AMD EPYC 7252 vs Intel Core i7-1375PRE Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7252 and Intel Core i7-1375PRE occupy opposite ends of the processor spectrum: the EPYC is a server-class part built for socketed workstations and data centers, while the i7 is a mobile processor designed for laptops and compact systems. In the recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the Intel chip wins all six Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 4.2% to 4.5%. However, the EPYC counters with platform features that the i7 lacks entirely, including ECC memory support, an eight-channel memory bus, and 128 PCIe lanes. The data shows a clear split: the i7 delivers higher raw compute performance, while the EPYC offers server-grade expansion and reliability.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-1375PRE wins every single head-to-head test. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core runs, the i7 posts higher scores. The largest margin is 4.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core, and the smallest is 4.2% in Cinebench R20 single-core. This means that for any workload that relies on CPU throughput, such as rendering, compilation, or simulation, the i7 is the faster part. Its average benchmark score of 4985 also exceeds the EPYC's 4772, reinforcing the performance advantage.

The EPYC 7252, however, wins in platform capability. It supports ECC memory, which is critical for error-correcting workloads in servers and workstations. Its eight-channel memory bus provides a theoretical bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, a figure the i7 does not list. The EPYC also offers 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, compared to the i7's 20 lanes, enabling far more expansion cards, storage controllers, and network adapters. The EPYC is built for AMD Socket SP3, a server socket, while the i7 uses Intel BGA 1744, a mobile socket. Thus, the EPYC is the choice for systems that need memory integrity, massive I/O, and long-term reliability, even if it trails in raw compute.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The EPYC 7252 uses AMD's Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome, and is part of the EPYC 7002 series. It is fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC, with 7,600 million transistors and a die size of 2x 74 mm². The i7-1375PRE uses Intel's Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-P, and is built on a 10 nm process at Intel, with a die size of 217 mm². The process node difference is significant: the EPYC's 7 nm process is denser, but the i7 compensates with a newer microarchitecture and higher clock speeds.

Core counts differ substantially. The EPYC has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i7 has 14 cores and 20 threads. The i7's core count advantage is a key reason for its multi-core wins. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The EPYC has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 per die, totaling 64 MB. The i7 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The EPYC's larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB) is typical for server parts, but the i7's per-core L2 is larger.

Memory support differs as well. The EPYC supports DDR4 only, with an eight-channel memory bus and a listed bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The i7 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but only with a dual-channel bus, and no bandwidth figure is recorded. ECC memory is supported on the EPYC but not on the i7. PCIe lanes are another major split: the EPYC provides 128 Gen 4 lanes, while the i7 provides 20. The i7 includes integrated Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while the EPYC has no integrated graphics. The EPYC's TDP is 120 W, while the i7's is 28 W, reflecting the server versus mobile design goals.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six Cinebench tests show a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 1737 against the EPYC's 1662, a delta of -4.3% (the negative sign indicates the EPYC trails). In single-core, the i7 scores 245 versus 234, a delta of -4.5%. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7 leads 7239 to 6929 in multi-core (-4.3%) and 1021 to 978 in single-core (-4.2%). In Cinebench R23, the i7 posts 17236 versus 16499 in multi-core (-4.3%) and 2433 versus 2329 in single-core (-4.3%). The margins are remarkably uniform, hovering around 4.2% to 4.5% across all tests. This suggests the i7's advantage is not workload-specific but rather a general throughput lead, likely driven by its higher boost clock (4.80 GHz vs 3.20 GHz) and greater core count.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this. The i7's average is 4985, while the EPYC's is 4772. Both processors sit at the 59th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are comparable in overall standing, but the i7 is consistently ahead in the recorded tests. The EPYC's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon W-1290E (average 4775, delta -0.1%) and the Intel Core i5-1350P (average 4776, delta -0.1%), while the i7's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-12600HE (average 4980, delta 0.1%) and the Intel Xeon W-2150B (average 4992, delta -0.1%). These comparisons show that the EPYC's performance is typical for its class, while the i7 sits slightly above its immediate peers.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors, based on the recorded data:

• Cores: EPYC 8, i7 14
• Threads: EPYC 16, i7 20
• Base clock: EPYC 3.10 GHz, i7 1900.00 MHz (1.90 GHz)
• Boost clock: EPYC 3.20 GHz, i7 4.80 GHz
• TDP: EPYC 120 W, i7 28 W
• Socket: EPYC AMD Socket SP3, i7 Intel BGA 1744
• Architecture: EPYC Zen 2, i7 Raptor Lake
• Process node: EPYC 7 nm, i7 10 nm
• Foundry: EPYC TSMC, i7 Intel
• Die size: EPYC 2x 74 mm², i7 217 mm²
• L1 cache: EPYC 64 KB per core, i7 80 KB per core
• L2 cache: EPYC 512 KB per core, i7 2 MB per core
• L3 cache: EPYC 32 MB per die (64 MB total), i7 24 MB shared
• Memory support: EPYC DDR4, i7 DDR4 and DDR5
• Memory bus: EPYC eight-channel, i7 dual-channel
• Memory bandwidth: EPYC 85.3 GB/s, i7 not listed
• ECC memory: EPYC yes, i7 no
• PCIe lanes: EPYC 128 Gen 4, i7 20 Gen 4
• Integrated graphics: EPYC none, i7 Iris Xe Graphics 96EU
• Market segment: EPYC Server/Workstation, i7 Mobile
• Release date: EPYC 2019-08-06, i7 2023-01-03
• Launch MSRP: EPYC $475, i7 not listed
• Part number: EPYC 100-000000080, i7 SRMRK

These differences highlight the divergent design goals. The EPYC prioritizes memory bandwidth, ECC, and expansion, while the i7 prioritizes clock speed, core count, and power efficiency.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-1375PRE has 14 cores, while the AMD EPYC 7252 has 8 cores.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7252 supports ECC memory; the Intel Core i7-1375PRE does not.

Q: What is the boost clock difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-1375PRE boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 7252 boosts to 3.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-1375PRE includes Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units; the AMD EPYC 7252 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-1375PRE has an average benchmark score of 4985, while the AMD EPYC 7252 has an average of 4772.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD EPYC 7252 lists a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s; the Intel Core i7-1375PRE does not list a bandwidth figure.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear division of roles. The Intel Core i7-1375PRE is the faster processor in every recorded Cinebench test, with margins of 4.2% to 4.5% across single-core and multi-core workloads. Its higher boost clock, greater core count, and newer architecture give it a decisive edge in raw compute. For users who need maximum CPU performance in a mobile or compact form factor, the i7 is the obvious choice, especially given its integrated graphics and low 28 W TDP.

The AMD EPYC 7252, however, is not a performance part in the same sense. It is a server processor, and its strengths lie in platform features: ECC memory, an eight-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and a socket designed for multi-socket server boards. These capabilities are essential for data centers, virtualization hosts, and workstations that require memory integrity and massive I/O. The EPYC's 120 W TDP and server socket are appropriate for always-on environments, and its launch MSRP of $475 reflects a different market position.

In short, the i7 wins on benchmark scores, but the EPYC wins on server infrastructure. A user building a high-throughput workstation with ECC and many expansion cards should choose the EPYC. A user needing the fastest possible CPU in a laptop or small-form-factor system should choose the i7. The recorded data supports both conclusions without ambiguity.