AMD EPYC 7261 vs Intel Core i7-1185G7E Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7261 and Intel Core i7-1185G7E occupy opposite corners of the processor market. One is a server part built for sustained throughput, the other a mobile chip designed for efficiency. The benchmark data in the database shows a clear winner in raw compute, but the full picture depends on context.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded Cinebench results are unambiguous. The AMD EPYC 7261 wins all six head-to-head comparisons in the database. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC scores 954 against 836 for the Intel part, a lead of 14.1%. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 134 versus 118, a 13.6% advantage. These are not marginal differences; they represent a consistent performance gap across every workload tested.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the EPYC 7261 again takes the multicore test with 3979 points versus 3487, another 14.1% margin. The single-core R20 score is 561 against 492, a 14% edge. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R23. The EPYC delivers 9476 in multicore, the Core i7-1185G7E manages 8303, and the delta is 14.1%. Single-core R23 shows 1337 versus 1172, again 14.1% in favor of the AMD part.

The consistency of these margins is notable. Across three generations of the Cinebench test, the EPYC 7261 maintains a lead of roughly 14% in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. This suggests the advantage is structural, not workload-specific. The Intel chip never wins a single benchmark in this comparison, with winsA recorded as 6 and winsB as 0.

When placed against the broader field, both processors sit at the 50th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The EPYC 7261 has an average benchmark score of 2740, while the Core i7-1185G7E averages 2703. The nearest rivals for the EPYC include the Intel Xeon E-2176M at 2751 (0.4% higher) and the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U at 2722 (0.7% lower). The Intel part's closest competitors are the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 at 2703 (identical score) and the Intel Core i7-8700T at 2701 (0.1% higher). Both processors are mid-pack performers in their respective peer groups, but the head-to-head data shows the EPYC is the stronger compute engine.

Architecture Differences

The two chips are built on fundamentally different foundations. The AMD EPYC 7261 uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Naples, on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It is part of the EPYC 7001 series and targets the server and workstation segment. The Intel Core i7-1185G7E uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically Willow Cove-U, on Intel's 10 nm process. It is a mobile part.

Core counts differ sharply. The EPYC 7261 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Core i7-1185G7E has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD part doubles the Intel chip in both core and thread counts. This explains the multicore performance gap, though it does not fully explain the single-core advantage, which is also consistent at around 14%.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The EPYC 7261 has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. The Core i7-1185G7E has a base clock listed at 1800.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The Intel chip has a dramatically higher boost ceiling, yet it still loses single-core tests. This indicates that the EPYC's Zen cores are more efficient at executing the Cinebench workload, or that the mobile chip's power constraints limit sustained performance.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The EPYC 7261 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. The Core i7-1185G7E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The EPYC's larger L3 pool is significant for server workloads that reuse data across cores. The Intel part's larger per-core L2 is typical of newer architectures but does not overcome the core count deficit.

Memory support is another major split. The EPYC 7261 supports DDR4 over an eight-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory. The Core i7-1185G7E supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X over a dual-channel bus, with no ECC support and no bandwidth figure recorded in the database. The EPYC's memory subsystem is designed for bandwidth-hungry server tasks, while the Intel part prioritizes flexibility for mobile systems.

The EPYC 7261 has no integrated graphics. The Core i7-1185G7E includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units. This is a defining difference for use cases that require a display output without a discrete GPU.

PCIe support also differs. The EPYC 7261 uses Gen 3, while the Core i7-1185G7E uses Gen 4 with 4 lanes available from the CPU. The Intel part's newer PCIe generation offers higher per-lane bandwidth, but the EPYC's server platform typically provides many more lanes.

Socket and packaging are entirely different. The EPYC 7261 uses AMD Socket SP3 and has a die size of 213 mm² with 4,800 million transistors. The Core i7-1185G7E uses Intel BGA 1449 and has a die size of 144 mm², with transistor count not recorded. The EPYC is a large server die; the Intel part is a compact mobile package.

