AMD EPYC 7282 vs Intel Core i9-10980XE Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-10980XE has 18 cores and 36 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7282 has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel part also has a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz compared to 2.80 GHz on the EPYC.

Q: How does the single-core performance compare between the two?

A: In every recorded Cinebench single-core test, the Intel Core i9-10980XE leads. The margin is consistent at 5.5% to 5.6% across R15, R20, and R23 tests. For example, in Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 3830 versus AMD's 3616.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a peak bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The Intel Core i9-10980XE uses quad-channel DDR4 but records a higher bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i9-10980XE does not. This makes the EPYC more suited to server and workstation environments where data integrity is critical.

Q: What are the PCIe capabilities of each chip?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). The Intel Core i9-10980XE provides PCIe Gen 3 with 48 lanes (CPU only). The AMD part offers both a newer generation and significantly more lanes.

Q: Is the Intel Core i9-10980XE overclockable?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-10980XE has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD EPYC 7282 does not have an unlocked multiplier, meaning it cannot be overclocked via the multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7282 and Intel Core i9-10980XE represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The EPYC 7282 is built on AMD's Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome, and manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The chip contains 7,600 million transistors spread across two dies, each measuring 74 mm². This is a server-class part designed for the AMD Socket SP3 platform.

In contrast, the Intel Core i9-10980XE uses the Cascade Lake architecture, specifically Cascade Lake-X, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It is a desktop part targeting the Intel Socket 2066 platform. The process node difference is substantial: 7 nm versus 14 nm. This explains why the EPYC can pack more transistors (7,600 million) while the Intel part's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Cache configurations also differ. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core. However, the EPYC 7282 has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel part has 1 MB per core. For L3 cache, the EPYC has 32 MB per die with a total of 64 MB, while the Intel Core i9-10980XE has 24.75 MB shared across all cores.

Memory architecture is another major divergence. The EPYC 7282 features eight-channel memory support with ECC, while the Intel part uses quad-channel memory without ECC. Despite having fewer channels, the Intel chip records a higher peak memory bandwidth in the database: 93.9 GB/s versus 85.3 GB/s.

PCIe connectivity heavily favors the AMD part. The EPYC 7282 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes, whereas the Intel Core i9-10980XE provides PCIe Gen 3 with 48 lanes. This makes the EPYC more suitable for systems requiring massive I/O expansion.

The Intel part has a higher base clock (3.00 GHz versus 2.80 GHz) and a much higher boost clock (4.80 GHz versus 3.20 GHz). The Intel chip also has a higher TDP at 165 watts versus 120 watts for the EPYC. Production status differs as well: the EPYC 7282 is still active, while the Intel Core i9-10980XE is end-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data covers six Cinebench tests, and the Intel Core i9-10980XE wins all six. The margins are remarkably consistent across the board. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel scores 2734 versus AMD's 2581, a 5.6% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows Intel at 385 against AMD's 364, a 5.5% lead.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. Intel wins multicore with 11394 over 10758, again a 5.6% difference. In single-core R20, Intel records 1608 versus 1518, a 5.6% edge. The R23 tests continue the trend: Intel leads multicore with 27130 over 25616 (5.6%) and single-core with 3830 over 3616 (5.6%).

These results indicate that the Intel Core i9-10980XE holds a systematic advantage across all Cinebench workloads, regardless of test version or thread count. The delta of approximately 5.5% to 5.6% is uniform, suggesting the lead comes from clock speed and core count rather than architectural scaling. With 18 cores versus 16 and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 3.20 GHz, Intel's part has both more cores and significantly higher frequency headroom.

The AMD EPYC 7282 does not win a single recorded benchmark in this head-to-head comparison. However, the database shows the EPYC's overall benchmark average score is 7409, while the Intel part's average is 7910. This places the EPYC in the 63rd percentile of all CPUs, just one point below the Intel part's 64th percentile.

Nearest rival data provides additional context. The EPYC 7282's closest competitor in average score is the Intel Core i9-9990XE at 7415, which is 0.1% ahead. The Intel Core i5-4570 scores 7421 (0.2% behind the EPYC), and the Intel Core i5-7400 scores 7469 (0.8% behind). For the Intel Core i9-10980XE, the nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7551P at 7952 (0.5% behind), the Intel Core i7-13700E at 7957 (0.6% behind), and the Intel Xeon Gold 6326 at 8071 (2.0% behind). The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX sits 2.2% ahead of the Intel part.

These numbers show that while the Intel part wins the head-to-head, both chips sit in a similar performance band relative to the broader CPU landscape. The EPYC's 63rd percentile and the Intel's 64th percentile are nearly identical, even though the Intel part has a higher average score.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for raw Cinebench performance: the Intel Core i9-10980XE is faster across every recorded test. With 18 cores versus 16, a boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 3.20 GHz, and a 165-watt TDP versus 120 watts, Intel's part delivers a consistent 5.6% multicore advantage and a 5.5% single-core advantage in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

However, the choice between these two processors depends on the intended use case. The AMD EPYC 7282 is a server and workstation part with eight-channel ECC memory support and PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes. These features are absent on the Intel Core i9-10980XE, which uses quad-channel memory without ECC and provides only PCIe Gen 3 with 48 lanes. For systems that require large memory capacities, data integrity through ECC, or extensive I/O expansion, the EPYC 7282 is the appropriate choice despite its lower benchmark scores.

The Intel Core i9-10980XE, on the other hand, is a desktop part with an unlocked multiplier, making it suitable for overclocking. It also has a higher average benchmark score of 7910 versus 7409 for the EPYC. Its production status is end-of-life, while the EPYC remains active. For users prioritizing Cinebench performance and overclocking in a desktop context, the Intel part is the stronger option.

The database shows that the Intel Core i9-10980XE wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, but the margins are moderate at around 5.6%. The EPYC 7282 trades raw compute performance for platform features that matter in enterprise environments. Neither part dominates the other across all dimensions; the correct choice depends on whether the workload demands server-class features or maximum Cinebench scores.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 7282 | Intel Core i9-10980XE |

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

| Cores | 16 | 18 |

| Threads | 32 | 36 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 120 W | 165 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP3 | Intel Socket 2066 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 (Rome) | Cascade Lake (Cascade Lake-X) |

| Process Node | 7 nm (TSMC) | 14 nm (Intel) |

| Transistors | 7,600 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 2x 74 mm² | Not recorded |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB per die, 64 MB total | 24.75 MB (shared) |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 85.3 GB/s | 93.9 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Supported | Not supported |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 128 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 48 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2019-08-06 | 2019-10-18 |

| Launch MSRP | $650 | $1076 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | 100-000000078 | SRGSG |

Key differences include the core and thread counts, clock speeds, cache hierarchy, memory channels, ECC support, PCIe generation and lane count, process node, and market segment. The EPYC 7282 is a server part with ECC and massive PCIe Gen 4 connectivity, while the Intel Core i9-10980XE is a desktop part with higher clocks, more cores, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support DDR4 memory, but the Intel chip records higher peak bandwidth despite using fewer channels. The Intel part also carries a higher launch MSRP of $1076 compared to $650 for the AMD EPYC 7282.