CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-1567 and AMD EPYC 7261 are both server-class processors aimed at different deployment scenarios, though their benchmark results are remarkably close. The Xeon D-1567, a Broadwell-DE part from 2016, offers 12 cores and 24 threads, while the EPYC 7261, a Zen-based Naples chip from 2018, provides 8 cores and 16 threads. Across six Cinebench tests, the Intel chip wins every single matchup, but by margins of only 1.1% to 1.5%, a statistical tie in real-world terms. The real story lies in their architectural and platform differences: one is a compact, low-power system-on-chip, and the other is a scalable, memory-bandwidth-heavy socketed processor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1567 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7261 has 8 cores and 16 threads. This gives the Intel part a 50% advantage in core count and thread count.

Q: How do their base and boost clocks compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7261 has a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz and a higher boost clock of 2.90 GHz, versus the Intel Xeon D-1567's 2.10 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost.

Q: What is the power draw difference?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1567 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the AMD EPYC 7261 has a TDP of 170 watts. The Intel chip uses significantly less power.

Q: Which chip supports more memory channels?

A: The AMD EPYC 7261 supports eight-channel memory, while the Intel Xeon D-1567 is dual-channel. The EPYC also has a listed memory bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, a figure not provided for the Intel part.

Q: What are the cache configurations?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1567 has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 1.5 MB of L3 per core. The AMD EPYC 7261 has 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, but shares a 32 MB L3 cache across all cores.

Q: Did either chip win the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1567 won all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core, with margins ranging from 1.1% to 1.5%.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon D-1567 in raw compute performance, but the context of those wins matters more than the scores themselves. In multi-core workloads, the Intel chip's advantage is consistent but narrow: it leads by 1.2% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (965 vs 954), 1.1% in R20 multi-core (4022 vs 3979), and 1.1% in R23 multi-core (9578 vs 9476). These are the kinds of margins that would not be noticeable in daily operation, but they do indicate that the Intel part's extra four cores and eight threads translate into a slight edge in heavily threaded tasks like rendering or compilation.

The single-core results tell a similar story. Intel wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 1.5% (136 vs 134), R20 single-core by 1.1% (567 vs 561), and R23 single-core by 1.1% (1352 vs 1337). Despite the AMD chip's higher boost clock of 2.90 GHz versus 2.70 GHz, the Intel architecture manages to edge ahead in single-threaded performance. This suggests the Xeon D-1567 has better instructions-per-clock efficiency in these workloads, or that the benchmark favors its cache layout.

The AMD EPYC 7261's wins are not in the benchmark suite but in the platform capabilities. It offers eight-channel memory with 170.6 GB/s of bandwidth, a massive advantage for memory-bound server workloads like databases or virtualization hosts. It also has a larger shared L3 cache of 32 MB and a higher base clock. For workloads that scale with memory bandwidth rather than core count, the EPYC's platform advantages could make it the better choice despite losing the Cinebench tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon D-1567 is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-DE variant, using Intel's 14 nm process node with 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. It is a system-on-chip design soldered to the Intel BGA 1667 socket, which means it is not upgradeable but offers an integrated, compact solution. Its cache hierarchy is per-core: 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 1.5 MB of L3 per core, which is unusual compared to the shared L3 designs of many rivals.

The AMD EPYC 7261 uses the Zen architecture with the Naples codename, manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process. It packs 4,800 million transistors into a smaller 213 mm² die, which is a higher transistor density than the Intel chip. The EPYC uses the AMD Socket SP3, which is designed for scalable, multi-socket servers. Its cache layout is different: 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, but a single shared 32 MB L3 cache that all eight cores can access. This shared cache can reduce latency for data shared across cores.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel chip supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus, which is a legacy-friendly option. The AMD chip supports only DDR4 but through an eight-channel memory bus, providing far more theoretical bandwidth. The EPYC also has a higher TDP of 170 watts versus 65 watts, reflecting its server-socket design with more power delivery headroom. Both support ECC memory, which is critical for server stability.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the two chips are clear and impactful. The Intel Xeon D-1567 offers 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7261 offers 8 cores and 16 threads, a 4-core and 8-thread advantage for Intel. Clock speeds favor AMD: the EPYC runs at 2.50 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost, compared to Intel's 2.10 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost. The TDP gap is substantial: 65 watts for Intel versus 170 watts for AMD, making the Xeon D-1567 far more power-efficient per core.

