AMD EPYC 7252 vs Intel Xeon W-1290E Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-1290E and AMD EPYC 7252 are both server/workstation processors, yet they arrive at nearly identical average benchmark scores through fundamentally different designs. The data shows a razor-thin margin between them: the Intel part holds an average benchmark score of 4775, while the AMD part scores 4772, a difference of just 0.1%. Both sit at the 59th percentile among all CPUs. This head-to-head is less about raw performance dominance and more about which platform’s trade-offs align with a specific workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent across all six Cinebench tests, with the Intel Xeon W-1290E winning every single comparison. However, the margins are almost imperceptible. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel part scores 1664 against the EPYC 7252’s 1662, a 0.1% advantage. The single-core R15 test is a dead tie at 234 points each, though the data credits the Intel chip with the win due to a 0% delta.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The Intel Xeon W-1290E posts 6934 multi-core points versus 6929 for the AMD EPYC 7252, again a 0.1% lead. Single-core R20 is another exact tie at 978 points. In Cinebench R23, the Intel processor scores 16510 multi-core and 2330 single-core, while the AMD chip scores 16499 and 2329, respectively. The multi-core delta remains 0.1%, and the single-core delta is 0%.

What does this mean in practice? These two chips are effectively performance twins in Cinebench workloads. The largest advantage in any test is 0.1%, which is within run-to-run variance for most benchmark suites. The data shows the Intel Xeon W-1290E winning all six head-to-head comparisons, but those wins are nominal rather than substantive. A workload that is sensitive to single-thread speed will see no difference, and multi-threaded rendering tasks will finish in essentially the same time.

The nearest-rival data reinforces this parity. The AMD EPYC 7252’s closest rival is the Intel Xeon W-1290E itself, with a delta of -0.1%. The Intel part’s closest rival is the Intel Core i5-1350P at a 0% delta, followed by the EPYC 7252 at 0.1%. Both chips also sit within 0.7% of much higher-core-count parts like the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X, which underscores how close this entire performance cluster is.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divergence between these two processors is stark, even though the benchmark results are nearly identical. The Intel Xeon W-1290E is built on Intel’s 14 nm process with a die size of 206 mm², while the AMD EPYC 7252 uses TSMC’s 7 nm process with two dies at 74 mm² each. The AMD part packs 7,600 million transistors, a figure the Intel chip does not disclose. This process advantage gives AMD a smaller physical footprint and potentially better transistor density, but the Intel chip compensates with higher clock speeds.

Core counts favor Intel: the Xeon W-1290E has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the EPYC 7252 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel chip’s base clock is 3.50 GHz and boost clock is 4.80 GHz, compared to 3.10 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost for the AMD part. That 1.60 GHz boost advantage explains how a 10-core chip can match an 8-core chip in multi-threaded tests — the Intel part is simply running much faster.

Cache layouts differ significantly. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, but the Intel chip has 256 KB of L2 per core versus 512 KB per core on the AMD side. L3 cache is where AMD pulls ahead: the EPYC 7252 has 32 MB per die with a total of 64 MB, while the Intel Xeon W-1290E has 20 MB shared. The AMD part’s larger L3 cache and per-core L2 cache are typical of the Zen 2 architecture’s design.

Memory and I/O are major differentiators. The Intel chip uses dual-channel DDR4 with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD EPYC 7252 uses eight-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth — an 82% advantage in theoretical memory throughput. PCIe support also diverges: the Intel part offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD part offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes. That is a massive difference in expansion capability and I/O bandwidth.

The Intel Xeon W-1290E includes integrated graphics via the Intel UHD Graphics P630, while the AMD EPYC 7252 has no integrated graphics. Both support ECC memory and are locked multipliers. The Intel chip uses Socket 1200, while the AMD part uses Socket SP3. Neither chip has 3D V-Cache.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on workload, not raw performance. For single-threaded tasks, the two chips are indistinguishable — every single-core Cinebench test is a tie or a 0% delta. For multi-threaded tasks, the Intel Xeon W-1290E holds a 0.1% edge, which is negligible. The decision should come down to platform features.

Choose the Intel Xeon W-1290E if you need integrated graphics, higher boost clocks, or a simpler dual-channel memory configuration. It also has two more cores and four more threads, which could matter in lightly threaded or moderately parallel workloads. The 10-core/20-thread configuration with a 4.80 GHz boost is a strong fit for workstation applications that favor clock speed over core count.

Choose the AMD EPYC 7252 if your workload demands massive memory bandwidth, extensive PCIe expansion, or high core density per socket. The eight-channel memory bus at 85.3 GB/s is more than double the Intel part’s bandwidth, and the 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes open up possibilities for multiple GPUs, NVMe drives, or network cards. The 7 nm process and 7,600 million transistors suggest a more modern design, and the larger 64 MB total L3 cache could benefit cache-sensitive workloads.

The performance parity means neither chip is a wrong choice based on speed alone. The AMD EPYC 7252 launched at $475 MSRP, while the Intel Xeon W-1290E carries a $552 launch MSRP. Both are active production parts. The Intel chip was released on 2020-05-12, and the AMD chip on 2019-08-06. The data shows two very different architectural philosophies converging on the same benchmark scores, so the winner is determined by which platform’s features match the intended use case.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon W-1290E | AMD EPYC 7252 |

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

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 120 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not specified | 7,600 million |

| Die Size | 206 mm² | 2x 74 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 32 MB (per die), 64 MB total |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | 85.3 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 128 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics P630 | None |

| Release Date | 2020-05-12 | 2019-08-06 |

| Part Number | SRJFB | 100-000000080 |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon W-1290E has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, compared to 3.20 GHz for the AMD EPYC 7252.

Q: How much memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The AMD EPYC 7252 supports 85.3 GB/s via an eight-channel memory bus, while the Intel Xeon W-1290E supports 46.9 GB/s via a dual-channel bus.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7252 have integrated graphics?

A: No, the AMD EPYC 7252 has no integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon W-1290E includes Intel UHD Graphics P630.

Q: What is the difference in PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD EPYC 7252 offers 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the Intel Xeon W-1290E offers 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 7252 has 32 MB per die with a total of 64 MB, while the Intel Xeon W-1290E has 20 MB shared.

Q: What are the Cinebench R23 multi-core scores?

A: The Intel Xeon W-1290E scores 16510, and the AMD EPYC 7252 scores 16499, a 0.1% difference.