AMD EPYC 7282 vs Intel Core i3-1115G4 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench multi-core tests?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 wins every recorded multi-core benchmark by a wide margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2581 against 497 for the Intel Core i3-1115G4, a delta of 419.3%. The R20 multi-core result shows 10758 versus 2071, and R23 multi-core shows 25616 versus 4933.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-1115G4 win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data lists 6 benchmark comparisons, and the AMD EPYC 7282 wins all 6. The Intel Core i3-1115G4 has 0 wins in that dataset.

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance between the two?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 is consistently about 420% ahead in single-core Cinebench tests. For example, Cinebench R15 single-core shows 364 versus 70, and R23 single-core shows 3616 versus 696.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 has an average benchmark score of 7409, while the Intel Core i3-1115G4 has an average of 6851. Both processors sit at the 63rd percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: What memory and PCIe capabilities does each processor offer?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 supports DDR4 memory over an eight-channel bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory, plus Gen 4 PCIe with 128 lanes (CPU only). The Intel Core i3-1115G4 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X over a dual-channel bus, has no ECC support, and provides Gen 4 PCIe with 4 lanes (CPU only).

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115G4 includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4. The AMD EPYC 7282 has no integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a one-sided comparison. The AMD EPYC 7282 wins every Cinebench test in the head-to-head dataset, with deltas ranging from 419.3% to 420%. There is no recorded test where the Intel Core i3-1115G4 takes the lead.

The AMD EPYC 7282 is clearly built for throughput. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with a 120 TDP and eight-channel DDR4 memory support, place it firmly in the server/workstation segment. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25616 is more than five times the Intel part's 4933, which reflects the massive difference in parallel processing capability.

The Intel Core i3-1115G4, with 2 cores and 4 threads at a 15 TDP, is a mobile processor. Its advantage lies in efficiency and integration, not raw performance. It includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4, supports LPDDR4X memory, and operates at a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The data shows it is not competitive with the EPYC in compute-heavy workloads, but its design targets low-power mobile systems where the EPYC cannot operate.

In terms of nearest rivals, the EPYC 7282 sits alongside Intel Core i9-9990XE (average score 7415, delta -0.1%), Intel Core i9-9980XE (7398, delta 0.2%), and Intel Core i5-4570 (7421, delta -0.2%). The Core i3-1115G4 is near the AMD Athlon X4 970 (6850, delta 0%) and AMD Athlon Silver 10 (6849, delta 0%). These groupings confirm that the EPYC competes with high-end desktop and workstation parts while the Core i3 belongs to a much lower performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7282 uses the Zen 2 architecture under the codename Rome, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It belongs to the EPYC 7002 series and the EPYC (Zen 2 (Rome)) generation. The Intel Core i3-1115G4 uses the Tiger Lake architecture under the codename Tiger Lake-U, built on Intel's 10 nm process. Its generation is Core i3 (Willow Cove-U).

The EPYC 7282 integrates 7,600 million transistors across a die size of 2x 74 mm². The Core i3-1115G4 has a die size of 144 mm², with no transistor count listed in the database. The EPYC uses a chiplet design with two dies, each containing 32 MB of L3 cache, for a total of 64 MB. The Core i3 has a shared 6 MB L3 cache.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. The EPYC 7282 provides 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core. The Core i3-1115G4 provides 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The Core i3 has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, but the EPYC's total L3 cache of 64 MB dwarfs the Core i3's 6 MB.

Memory architecture is another major divide. The EPYC 7282 supports DDR4 over an eight-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. The Core i3-1115G4 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X over a dual-channel bus. The database does not list a memory bandwidth figure for the Core i3, but the channel count difference is clear.

PCIe capabilities also diverge sharply. The EPYC 7282 provides Gen 4 PCIe with 128 lanes (CPU only). The Core i3-1115G4 provides Gen 4 PCIe with 4 lanes (CPU only). The EPYC's lane count is 32 times higher, which is typical for a server processor designed to host many peripherals and accelerators.

The Core i3-1115G4 includes integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4, while the EPYC 7282 has none. The Core i3 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1449 socket, while the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3 for server platforms.

Specification Differences

The AMD EPYC 7282 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i3-1115G4 has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.80 GHz for the EPYC and 2.20 GHz for the Core i3. Boost clocks are 3.20 GHz for the EPYC and 4.10 GHz for the Core i3.