Cache and memory specifications differ significantly. Intel has per-core L3 of 1.5 MB, which totals 18 MB across 12 cores but is not shared globally. AMD has a shared 32 MB L3, which is larger overall and more flexible for multi-threaded data sharing. Memory channels are a major differentiator: Intel is dual-channel, AMD is eight-channel. AMD also lists an explicit memory bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, while Intel provides no such figure. The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1667 is a soldered, embedded-style socket, while AMD Socket SP3 is a LGA socket for replaceable processors.

Other differences include the manufacturing details: Intel uses its own foundry, while AMD uses GlobalFoundries, though both are on 14 nm nodes. The Intel chip has 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die; AMD has 4,800 million on a 213 mm² die. The Intel part has a listed launch MSRP of 1199 dollars, while the AMD chip has no launch MSRP provided. The AMD EPYC 7261 has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel Xeon D-1567 is locked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are uniform: Intel wins all six tests, but the margins are razor-thin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Xeon D-1567 scores 965 against the AMD EPYC 7261's 954, a 1.2% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a 1.5% edge for Intel, with scores of 136 versus 134. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core gap narrows to 1.1%, Intel scores 4022, AMD scores 3979, and the single-core test also shows a 1.1% delta with 567 versus 561.

Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern. In multi-core, Intel scores 9578 against AMD's 9476, a 1.1% advantage. In single-core, Intel leads 1352 to 1337, again a 1.1% margin. Across all six tests, the average delta is just about 1.2%, which is within run-to-run variance for most benchmarking. The data indicates that the Intel chip's additional cores and threads give it a consistent, if small, edge in both single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench workloads.

For context, the Intel Xeon D-1567's average benchmark score is 2770, placing it in the 51st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE (average score 2767, delta 0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-5930K (average score 2775, delta -0.2%). The AMD EPYC 7261 has an average score of 2740, putting it in the 50th percentile. Its nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E-2176M with an average score of 2751, which is 0.4% ahead of the EPYC. These percentile rankings confirm that both chips sit in the middle of the performance pack, not at the top or bottom.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear but nuanced conclusion. If you are optimizing for raw Cinebench performance, the Intel Xeon D-1567 is the winner in every measured test, with a perfect 6-0 head-to-head record. Its 12 cores and 24 threads deliver a consistent 1.1% to 1.5% advantage over the AMD EPYC 7261 across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core runs. The Intel chip also uses far less power, 65 watts versus 170 watts, and has a listed launch MSRP of 1199 dollars, which is a data point for budget planning, though the AMD part has no MSRP listed.

However, the AMD EPYC 7261 is not without merit. Its eight-channel memory support and 170.6 GB/s memory bandwidth make it a stronger candidate for memory-intensive server tasks that do not appear in Cinebench results. The shared 32 MB L3 cache is larger than Intel's 18 MB total per-core L3, which could benefit workloads with high data reuse across threads. The higher base and boost clocks, 2.50 GHz and 2.90 GHz versus 2.10 GHz and 2.70 GHz, also give it an edge in latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks, even though the benchmark data shows Intel winning those tests anyway.

Choose the Intel Xeon D-1567 if you need a compact, power-efficient, 12-core workhorse for embedded or density-optimized servers where the BGA socket is acceptable and per-core performance is more important than memory bandwidth. Choose the AMD EPYC 7261 if you need a socketed, upgradeable processor with massive memory bandwidth for virtualization or database workloads, and you can tolerate the higher power draw. The benchmark scores are nearly identical, so the decision should rest on platform requirements, the Intel chip is the compute winner, and the AMD chip is the platform-flexibility winner.