AMD EPYC 7272 vs Intel Xeon W-2175 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents an unusually one-sided picture. Across all six recorded Cinebench tests, the AMD EPYC 7272 wins outright, with no single test favoring the Intel Xeon W-2175. The EPYC 7272 leads by a consistent margin of 7.2% in most tests, with single-core R15 showing a slightly larger advantage at 7.4%.

The AMD EPYC 7272 dominates in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. Its multi-core scores are 2155 in R15, 8982 in R20, and 21386 in R23. The Intel Xeon W-2175 trails at 2010, 8379, and 19951 respectively. The consistent 7.2% delta across all three multi-core tests indicates a stable architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Single-core performance tells a similar story. The EPYC 7272 records 304 in R15 single-core, 1267 in R20, and 3019 in R23. The Xeon W-2175 counters with 283, 1182, and 2816. The single-core margins of 7.4% (R15) and 7.2% (R20 and R23) are nearly identical to the multi-core deltas, suggesting the EPYC 7272's per-core efficiency is the decisive factor.

The Xeon W-2175 does field more cores, 14 versus 12, and a significantly higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz versus 3.20 GHz. Yet the data shows these advantages do not translate into benchmark wins. The EPYC 7272's Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm process from TSMC appears to overcome the core count and clock speed gaps. The Xeon W-2175's 14 nm Skylake design, with a 484 mm² die, cannot match the efficiency of the 2x 74 mm² chiplet layout in the AMD part.

For use-case segmentation, the EPYC 7272 is the pick for Cinebench-style rendering workloads, both in multi-threaded and single-threaded scenarios. The Xeon W-2175, despite its higher core count and boost clock, does not win any recorded benchmark category. The database's average benchmark score reinforces this: the EPYC 7272 averages 6186 while the Xeon W-2175 averages 5770, a gap of roughly 7.2% overall.

Both processors sit at the 61st percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are statistically tied in overall standing relative to the broader market. However, when compared directly against each other, the EPYC 7272 is uniformly ahead.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7272 is the superior processor across every recorded benchmark. Anyone choosing between these two for Cinebench workloads should select the EPYC 7272, as it wins all six head-to-head tests with margins ranging from 7.2% to 7.4%.

For multi-threaded rendering, the EPYC 7272's scores are 2155 (R15), 8982 (R20), and 21386 (R23). The Xeon W-2175's corresponding scores are 2010, 8379, and 19951. The consistent 7.2% advantage means the AMD part completes the same rendering tasks measurably faster, despite having two fewer cores. This is a direct result of architectural efficiency rather than raw resource counts.

For single-threaded workloads, the EPYC 7272 again leads, with 304 (R15), 1267 (R20), and 3019 (R23) versus 283, 1182, and 2816. The 7.2% to 7.4% margins are notable because the Xeon W-2175 boosts to 4.30 GHz, over 1 GHz higher than the EPYC 7272's 3.20 GHz maximum. The Zen 2 architecture's instructions-per-clock advantage is substantial enough to overcome the clock speed deficit.

The Xeon W-2175 is not without merit in the broader context. Its nearest rival comparisons show it trading blows with the Intel Xeon E-2388G (0.6% behind), the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X (0.7% ahead), the AMD EPYC 7401P (0.8% behind), and the AMD EPYC 7351 (1.1% ahead). The EPYC 7272's nearest rivals similarly cluster close: 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i9-7940X, 0.7% behind the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, 0.9% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7501, and 1.0% behind the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U. Both processors are competitive within their respective peer groups, but the direct comparison favors AMD.

The Xeon W-2175 is marked as end-of-life production status, while the EPYC 7272 remains active. For new deployments, the EPYC 7272 is the only sensible choice based on both performance and availability. The launch MSRP of the EPYC 7272 is $625, while the Xeon W-2175 launched at $1947.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six direct comparisons in the database all favor the AMD EPYC 7272. The largest win comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the EPYC 7272 scores 304 against the Xeon W-2175's 283, a 7.4% advantage. This is the only test where the margin deviates from the 7.2% figure seen elsewhere.

The multi-core results are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7272 scores 2155 versus 2010, a 7.2% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 8982 versus 8379, again 7.2%. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows with 21386 versus 19951, still 7.2%. The uniformity of these margins across three different Cinebench versions, which have different rendering workloads and scaling characteristics, points to a fundamental per-thread performance advantage rather than a benchmark-specific artifact.

Single-core tests mirror the multi-core pattern. Cinebench R20 single-core gives the EPYC 7272 a 1267 score versus 1182, a 7.2% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3019 versus 2816, also 7.2%. The R15 single-core test is the only outlier at 7.4%, a minor deviation that does not change the overall picture.