Power envelopes are extreme opposites. The EPYC 7261 has a TDP of 170 watts. The Core i7-1185G7E has a TDP of 15 watts. This more than tenfold difference explains the performance results and dictates where each chip can be deployed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD EPYC 7261 scores 9476, while the Intel Core i7-1185G7E scores 8303. The EPYC leads by 14.1%.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The database records 6 wins for the AMD EPYC 7261 and 0 wins for the Intel Core i7-1185G7E across the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The AMD EPYC 7261 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i7-1185G7E has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Does the Intel processor have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units. The AMD EPYC 7261 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7261 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-1185G7E does not.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The EPYC 7261 averages 2740, and the Core i7-1185G7E averages 2703. Both sit at the 50th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

The Verdict

The data is decisive on raw performance. The AMD EPYC 7261 outperforms the Intel Core i7-1185G7E in every recorded benchmark, with consistent margins around 14%. It has double the cores, double the threads, a much larger L3 cache, and an eight-channel memory bus with ECC support. It is the stronger processor for compute-heavy workloads.

The Intel Core i7-1185G7E is not without merit. It has a far higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz, integrated Iris Xe graphics, and a 15 watt TDP that makes it suitable for compact mobile systems. It also supports PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes, which is newer than the EPYC's Gen 3. But none of these features translate into a win in the Cinebench benchmarks recorded in the database.

Buyers should choose the EPYC 7261 if they need maximum multicore throughput, ECC memory, or server-grade memory bandwidth. The 170.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and eight-channel bus are exclusive to the AMD part. Buyers should choose the Core i7-1185G7E if they need integrated graphics, low power consumption, or a mobile form factor. The launch MSRP for the Core i7-1185G7E is $431.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. Core count: 8 versus 4. Thread count: 16 versus 8. Base clock: 2.50 GHz versus 1800.00 MHz. Boost clock: 2.90 GHz versus 4.40 GHz. TDP: 170 watts versus 15 watts. Socket: AMD Socket SP3 versus Intel BGA 1449. Architecture: Zen versus Tiger Lake. Process node: 14 nm versus 10 nm. Die size: 213 mm² versus 144 mm². Transistors: 4,800 million versus not recorded.

Cache configurations are distinct. L1 per core is 96 KB on the EPYC and 80 KB on the Intel part. L2 per core is 512 KB versus 1.25 MB. L3 shared is 32 MB versus 12 MB. Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the EPYC uses eight channels while the Intel part uses dual-channel. The EPYC also adds LPDDR4X support and has a recorded memory bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, while the Intel part has no bandwidth figure in the database.

ECC support is present on the EPYC, absent on the Intel chip. PCIe generation is Gen 3 for the EPYC and Gen 4 with 4 lanes for the Intel part. Integrated graphics are absent on the EPYC and present as Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU on the Intel chip. The multiplier is unlocked on the EPYC and locked on the Intel part. Market segment is server and workstation for the EPYC, mobile for the Intel chip. The EPYC was released on 2018-06-13, the Intel part on 2020-09-01. The EPYC has no launch MSRP recorded, while the Intel part lists $431.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7261 wins in every scenario that demands raw compute. Its 14.1% lead in multicore Cinebench tests makes it the choice for rendering, compilation, and any workload that scales across cores. The 32 MB L3 cache and 170.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth support data-intensive server tasks. ECC memory support makes it suitable for environments where data integrity is critical. The unlocked multiplier offers tuning potential for server administrators who want to adjust performance.

The Intel Core i7-1185G7E wins in scenarios defined by power and integration. Its 15 watt TDP allows deployment in fanless or low-power mobile systems where the 170 watt EPYC is physically impossible to cool. The integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units provides display output and basic acceleration without a discrete GPU. The PCIe Gen 4 support with 4 lanes offers newer connectivity for compatible devices. Its higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz suggests burst responsiveness in short, lightly threaded tasks, though the recorded single-core benchmarks still favor the EPYC.

The database does not show a single benchmark where the Intel chip wins. The EPYC 7261 is the faster processor, period. The Core i7-1185G7E is the more versatile and efficient option. The choice comes down to platform: a server rack versus a thin laptop. The EPYC 7261 is a server processor that happens to be competitive in single-core tests. The Core i7-1185G7E is a mobile processor that cannot match the server part's throughput but offers a feature set suited to portable computing.