CPU Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7261 and Intel Xeon D-1577 are both server/workstation processors that land at the 50th percentile in the benchmark database, yet they achieve this parity through radically different design philosophies. The EPYC 7261 is an 8-core, 16-thread Zen-based part with a 170 W TDP, while the Xeon D-1577 is a 16-core, 32-thread Broadwell part with a 45 W TDP. Across all six Cinebench head-to-head tests, the AMD EPYC 7261 wins every single round, but the margins are consistently under 1%, making this a contest of architectural efficiency versus raw core count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7261 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 954 vs 946 in R15 (0.8% ahead), 3979 vs 3943 in R20 (0.9% ahead), and 9476 vs 9389 in R23 (0.9% ahead). Despite having half the cores, the EPYC 7261 edges out the 16-core Xeon D-1577 in every multi-threaded workload.

Q: How does single-core performance compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7261 also takes every single-core test. It leads by 0.8% in Cinebench R15 (134 vs 133) and by 0.9% in both R20 (561 vs 556) and R23 (1337 vs 1325). The advantage is small but consistent across all three generations of the Cinebench benchmark.

Q: What is the core and thread difference between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1577 has exactly double the resources: 16 cores and 32 threads versus the AMD EPYC 7261's 8 cores and 16 threads. This makes the Xeon's near-parity in multi-core scores particularly notable, as it requires the Intel part to leverage its extra threads effectively.

Q: Which processor has a higher thermal design power?

A: The AMD EPYC 7261 has a 170 W TDP, while the Intel Xeon D-1577 is rated at just 45 W. The Xeon D-1577 draws less than a third of the power budget, making it significantly more power-efficient per core and per thread.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: Yes, both are listed as "Active" in production status. The AMD EPYC 7261 was released in June 2018, while the Intel Xeon D-1577 came earlier in February 2016.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD EPYC 7261 has an average benchmark score of 2740, while the Intel Xeon D-1577 scores 2715. The EPYC's nearest rival, the Intel Xeon E-2176M, sits just 0.4% above it, while the Xeon D-1577's closest competitor, the Intel Core i7-11390H, matches it exactly at 0% delta.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7261 is built on the Zen architecture, codenamed Naples, and manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process. It uses the AMD Socket SP3 platform and features 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. The cache hierarchy consists of 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a 32 MB shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR4 with a wide eight-channel memory bus, yielding a maximum memory bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s. The processor has an unlocked multiplier, a notable feature for server parts.

In contrast, the Intel Xeon D-1577 uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-DE variant, and is fabricated by Intel on the same 14 nm process. It is soldered to the Intel BGA 1667 socket and packs 3,200 million transistors into a larger 246 mm² die. Its cache layout differs substantially: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 1.5 MB of L3 per core, which amounts to 24 MB of L3 for the full 16-core chip. Memory support covers both DDR3 and DDR4, but the memory bus is only dual-channel, and no memory bandwidth figure is listed. The multiplier is locked, and the PCIe implementation is Gen 3 with 24 lanes available from the CPU only.

The core count disparity is the most obvious architectural distinction. The Xeon D-1577 packs 16 cores and 32 threads into a 45 W envelope, while the EPYC 7261 operates with 8 cores and 16 threads at 170 W. The EPYC compensates for its lower core count with a much higher clock speed: a base of 2.50 GHz and boost of 2.90 GHz, versus the Xeon's 1300 MHz base and 2.10 GHz boost. The EPYC's memory subsystem is also far wider, with eight channels versus two, giving it a massive theoretical bandwidth advantage of 170.6 GB/s.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent: the AMD EPYC 7261 wins all six tests, but never by more than a single percentage point. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 954 against the Xeon's 946, a 0.8% margin. The single-core R15 test shows the same pattern, with 134 vs 133, also a 0.8% delta.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the EPYC widens its lead slightly to 0.9% in both tests. The multi-core score is 3979 for AMD versus 3943 for Intel, and the single-core score is 561 versus 556. The R23 results mirror this exactly: the EPYC posts 9476 multi-core and 1337 single-core, while the Xeon manages 9389 and 1325, respectively, with the same 0.9% delta.

