AMD EPYC 7261 vs Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 wins with a score of 9642, which is 1.8% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7261's 9476.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core Cinebench R15?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 scores 137, while the AMD EPYC 7261 scores 134, giving Intel a 2.2% advantage in that test.

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

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 has an average benchmark score of 2789, while the AMD EPYC 7261 has an average of 2740. Intel's score is 1.8% higher than AMD's according to the head-to-head data.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 is end-of-life, while the AMD EPYC 7261 is listed as active production status.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 and the AMD EPYC 7261 have ECC memory support enabled.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 has a boost clock of 3.20 GHz, which is higher than the AMD EPYC 7261's 2.90 GHz boost clock.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 is built on Intel's Haswell architecture, specifically the Haswell-EP microarchitecture, and manufactured on a 22 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The AMD EPYC 7261 uses the Zen architecture with the Naples codename, produced by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process. The process node difference is significant: Intel's 22 nm versus AMD's 14 nm, meaning AMD packs its transistors more densely.

Transistor counts tell a compelling story. The Intel chip integrates 2,600 million transistors on a die size of 356 mm², while the AMD processor integrates 4,800 million transistors on a much smaller die of 213 mm². This reflects the denser 14 nm manufacturing technology used for the EPYC 7261.

Core and thread configurations differ notably. The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 offers 10 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7261 provides 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel holds a 2-core and 4-thread advantage in raw parallelism. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD part runs at lower clock speeds: its base clock is 2.50 GHz versus Intel's 2.60 GHz, and its boost clock is 2.90 GHz versus Intel's 3.20 GHz.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Intel processor has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD EPYC 7261 offers larger per-core caches, with 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus 32 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD's larger L3 cache and per-core L2 allocation are notable advantages for workloads that benefit from more cache per thread, but Intel's extra cores may compensate in throughput-heavy scenarios.

Memory subsystems also diverge. Both support DDR4 memory, but the AMD EPYC 7261 uses an eight-channel memory bus delivering a theoretical bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, while the Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 uses a quad-channel bus with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth. This is a major architectural difference: AMD's memory bandwidth is 2.5 times higher, which can matter substantially for memory-bound server workloads.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Intel processor provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD EPYC 7261 also supports Gen 3 but does not specify a lane count in the recorded data. The Intel part includes a part number of SR22Q, while the AMD part is identified as PS7261BEV8RAF. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel processor does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Across every recorded Cinebench benchmark, the Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 comes out ahead, but the margins are consistently narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel scores 971 versus AMD's 954, a 1.8% lead. The single-core R15 test shows Intel at 137 and AMD at 134, a 2.2% advantage for Intel, which is the largest single margin in the entire comparison.

Moving to Cinebench R20, Intel repeats its 1.8% win in multi-core with a score of 4049 against AMD's 3979. In single-core R20, Intel scores 571 versus AMD's 561, again a 1.8% margin. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23: Intel's multi-core score of 9642 beats AMD's 9476 by 1.8%, and Intel's single-core score of 1361 beats AMD's 1337 by 1.8%.

The consistency of these deltas is striking. Five of the six head-to-head benchmarks show exactly 1.8% difference, with only the R15 single-core test showing a larger gap at 2.2%. This suggests the performance relationship between the two processors is stable across rendering workloads of varying intensity and thread counts. The Intel part wins all six recorded benchmarks, giving it a clean 6-0 sweep in the head-to-head comparison.

However, the context from the nearest rivals data is important. The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 sits at the 51st percentile among all CPUs in the database, with an average score of 2789. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-11300H at 2792 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i7-5930K at 2775 (0.5% behind), the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G at 2774 (0.5% behind), and the Intel Core i5-8600K at 2807 (0.6% ahead). This places Intel's Xeon squarely in a competitive mid-pack for average performance.

The AMD EPYC 7261 sits at the 50th percentile, with an average score of 2740. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E-2176M at 2751 (0.4% ahead), the Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 at 2724 (0.6% behind), the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U at 2722 (0.7% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE at 2759 (0.7% ahead). The EPYC 7261's average score is about 1.8% lower than the Xeon E5-4627 v3's, matching the head-to-head delta. Both processors occupy nearly the same performance tier, despite their architectural differences.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. Core count: Intel has 10 cores and 20 threads, AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds: Intel's base clock is 2.60 GHz and boost is 3.20 GHz, while AMD's base is 2.50 GHz and boost is 2.90 GHz. Thermal design power: Intel is rated at 135 W, AMD at 170 W, meaning AMD draws more power for lower clock speeds and fewer cores.

Sockets are incompatible: Intel uses Socket 2011-3, AMD uses Socket SP3. The process node differs, with Intel at 22 nm and AMD at 14 nm. Foundry operations differ as well, with Intel manufacturing its own chip while GlobalFoundries produces the AMD part. Transistor counts and die sizes are substantially different, with AMD integrating more transistors on a smaller die. Cache layouts differ in both per-core and shared amounts. Memory bus width differs dramatically: quad-channel for Intel versus eight-channel for AMD, yielding 68.3 GB/s versus 170.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The production status differs, with Intel end-of-life and AMD active. Release dates differ, with Intel launching in 2015 and AMD in 2018. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $2225, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. The Intel multiplier is locked; the AMD multiplier is unlocked. PCIe generation is the same (Gen 3), but Intel specifies 40 lanes from the CPU while AMD's lane count is not recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 wins in every benchmark recorded in the database. Its 6-0 sweep includes all three Cinebench generations tested, in both single-core and multi-core modes. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R15 single-core at 2.2%, and the remaining five tests show a consistent 1.8% lead. For users prioritizing raw Cinebench rendering performance, the data unambiguously favors Intel.

The Intel part also offers more cores and threads, with 10 cores and 20 threads versus AMD's 8 cores and 16 threads. Its higher base and boost clocks (2.60 GHz and 3.20 GHz versus 2.50 GHz and 2.90 GHz) contribute to its benchmark wins. Additionally, Intel's lower TDP of 135 W versus AMD's 170 W means it delivers better benchmark performance per watt in these specific tests. The Intel processor is also the only one of the two with a recorded launch MSRP, listed at $2225.

The AMD EPYC 7261 does not win any of the recorded benchmarks, but it has clear architectural advantages that may matter in other contexts. Its eight-channel memory bus delivers 170.6 GB/s of bandwidth, more than double Intel's 68.3 GB/s. For memory-intensive workloads such as large database operations, virtualization with many concurrent guests, or high-performance computing tasks that stream large datasets, the EPYC 7261's memory subsystem could provide a significant advantage that Cinebench does not measure.

AMD's larger cache hierarchy, with 512 KB L2 per core and 32 MB shared L3, may benefit workloads with high cache reuse. The unlocked multiplier on the EPYC 7261 offers overclocking flexibility that the locked Intel part cannot match. The EPYC 7261 is also still in active production, making it easier to source for new systems, while the Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 is end-of-life. Its 14 nm process and higher transistor count (4,800 million versus 2,600 million) reflect a more modern design, even if the benchmark data shows it trailing in Cinebench.

For users choosing based purely on the recorded Cinebench results, the Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 is the clear winner. For users with workloads that stress memory bandwidth, cache capacity, or require an actively produced platform with overclocking support, the AMD EPYC 7261 offers compelling reasons for consideration despite its benchmark deficit. The two processors target different strengths, and the recorded data captures only a slice of their overall capabilities.