The Xeon W-2175's higher core count (14 versus 12) and higher boost clock (4.30 GHz versus 3.20 GHz) do not help it close the gap in any test. The EPYC 7272 achieves its wins through superior architecture: Zen 2 on a 7 nm TSMC process with 7,600 million transistors across two 74 mm² dies. The Xeon W-2175's monolithic 484 mm² Skylake die on Intel's 14 nm process cannot match the IPC efficiency of the AMD design.

Memory bandwidth is identical at 85.3 GB/s for both processors, so that is not a differentiating factor. The EPYC 7272 uses eight-channel DDR4 while the Xeon W-2175 uses quad-channel DDR4, yet both arrive at the same peak bandwidth figure. PCIe connectivity differs significantly, with the EPYC 7272 offering Gen 4 with 128 lanes versus the Xeon W-2175's Gen 3 with 48 lanes, but this does not directly impact Cinebench scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The AMD EPYC 7272 wins all three multi-core tests. It scores 2155 in R15, 8982 in R20, and 21386 in R23, versus the Xeon W-2175's 2010, 8379, and 19951. The margin is 7.2% in every case.

Q: Does the Xeon W-2175's higher boost clock help it in single-core tests?

A: No. Despite boosting to 4.30 GHz compared to the EPYC 7272's 3.20 GHz, the Xeon W-2175 loses all three single-core tests. The EPYC 7272 scores 304 (R15), 1267 (R20), and 3019 (R23), while the Xeon W-2175 scores 283, 1182, and 2816.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The EPYC 7272 sits 0.6% above the Intel Core i9-7940X, 0.7% below the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, 0.9% above the AMD EPYC 7501, and 1.0% below the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U. The Xeon W-2175 sits 0.6% below the Intel Xeon E-2388G, 0.7% above the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X, 0.8% below the AMD EPYC 7401P, and 1.1% above the AMD EPYC 7351.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The EPYC 7272 has an average benchmark score of 6186, while the Xeon W-2175 averages 5770. This represents approximately a 7.2% gap in favor of the AMD part.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD EPYC 7272 is listed as active, while the Intel Xeon W-2175 is marked as end-of-life.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the EPYC 7272 and the Xeon W-2175 support ECC memory. Both also support DDR4, and both have a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7272 and Intel Xeon W-2175 diverge significantly in almost every architectural dimension. The EPYC 7272 belongs to the EPYC 7002 series based on Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome. It is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC with 7,600 million transistors spread across two 74 mm² dies. The Xeon W-2175 uses Skylake architecture, codenamed Skylake-W, on Intel's 14 nm process with a monolithic 484 mm² die.

Core and thread counts differ. The EPYC 7272 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Xeon W-2175 has 14 cores and 28 threads, giving it a raw thread count advantage. However, as the benchmark data demonstrates, this does not translate into performance wins.

Clock speeds favor Intel on paper. The Xeon W-2175 runs at 2.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost, while the EPYC 7272 runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. The Xeon W-2175 has a higher boost ceiling by 1.10 GHz, yet loses every single-core test.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The EPYC 7272 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 32 MB of L3 per die for a total of 64 MB. The Xeon W-2175 also has 64 KB of L1 per core but doubles the L2 to 1 MB per core, with 19.25 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7272's larger total L3 (64 MB versus 19.25 MB) may contribute to its per-core efficiency.

Memory channels differ. The EPYC 7272 uses eight-channel DDR4, while the Xeon W-2175 uses quad-channel DDR4. Both achieve a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, and both support ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities are markedly different. The EPYC 7272 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU. The Xeon W-2175 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 48 lanes. This is a significant differentiator for systems requiring high-bandwidth I/O, though it does not factor into Cinebench results.

Socket and platform requirements differ entirely. The EPYC 7272 uses AMD Socket SP3, while the Xeon W-2175 uses Intel Socket 2066. These are not interchangeable platforms, so the choice of processor dictates the motherboard and system architecture.

Power consumption is close. The EPYC 7272 has a TDP of 120 watts, while the Xeon W-2175 draws 140 watts. The EPYC 7272 achieves higher performance across all benchmarks while consuming less power, a notable efficiency advantage.

Production status and release dates differ. The EPYC 7272 was released on August 6, 2019 and remains active. The Xeon W-2175 was released on October 14, 2017 and is now end-of-life. The EPYC 7272's launch MSRP was $625, while the Xeon W-2175 launched at $1947.

Neither processor has integrated graphics, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Both are aimed at the server and workstation market segment. The EPYC 7272 uses a multi-die chiplet design typical of Zen 2 Rome, while the Xeon W-2175 uses a monolithic Skylake die, reflecting two very different approaches to high-core-count processor design.