AMD EPYC 7272 vs Intel Core i9-10940X Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-10940X has an average benchmark score of 6605, while the AMD EPYC 7272 scores 6186. This places the Intel part in the 62nd percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 61st percentile for the AMD EPYC 7272.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core rendering workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i9-10940X scores 23520 against the AMD EPYC 7272's 21386, a 9.1% advantage. The same 9.1% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core (9878 vs 8982) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (2370 vs 2155).

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7272 win any of the recorded head-to-head benchmarks?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Intel Core i9-10940X winning all six recorded tests. The AMD EPYC 7272 records zero wins across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core tests.

Q: What memory and PCIe capabilities differentiate these two processors?

A: The AMD EPYC 7272 supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth and includes ECC memory support. The Intel Core i9-10940X uses quad-channel DDR4 and does not support ECC. The AMD part provides PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part provides PCIe Gen 3.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: Yes. The database lists both the AMD EPYC 7272 and Intel Core i9-10940X as having active production status.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-10940X boosts to 4.80 GHz, compared to 3.20 GHz for the AMD EPYC 7272. The Intel part also has a higher base clock at 3.30 GHz versus 2.90 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7272 is built on the Zen 2 architecture with the Rome codename, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i9-10940X uses the Cascade Lake architecture with the Cascade Lake-X codename, built on Intel's 14 nm process. This process gap is significant: the AMD chip packs 7,600 million transistors into a die size of 2x 74 mm², while the database lists no transistor or die size data for the Intel part.

Core counts differ as well. The EPYC 7272 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Core i9-10940X has 14 cores and 28 threads. Cache configurations are notably different. The AMD chip uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 per die for a total of 64 MB L3. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 19.25 MB of shared L3. That is a substantial total L3 advantage for the AMD EPYC 7272, nearly 3.3 times the L3 capacity of the Intel part.

Memory architecture is a major split. The EPYC 7272 supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s and includes ECC support. The Core i9-10940X supports quad-channel DDR4 memory, and the database records no memory bandwidth figure for it. ECC is not supported on the Intel part. PCIe capabilities also differ: the AMD EPYC 7272 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core i9-10940X provides PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count listed.

The market segments reflect their intended uses. The AMD EPYC 7272 is listed as a Server/Workstation part on the AMD Socket SP3 platform. The Intel Core i9-10940X is a Desktop part on Intel Socket 2066. The AMD chip has a locked multiplier, while the Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The EPYC 7272 is part of the EPYC 7002 series, while the Core i9-10940X belongs to the Core 10th Gen X-Series.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is one-sided. The Intel Core i9-10940X wins all six recorded head-to-head tests, with a consistent 9.1% advantage in multi-core Cinebench workloads and a 9.0% to 9.1% edge in single-core tests. For builders prioritizing raw Cinebench rendering performance, the Core i9-10940X is the clear pick from this data.

The AMD EPYC 7272 has a different role. It is a server/workstation part with eight-channel memory, ECC support, PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes, and a 64 MB L3 pool. These features serve memory-capacity and data-integrity workloads more than raw single-thread speed. The database shows the EPYC 7272 in the 61st percentile of all CPUs, just one point below the Intel part, but its average score of 6186 trails the Intel's 6605 by about 6.3%.

Who should pick which? If the workload is Cinebench-style rendering and the platform is desktop-oriented, the Core i9-10940X delivers higher scores across every recorded test. If the workload requires ECC memory, eight-channel bandwidth, or PCIe Gen 4 lane count, the EPYC 7272 is the only one of the two that offers those capabilities. The Intel part also has an unlocked multiplier, which is relevant for overclocking-oriented builders, while the EPYC 7272 does not.

The production status of both parts is Active, so either remains available. The EPYC 7272 has a launch MSRP of $625, which can be stated once as a reference point. The Core i9-10940X has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category.