TDP differs by a factor of eight: the EPYC 7282 is rated at 120 watts, the Core i3-1115G4 at 15 watts. Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket SP3 for the EPYC, Intel BGA 1449 for the Core i3.

Process nodes differ: 7 nm for the EPYC (TSMC) versus 10 nm for the Core i3 (Intel). The EPYC has a transistor count of 7,600 million and a die size of 2x 74 mm², while the Core i3 has a die size of 144 mm² and no listed transistor count.

Memory support: the EPYC uses DDR4 with eight-channel bus and 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC. The Core i3 uses DDR4 and LPDDR4X with dual-channel bus, no ECC. PCIe: the EPYC has Gen 4 with 128 lanes, the Core i3 has Gen 4 with 4 lanes.

Integrated graphics: none on the EPYC, Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4 on the Core i3. Market segment: Server/Workstation for the EPYC, Mobile for the Core i3.

Release dates: the EPYC 7282 launched on 2019-08-06, the Core i3-1115G4 on 2020-09-01. The launch MSRP for the EPYC is $650, and for the Core i3 it is $281. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head dataset covers six Cinebench tests, and the AMD EPYC 7282 wins all of them. The smallest delta is 419.3% in Cinebench R15 multi-core and R23 multi-core. The largest delta is 420% in Cinebench R15 single-core.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7282 scores 2581 against 497 for the Core i3-1115G4. This is a delta of 419.3%. The R15 single-core test shows 364 versus 70, a delta of 420%.

Cinebench R20 multi-core results show 10758 for the EPYC and 2071 for the Core i3, a delta of 419.5%. The R20 single-core test shows 1518 versus 292, a delta of 419.9%.

Cinebench R23 multi-core scores are 25616 for the EPYC and 4933 for the Core i3, a delta of 419.3%. The R23 single-core test shows 3616 versus 696, a delta of 419.5%.

The consistency of these deltas, all near 420%, indicates that the performance gap is uniform across different Cinebench versions. This is not a case where one processor closes the gap in newer tests. The EPYC's advantage holds steady.

The EPYC 7282 also has additional benchmark data beyond the head-to-head set. Its average benchmark score is 7409, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-9990XE (7415, delta -0.1%) and Intel Core i9-9980XE (7398, delta 0.2%). This places the EPYC in the same performance class as those high-end Intel parts.

The Core i3-1115G4 has a wider set of benchmark results in the database, including Geekbench and Passmark tests. Its Geekbench multi-core score is 2465, and single-core is 1330. Passmark results include single thread at 2585, multithread at 5915, integer math at 17472, and floating point math at 10791. Its average benchmark score is 6851, with nearest rivals including the AMD Athlon X4 970 (6850, delta 0%) and AMD Athlon Silver 10 (6849, delta 0%).

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7282 dominates the Intel Core i3-1115G4 in every recorded Cinebench benchmark. The deltas are all around 420%, meaning the EPYC is roughly five times faster in these tests. For any workload that depends on multi-core or single-core Cinebench performance, the EPYC 7282 is the clear choice.

Users who need server or workstation compute capacity should select the AMD EPYC 7282. Its 16 cores, 32 threads, 64 MB of total L3 cache, eight-channel memory support, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes make it suitable for virtualization, database workloads, and high-throughput applications. Its nearest rivals in the database are Intel Core i9-9990XE and i9-9980XE, not mobile parts, which confirms its position in the high-end desktop and workstation tier.

The Intel Core i3-1115G4 is not a competitor to the EPYC in performance terms. Its role is different: it is a low-power mobile processor with integrated graphics, dual-channel memory support, and a 15 TDP. It is suitable for compact laptops and fanless designs where power consumption and heat output are the primary constraints. Its boost clock of 4.10 GHz is higher than the EPYC's 3.20 GHz, but the benchmark data shows this does not translate into superior single-core performance in Cinebench.

The EPYC 7282 wins 6 out of 6 head-to-head benchmarks. The Core i3-1115G4 wins 0. For a buyer choosing purely on compute performance, the EPYC 7282 is the only rational option between these two. For a buyer needing a mobile processor with integrated graphics, the Core i3-1115G4 has no direct competitor here because the EPYC cannot fit in that use case.

The percentile data shows both parts sit at the 63rd percentile among all CPUs, but this is misleading without context. The EPYC's 63rd percentile is driven by its high average score of 7409, while the Core i3's 63rd percentile reflects a lower average of 6851. In a direct comparison, the EPYC is the superior processor by a massive margin.