AMD EPYC 7251 vs Intel Xeon Silver 4116 Comparison

Intel Xeon Silver 4116 and AMD EPYC 7251 are both server-grade processors aimed at the same market segment, yet the benchmark data reveals a consistent, if narrow, edge for the Intel part across every tested workload. The Xeon Silver 4116 wins all six head-to-head comparisons, though with a uniform delta of just 1.7% in each test, the two are functionally close in raw compute performance. Both CPUs sit at the 56th percentile among all CPUs tracked, and their average benchmark scores — 3733 for Intel versus 3671 for AMD — place them in the same performance tier, surrounded by similar chips like the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE and the Intel Core i5-11600T.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the consistency of the margin. In every Cinebench test — R15, R20, and R23, each in both multi-core and single-core variants — the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 leads the AMD EPYC 7251 by exactly 1.7%. This uniformity suggests a fixed architectural or clock advantage rather than workload-specific strengths. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel scores 1301 against AMD’s 1279; in single-core, it is 183 versus 180. The R20 tests show 5421 against 5331 in multi-core, and 765 against 752 in single-core. Moving to the newer R23 benchmark, the Intel part reaches 12908 in multi-core while the AMD part trails at 12694; single-core results are 1822 and 1792, respectively.

The single-core results deserve particular attention because they isolate per-thread efficiency. The Intel part’s boost clock is listed at 3.00 GHz versus 2.90 GHz for the AMD part, and that 0.10 GHz difference aligns with the consistent 1.7% lead. The base clocks are identical at 2.10 GHz, which means the gap emerges only when the processors boost. In multi-core workloads, the Intel’s 12 cores and 24 threads outnumber the AMD’s 8 cores and 16 threads, yet the performance delta remains the same 1.7%. This indicates that the AMD EPYC 7251’s larger shared L3 cache — 32 MB versus 16.5 MB — and its eight-channel memory bus may compensate for the core-count deficit, preventing a wider gap.

Neither processor is a performance outlier in its peer group. The Intel Xeon Silver 4116’s average score of 3733 sits within 0.3% of the Intel Core i5-11260H (3721) and within 0.7% of the Intel Xeon E-2434 (3709). The AMD EPYC 7251’s average of 3671 is within 0.1% of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X (3673) and within 0.4% of the Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 (3658). These rival comparisons reinforce the conclusion that the two server chips are direct competitors, with the Intel holding a slim but repeatable advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows no benchmark category where the AMD EPYC 7251 takes a win. All six head-to-head tests favor the Intel Xeon Silver 4116. However, the AMD part does not lose by a wide margin anywhere. The 1.7% delta in every test means the EPYC 7251 remains competitive in all scenarios, just slightly behind. For workloads that depend heavily on single-threaded performance — such as lightly threaded database queries or legacy application serving — the Intel part’s higher boost clock and 1.7% single-core edge give it a marginal but consistent advantage.

In multi-threaded environments, the Intel part’s core advantage (12 cores versus 8) and thread advantage (24 versus 16) might suggest a larger lead, but the AMD part’s architecture mitigates this. The EPYC 7251’s eight-channel memory bus with 153.6 GB/s bandwidth, compared to the Intel’s unspecified memory bus, and its larger 32 MB shared L3 cache, help it keep pace. The result is that the AMD part is not a clear winner for any specific use case in this dataset; it is simply a slightly slower alternative in every measured scenario. The Intel part wins all six tests, so any workload — single-core or multi-core, older or newer Cinebench versions — favors it.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon Silver 4116 has an average benchmark score of 3733, while the AMD EPYC 7251 scores 3671. The Intel part is also surrounded by slightly higher-scoring rivals (e.g., Intel Core i5-11600T at 3742), whereas the AMD part’s closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X, scores 3673.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any benchmark?

A: The largest gap is 1.7%, which occurs in every single benchmark test. There is no test where the margin exceeds this value. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel scores 12908 and the AMD scores 12694, a difference of 1.7%.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7251 win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the AMD EPYC 7251 wins zero tests, while the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 wins all six. The closest the AMD part comes is a 1.7% deficit in each test.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Xeon Silver 4116 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7251 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD part’s performance deficit is only 1.7%, suggesting its larger cache and memory bandwidth offset the core disadvantage.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 56th percentile among all CPUs. This places them in the same overall performance tier, with the Intel part averaging 3733 and the AMD part averaging 3671.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock speeds?

A: The Intel Xeon Silver 4116 has a boost clock of 3.00 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 7251 has a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. Their base clocks are identical at 2.10 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications. The Intel Xeon Silver 4116 uses 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7251 uses 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part’s boost clock is 3.00 GHz compared to the AMD part’s 2.90 GHz, though both share a 2.10 GHz base clock. Thermal design power differs significantly: the Intel part is rated at 85 watts, while the AMD part is rated at 120 watts. The sockets are incompatible — Intel Socket 3647 versus AMD Socket SP3. The Intel part has a 64 KB L1 cache per core and a 1 MB L2 cache per core, while the AMD part has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core. The shared L3 cache is larger on the AMD part at 32 MB versus 16.5 MB on the Intel part. The AMD part features an eight-channel memory bus with a stated 153.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel part’s memory bus details are not specified. Additionally, the AMD EPYC 7251 is unlocked for overclocking, whereas the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 is not.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is clear. The Intel Xeon Silver 4116 is built on the Skylake-SP architecture, code-named Skylake, using Intel’s 14 nm process with 8,000 million transistors. The AMD EPYC 7251 belongs to the EPYC 7001 series, using the Zen architecture with the code-name Naples, fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process with 4,800 million transistors and a die size of 213 mm². The Intel part’s transistor count is nearly double that of the AMD part, yet the AMD part’s die is larger in physical size, reflecting different design philosophies. The Intel part uses a per-core cache hierarchy with 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, while the AMD part uses 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core. The AMD part’s shared L3 cache is 32 MB, twice the Intel part’s 16.5 MB. Both support DDR4 memory with ECC, but the AMD part explicitly lists an eight-channel memory bus and 153.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel part does not specify these details. The AMD part also lists PCIe Gen 3 support, while the Intel part’s PCIe capabilities are not provided. The AMD EPYC 7251 has an unlocked multiplier, a feature absent on the Intel Xeon Silver 4116.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward choice based on raw performance: the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 is the faster processor. It wins all six benchmark comparisons with a 1.7% margin, which, while narrow, is consistent across single-core and multi-core workloads. The Intel part also achieves this with a lower thermal design power of 85 watts versus the AMD part’s 120 watts, meaning it delivers slightly better performance while drawing less power per the specification sheet. For any application where the best possible score in these Cinebench tests matters, the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 is the pick.

The AMD EPYC 7251 is not without merit. Its eight-channel memory bus and 153.6 GB/s bandwidth, combined with a 32 MB L3 cache, suggest it may handle memory-intensive workloads differently, but the benchmark data does not capture any such advantage. In the measured tests, it trails by the same 1.7% everywhere. Its unlocked multiplier offers overclocking potential that the Intel part lacks, which could be a factor for users willing to push beyond stock settings. However, the benchmark results presented here reflect stock configurations. For a buyer prioritizing the highest Cinebench scores out of the box, the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 is the clear winner. For a buyer who values the AMD part’s memory architecture or plans to overclock, the EPYC 7251 remains a close alternative, but the data shows no scenario where it outperforms the Intel part.