• Cores: AMD EPYC 7272 has 12 cores; Intel Core i9-10940X has 14 cores.
• Threads: AMD EPYC 7272 has 24 threads; Intel Core i9-10940X has 28 threads.
• Base clock: AMD EPYC 7272 runs at 2.90 GHz; Intel Core i9-10940X runs at 3.30 GHz.
• Boost clock: AMD EPYC 7272 boosts to 3.20 GHz; Intel Core i9-10940X boosts to 4.80 GHz.
• TDP: AMD EPYC 7272 is rated at 120 W; Intel Core i9-10940X is rated at 165 W.
• Socket: AMD EPYC 7272 uses AMD Socket SP3; Intel Core i9-10940X uses Intel Socket 2066.
• Architecture: AMD EPYC 7272 uses Zen 2 (Rome); Intel Core i9-10940X uses Cascade Lake (Cascade Lake-X).
• Process node: AMD EPYC 7272 is on 7 nm; Intel Core i9-10940X is on 14 nm.
• L2 cache: AMD EPYC 7272 has 512 KB per core; Intel Core i9-10940X has 1 MB per core.
• L3 cache: AMD EPYC 7272 has 32 MB per die (64 MB total); Intel Core i9-10940X has 19.25 MB shared.
• Memory bus: AMD EPYC 7272 is eight-channel; Intel Core i9-10940X is quad-channel.
• Memory bandwidth: AMD EPYC 7272 records 85.3 GB/s; Intel Core i9-10940X has no recorded bandwidth.
• ECC memory: AMD EPYC 7272 supports ECC; Intel Core i9-10940X does not.
• PCIe: AMD EPYC 7272 provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only); Intel Core i9-10940X provides Gen 3.
• Market segment: AMD EPYC 7272 is Server/Workstation; Intel Core i9-10940X is Desktop.
• Multiplier: AMD EPYC 7272 is locked; Intel Core i9-10940X is unlocked.
• Transistors: AMD EPYC 7272 has 7,600 million; Intel Core i9-10940X has no recorded figure.
• Die size: AMD EPYC 7272 is 2x 74 mm²; Intel Core i9-10940X has no recorded figure.
• Release date: AMD EPYC 7272 launched 2019-08-06; Intel Core i9-10940X launched 2019-10-18.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i9-10940X. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel part scores 2370 against 2155 for the AMD EPYC 7272, a 9.1% delta. The single-core R15 test is nearly identical in percentage terms: Intel scores 334, AMD scores 304, a 9% gap.

Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern. Multi-core results show Intel at 9878 versus AMD at 8982, again a 9.1% difference. Single-core R20 shows Intel at 1394 versus AMD at 1267, a 9.1% delta. The consistency is notable: the same 9.1% advantage appears across both multi-core and single-core workloads in R20.

Cinebench R23 follows the same trend. Multi-core: Intel 23520, AMD 21386, a 9.1% gap. Single-core: Intel 3320, AMD 3019, a 9.1% gap. The Intel Core i9-10940X also has two additional Geekbench results recorded in its benchmark list: a multi-core score of 10464 and a single-core score of 1556. The AMD EPYC 7272 has no Geekbench scores recorded, so no head-to-head comparison is possible for that test.

The average benchmark scores put the Intel part at 6605, which is 6.8% higher than the AMD part's 6186 average. Both CPUs sit close in the overall percentile ranking: Intel at 62, AMD at 61. The nearest rivals for the AMD EPYC 7272 include the Intel Core i9-7940X at 6147 average score (0.6% delta), the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X at 6231 (-0.7%), the AMD EPYC 7501 at 6128 (0.9%), and the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U at 6247 (-1%). For the Intel Core i9-10940X, the nearest rivals are the Intel Pentium Gold G6405 at 6605 (0%), the Intel Core i9-12900E at 6611 (-0.1%), the Intel Core i5-13500E at 6586 (0.3%), and the Intel Core i5-13400E at 6638 (-0.5%).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-10940X wins every benchmark category where both processors have recorded results. That includes all three generations of Cinebench multi-core tests and all three generations of single-core tests. The margin is uniform at roughly 9%. For anyone measuring performance with Cinebench, the Intel part is ahead in every scenario. The Intel part also benefits from an unlocked multiplier, which gives overclocking headroom that the locked EPYC 7272 does not offer.

The AMD EPYC 7272 wins in platform capabilities rather than benchmark scores. It supports eight-channel memory with 85.3 GB/s of recorded bandwidth, while the Intel part is quad-channel with no bandwidth figure. ECC memory support is exclusive to the AMD part, which matters for long-running server workloads where memory corruption is a concern. The AMD chip provides PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), a major advantage for systems with many PCIe devices or high-bandwidth storage. The Intel part provides PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count.

The L3 cache difference also favors the AMD part: 64 MB total versus 19.25 MB shared. For workloads that repeatedly scan large datasets, the larger L3 pool on the EPYC 7272 is a structural advantage, even though the recorded Cinebench tests do not reflect it. The AMD part also has a lower TDP at 120 W versus 165 W for the Intel part, which reduces cooling requirements in dense server environments.

The production status is Active for both, so neither is a discontinued part. The AMD EPYC 7272 launched on 2019-08-06 with a launch MSRP of $625, while the Intel Core i9-10940X launched on 2019-10-18 with no recorded launch MSRP. The AMD part targets server and workstation sockets, while the Intel part targets desktop X-Series platforms. Choose the Intel part for higher recorded Cinebench scores and overclocking. Choose the AMD part for ECC memory, eight-channel bandwidth, PCIe Gen 4 lane count, and larger L3 capacity.