 7% in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the EPYC 7251 scores 752 against the Core i9-9980HK's 701, a 7.3% advantage. Every other test lands within a narrow band of 7.1% to 7.2% deltas.

Starting with Cinebench R15, the EPYC 7251 posts 1279 points in multi-core against 1193 for the Core i9-9980HK, a 7.2% win. In single-core R15, the EPYC 7251 scores 180 versus 168, a 7.1% edge. The same story repeats in Cinebench R20: multi-core 5331 versus 4971 (7.2%), single-core 752 versus 701 (7.3%). Cinebench R23 shows the EPYC 7251 at 12694 multi-core and 1792 single-core, against 11836 and 1671 respectively, both at 7.2% deltas.

What is notable is the uniformity of these results. The EPYC 7251 does not merely win in one category; it wins everywhere, and by nearly the same percentage each time. This suggests a fundamental efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The Intel Core i9-9980HK's higher boost clock does not translate into a single-core victory in the database measurements, despite the 2.90 GHz versus 5.00 GHz boost clock gap.

The Core i9-9980HK does appear in two additional Geekbench tests not present for the EPYC 7251: 6687 multi-core and 1389 single-core. These scores cannot be compared directly since the EPYC 7251 lacks Geekbench results in the database, but they provide context for the Intel part's overall average.

Looking at aggregate scores, the EPYC 7251 carries an average benchmark score of 3671, while the Core i9-9980HK averages 3577. That difference of roughly 94 points places the EPYC 7251 in the 56th percentile among all CPUs, versus the 55th percentile for the Intel chip. The nearest rivals for the EPYC 7251 include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X at 3673 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i3-13100E at 3668 (0.1% behind), the Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 at 3658 (0.4% behind), and the AMD EPYC 7301 at 3685 (0.4% ahead). The Core i9-9980HK sits near the AMD Ryzen 7 5825C at 3579 (0.1% behind), the AMD Ryzen 7 2700E at 3603 (0.7% behind), the Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 at 3608 (0.9% behind), and the Intel Xeon E-2286G at 3610 (0.9% behind).

The practical takeaway: the EPYC 7251 is the faster chip in every measured Cinebench metric, with margins large enough to matter in rendering workloads but small enough that real-world differences will feel modest.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD EPYC 7251 belongs to the EPYC 7001 series, built on the Zen architecture with the codename Naples. It uses a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries and packs 4,800 million transistors into a 213 mm² die. The Intel Core i9-9980HK uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically codename Coffee Lake-HR, also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by Intel with a 149 mm² die size. Both chips use 14 nm nodes, but the transistor counts tell a different story: the EPYC 7251 integrates nearly 4.8 billion transistors, while the Intel part's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Both processors feature 8 cores and 16 threads, so core counts are identical. The cache layouts diverge significantly. The EPYC 7251 provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i9-9980HK offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7251 therefore has double the L3 capacity and double the per-core L2, which helps explain its consistent lead in memory-sensitive workloads.

Memory support also differs sharply. Both chips support DDR4, but the EPYC 7251 uses an eight-channel memory bus delivering 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Core i9-9980HK uses a dual-channel bus at 42.7 GB/s. That is a 3.6x difference in theoretical memory bandwidth, a major architectural gap that shows up in multi-threaded rendering tests. The EPYC 7251 also supports ECC memory; the Core i9-9980HK does not.

The EPYC 7251 is a server and workstation part on AMD Socket SP3, while the Core i9-9980HK is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1440. The EPYC 7251 has no integrated graphics, whereas the Core i9-9980HK includes Intel UHD 630 graphics. Both use PCIe Gen 3. Both have unlocked multipliers, allowing overclocking on supported platforms.

Clock speeds favor the Intel chip heavily on paper. The Core i9-9980HK runs at 2.40 GHz base and boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the EPYC 7251 operates at 2.10 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. Yet the EPYC 7251 still wins every single-core benchmark in the database. The thermal design power tells a complementary story: the EPYC 7251 is rated at 120 W TDP, while the Core i9-9980HK is a 45 W mobile part. The EPYC 7251 consumes more power and draws on its larger cache and memory subsystem to overcome the clock deficit.

The production status also differs. The EPYC 7251 remains active in the database, while the Core i9-9980HK is listed as end-of-life. Release dates sit roughly two years apart: the EPYC 7251 launched on 2017-06-28, and the Core i9-9980HK on 2019-04-22.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for raw compute performance: the AMD EPYC 7251. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, holds a higher average benchmark score (3671 versus 3577), and ranks in the 56th percentile versus the Core i9-9980HK's 55th. The EPYC 7251 also offers eight-channel memory, ECC support, and double the L3 cache, all of which matter for sustained server workloads.

The Intel Core i9-9980HK is the mobile option with its 45 W TDP and integrated UHD 630 graphics, making it suitable for laptops where power and space are constrained. But the benchmark results show it trailing the EPYC 7251 by approximately 7% across every Cinebench metric, despite a much higher boost clock. The Intel part's dual-channel memory and smaller cache likely hold it back.

For a system builder choosing between these two as a pure compute engine, the EPYC 7251 is the better performer. The Core i9-9980HK makes sense only where the mobile form factor, integrated graphics, or the 45 W power envelope are essential requirements. The database does not record any test where the Core i9-9980HK beats the EPYC 7251.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 7251 | Intel Core i9-9980HK |

|---|---|---|

| Series | EPYC 7001 series | Not recorded |

| Architecture | Zen | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Naples | Coffee Lake-HR |

| Generation | EPYC (Zen (Naples)) | Core i9 (Coffee Lake-HR) |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 4,800 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 213 mm² | 149 mm² |

| L1 cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 32 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Base clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 2.90 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 120 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP3 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Memory bus | Eight-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 153.6 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated graphics | None | UHD 630 |

| Market segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release date | 2017-06-28 | 2019-04-22 |

| Part number | PS7251BFV8SAFPS7251BFAFWOF | SRFD0 |

Identical across both: 8 cores, 16 threads, 14 nm process node, DDR4 memory support, PCIe Gen 3, unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The AMD EPYC 7251 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. In R15 it scores 1279 versus 1193, in R20 it scores 5331 versus 4971, and in R23 it scores 12694 versus 11836. Each win is a 7.2% margin.

Q: Does the Intel Core i9-9980HK win any single-core benchmark?

A: No. The EPYC 7251 wins all three single-core Cinebench tests: R15 at 180 versus 168 (7.1%), R20 at 752 versus 701 (7.3%), and R23 at 1792 versus 1671 (7.2%).

Q: How does the memory bandwidth compare?

A: The EPYC 7251 provides 153.6 GB/s over an eight-channel DDR4 bus, while the Core i9-9980HK provides 42.7 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR4 bus.

Q: Does either chip support ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD EPYC 7251 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i9-9980HK does not.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock?

A: The Core i9-9980HK boosts to 5.00 GHz, well above the EPYC 7251's 2.90 GHz. Despite this, the EPYC 7251 still wins every single-core benchmark in the database.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i9-9980HK includes Intel UHD 630 graphics. The AMD EPYC 7251 has no integrated graphics.