The interpretation here is nuanced. The Xeon D-1577 has twice as many cores and threads, yet it loses every multi-core test by roughly 1%. This indicates that the EPYC 7261's per-core performance is substantially higher, allowing it to overcome a 2:1 core deficit. Conversely, the Xeon's single-core scores are within 1% of the EPYC's, which is surprising given the EPYC's 2.90 GHz boost clock versus the Xeon's 2.10 GHz. The Broadwell architecture's IPC efficiency narrows the clock-speed gap considerably.

The average benchmark scores reflect this near tie: the EPYC sits at 2740, while the Xeon D-1577 is at 2715. The EPYC's closest rival, the Intel Xeon E-2176M, scores 2751, putting the EPYC 0.4% behind. The Xeon D-1577's nearest competitor, the Intel Core i7-11390H, scores exactly 2715, a 0% delta. Both processors occupy the same performance tier, validated by their identical 50th percentile ranking among all CPUs.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge significantly across nearly every specification category. The core count doubles from 8 on the EPYC 7261 to 16 on the Xeon D-1577, and threads double from 16 to 32. Clock speeds move in the opposite direction: the EPYC's base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost of 2.90 GHz dwarf the Xeon's 1300 MHz base and 2.10 GHz boost. The TDP is a stark contrast, with the EPYC at 170 W and the Xeon at just 45 W.

The physical platforms are incompatible. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3, while the Xeon D-1577 is a BGA 1667 part. The EPYC's die is smaller at 213 mm² but packs more transistors, 4,800 million versus 3,200 million on the Xeon's 246 mm² die. The cache structures are entirely different: the EPYC has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core with a 32 MB shared L3, while the Xeon has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 1.5 MB L3 per core.

Memory support differs in both type and width. The EPYC supports DDR4 only, over an eight-channel bus with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4, but over a dual-channel bus, and no bandwidth figure is provided. The PCIe implementation also differs: the EPYC lists simply "Gen 3," while the Xeon specifies "Gen 3, 24 Lanes (CPU only)." The EPYC has an unlocked multiplier; the Xeon is locked. The release dates are over two years apart, with the Xeon launching in February 2016 and the EPYC in June 2018. The Xeon D-1577 has a launch MSRP of 1379, while the EPYC's launch MSRP is not listed.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7261 wins in raw performance across every benchmark test in this comparison. It takes all six Cinebench rounds, covering both single-core and multi-core scenarios in R15, R20, and R23. Its higher clock speeds and newer Zen architecture deliver consistent, albeit narrow, victories. The EPYC also offers a wider memory bus with eight channels and higher theoretical bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, which can benefit memory-intensive server workloads. Its unlocked multiplier provides flexibility for performance tuning, and its smaller die size with more transistors suggests a denser, more efficient design.

The Intel Xeon D-1577 wins on efficiency and core density. It delivers 16 cores and 32 threads within a 45 W TDP, which is less than a third of the EPYC's 170 W power envelope. For multi-threaded workloads that scale well with core count, the Xeon's performance is nearly identical to the EPYC's, within 0.9% in the worst case, while using a fraction of the power. This makes it a compelling option for power-constrained environments or dense deployments where thermal management is a priority. The Xeon also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, offering flexibility in memory selection, and its 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide direct CPU-attached I/O.

The data suggests a clear use-case split. The EPYC 7261 is preferable when single-threaded performance, memory bandwidth, or overclocking capability are the primary concerns. The Xeon D-1577 is the better choice when power efficiency, core count, or the ability to use existing DDR3 memory are more important. In absolute performance terms, the EPYC wins every benchmark, but the Xeon's ability to match it within 1% using a quarter of the power budget is an engineering achievement in its own right.