AMD EPYC 7281 vs Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 has 22 cores and 44 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7281 has 16 cores and 32 threads. Intel leads by 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7281 scores 2594 in Cinebench R23 single-core, versus 2516 for the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4. That is a 3.1% advantage for AMD.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD EPYC 7281 features an eight-channel memory bus delivering 170.6 GB/s, while the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 has a quad-channel bus at 76.8 GB/s. AMD's bandwidth is more than double.

Q: Is the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 still in production?

A: No, the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 is listed as end-of-life. The AMD EPYC 7281 has an active production status.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4?

A: The launch MSRP of the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 is $4938. No launch MSRP is listed for the AMD EPYC 7281.

Q: How does the AMD EPYC 7281's average benchmark score compare to its closest rival?

A: The AMD EPYC 7281 has an average benchmark score of 5315, which is essentially tied with the Intel Core i9-10900KF at 5316 (0% delta) and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X at 5306.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different architectural generations and design philosophies. The AMD EPYC 7281 is built on the Zen architecture with the codename Naples, part of the EPYC 7001 series, fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 uses the Broadwell architecture (Broadwell-EP), also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by Intel, with a substantially larger 456 mm² die containing 7,200 million transistors.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. The AMD EPYC 7281 allocates 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 32 MB L3 cache. The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 provides 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, but compensates with a larger 55 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel part's larger L3 is partially offset by having more cores to feed.

Memory architecture is a major differentiator. AMD implements an eight-channel DDR4 memory bus with 170.6 GB/s theoretical bandwidth, while Intel uses a quad-channel bus at 76.8 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity is Generation 3 on both, but the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 specifies 40 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD part lists PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count in the data.

Socket platforms diverge completely: AMD uses Socket SP3, while Intel uses Socket 2011-3. The AMD EPYC 7281 has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 does not. The Intel processor carries part number SR30YQLPM. Market segments also differ: AMD lists Server/Workstation, while Intel lists Desktop despite being a Xeon part. Release dates are roughly eight months apart, with Intel launching on 2016-10-24 and AMD on 2017-06-28.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Across all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, the AMD EPYC 7281 wins every test. The margins are consistent, hovering near 3.1% in most cases. In Cinebench R15 multicore, AMD scores 1852 against Intel's 1796, a 3.1% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows 261 versus 253, a 3.2% edge for AMD. These are close but real differences.

The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20. AMD leads multicore with 7718 versus 7486, a 3.1% gap, and single-core with 1089 versus 1056, also 3.1%. The largest absolute difference appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where AMD scores 18377 and Intel scores 17826 — a 551-point gap that still works out to exactly 3.1%. The R23 single-core test shows 2594 versus 2516, again 3.1%.

Notably, the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 has additional Geekbench results (multicore 10118, singlecore 1020) that are not present in the AMD EPYC 7281's benchmark list, so no direct comparison is possible on that test. The AMD part's wins are uniform but narrow. For a processor with 6 fewer cores and 12 fewer threads, the EPYC 7281's consistent 3% lead in every shared benchmark indicates superior per-thread efficiency. The Intel chip's 22 cores cannot translate its core-count advantage into a win against AMD's Zen architecture in these Cinebench workloads.

Both processors sit at the 60th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are in the same performance tier overall. The AMD EPYC 7281's average benchmark score of 5315 edges out the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4's 5259. The AMD part's nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-10900KF at 5316 (0% delta), while the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4's closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-14401E at 5253 (0.1% delta).

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 7281 | Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 16 | 22 |

| Threads | 32 | 44 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 170 W | 145 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP3 | Intel Socket 2011-3 |

| Architecture | Zen | Broadwell |

| Codename | Naples | Broadwell-EP |

| Transistors | 4,800 million | 7,200 million |

| Die Size | 213 mm² | 456 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB (shared) | 55 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 170.6 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2017-06-28 | 2016-10-24 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $4938 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | Not listed | SR30YQLPM |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7281 wins in every benchmark category where both processors have data. Its six head-to-head victories span both single-core and multi-core tests across three Cinebench versions. The single-core wins (3.1-3.2% margins) suggest better IPC from the Zen architecture, which allows the 16-core part to outperform a 22-core rival even when clock speeds are lower. AMD's base clock is 2.10 GHz and boost is 2.70 GHz, compared to Intel's 2.40 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost — yet AMD still wins single-core tests, indicating architectural efficiency over raw frequency.

The memory bandwidth advantage is substantial: 170.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s. For memory-intensive server workloads, this more than doubles the data throughput ceiling. The eight-channel memory bus on AMD versus quad-channel on Intel is a structural advantage that no software optimization can fully close.

The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4's advantages are in specifications rather than benchmark results. It offers more cores (22 vs 16), more threads (44 vs 32), higher base and boost clocks, a larger L3 cache (55 MB vs 32 MB), and lower TDP (145 W vs 170 W). It also has Geekbench scores (multicore 10118, singlecore 1020) that AMD cannot match in a direct comparison because no Geekbench data exists for the EPYC 7281.

For workloads that scale with raw core count and are not memory-bandwidth-bound, the Intel part's 22 cores could theoretically provide more parallel throughput. However, the benchmark data shows that in Cinebench — a heavily multi-threaded workload — the 16-core AMD part consistently outperforms the 22-core Intel part. This suggests that AMD's per-core efficiency more than compensates for the 6-core deficit.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but nuanced picture. The AMD EPYC 7281 wins all six shared benchmarks with margins between 3.1% and 3.2%. It achieves these wins despite having 6 fewer cores, 12 fewer threads, lower clock speeds, and a smaller L3 cache. The AMD architecture delivers higher per-thread performance, and its eight-channel memory bus provides 170.6 GB/s versus Intel's 76.8 GB/s.

The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 is not without merit. It offers more cores, more threads, higher clocks, and a larger L3 cache. It also carries a $4938 launch MSRP and is now end-of-life. The AMD EPYC 7281 remains in active production and has an unlocked multiplier.

For new server or workstation deployments where Cinebench-style workloads are representative, the AMD EPYC 7281 is the stronger choice based on benchmark results. Its active production status and memory bandwidth advantage reinforce this position. The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 may still appeal in scenarios where its specific feature set — such as the 40 PCIe lanes or the particular socket platform — is required, but the benchmark data does not favor it.

Both processors sit at the 60th percentile of all CPUs, placing them in the same overall performance class. The AMD EPYC 7281's average benchmark score of 5315 versus 5259 for the Intel part confirms a modest but consistent performance advantage. With six wins and zero losses in head-to-head testing, the AMD EPYC 7281 is the benchmark winner. The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 remains a capable processor, but the data shows AMD's newer architecture delivers better performance per core and per thread.