AMD EPYC 7282 vs Intel Core i9-9990XE Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9990XE and AMD EPYC 7282 sit at nearly identical average benchmark scores, 7415 vs 7409, a difference of just 0.1%. Both processors hold the same 63rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, making them statistical equals in overall performance. The data, however, reveals distinct architectural and platform strategies behind these matching numbers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Across all six Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i9-9990XE wins every single comparison, but by margins so thin they border on measurement noise. The largest delta is 0.1%, appearing in five of the six tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel scores 2584 against AMD's 2581, a 0.1% edge. The R15 singlecore test is a perfect tie at 364 for both chips, with the winner designation awarded to Intel at a 0% delta.

Cinebench R20 multicore shows Intel at 10767 versus AMD at 10758, again 0.1% ahead. The R20 singlecore result repeats the pattern: 1519 for Intel, 1518 for AMD, a 0.1% margin. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the gap grows to 21 points — 25637 for Intel, 25616 for AMD — still only 0.1%. The R23 singlecore test closes with 3619 against 3616, another 0.1% advantage for Intel.

What these numbers mean in context is that the two processors deliver functionally identical rendering performance in Cinebench workloads. The Intel part wins all six tests, but no single result provides a decisive advantage. The average benchmark score difference of 6 points (7415 vs 7409) confirms this parity. When placed against their nearest rivals, both chips cluster within a narrow band: the Intel Core i5-4570 averages 7421, the Intel Core i9-9980XE averages 7398, and the Intel Core i5-7400 averages 7469. The EPYC 7282 trails the i5-4570 by 0.2% and the i9-9990XE by 0.1%, while leading the i9-9980XE by 0.2%. The i9-9990XE, conversely, leads the EPYC 7282 by 0.1%, trails the i5-4570 by 0.1% and the i5-7400 by 0.7%, and beats the i9-9980XE by 0.2%.

The consistency of the 0.1% margins across every multicore and singlecore test suggests the two chips are limited by similar throughput in these workloads. Intel's higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus AMD's 3.20 GHz does not translate into a meaningful singlecore lead, as the R15 singlecore tie demonstrates. Likewise, AMD's additional two cores and four threads do not overcome Intel's multicore scores, given the EPYC 7282's lower base clock of 2.80 GHz. The result is a benchmark dead heat, with Intel claiming a symbolic 6-0 sweep that carries no practical performance weight.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-9990XE has an average benchmark score of 7415, while the AMD EPYC 7282 scores 7409. This places Intel 0.1% ahead.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i9-9990XE scores 25637, and the AMD EPYC 7282 scores 25616. Intel wins by 0.1%, a margin of 21 points.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the AMD EPYC 7282 wins?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Intel Core i9-9990XE winning all six tests, with the EPYC 7282 recording zero wins. The closest result is the R15 singlecore test, which is a tie at 364.

Q: What is the percentile ranking for each processor?

A: Both the Intel Core i9-9990XE and the AMD EPYC 7282 hold a percentile rank of 63 among all CPUs.

Q: How does each chip fare against the Intel Core i9-9980XE?

A: The Intel Core i9-9990XE leads the i9-9980XE by 0.2% in average score. The AMD EPYC 7282 also leads the i9-9980XE by 0.2%.

Q: What are the singlecore scores in Cinebench R20?

A: The Intel Core i9-9990XE scores 1519, and the AMD EPYC 7282 scores 1518, giving Intel a 0.1% advantage.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear picture: these processors are performance twins in Cinebench workloads, with the Intel Core i9-9990XE holding a nominal edge in every test but never exceeding a 0.1% delta. For a user prioritizing raw rendering scores, the Intel part wins all six benchmarks, but the margins are so small that they fall within typical run-to-run variance. The EPYC 7282, meanwhile, delivers the same practical performance while operating within a fundamentally different platform context.

The Intel Core i9-9990XE is the choice for those who want the top score in every listed benchmark, no matter how slight. Its 14 cores and 28 threads, combined with a 5.10 GHz boost clock, produce the highest numbers across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both singlecore and multicore tests. It also offers an unlocked multiplier, allowing manual overclocking, and uses the Intel Socket 2066 platform.

The AMD EPYC 7282 is the choice for users who need identical performance but with different platform attributes. It matches Intel within 0.1% across all tests while providing 16 cores and 32 threads, a 7 nm process node, and an eight-channel memory bus. Its ECC memory support and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes position it for server and workstation environments where those features matter. The EPYC 7282 also carries a lower TDP of 120 watts compared to Intel's 255 watts, though the benchmark scores do not reflect any thermal advantage.

Neither chip can claim a meaningful performance victory. The Intel part wins on the scoreboard, but the EPYC 7282 offers the same measured output in every test. The decision rests on platform needs, not benchmark results.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i9-9990XE has 14 cores and 28 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7282 has 16 cores and 32 threads. Base clocks diverge sharply: Intel runs at 4.00 GHz, AMD at 2.80 GHz. Boost clocks show an even larger gap, with Intel reaching 5.10 GHz versus AMD's 3.20 GHz. Thermal design power differs by 135 watts — Intel is rated at 255 watts, AMD at 120 watts.

Memory channels also differ: Intel uses a quad-channel bus, AMD uses eight-channel. Both list the same memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. ECC memory support is absent on the Intel part but present on the AMD part. PCIe capabilities show a major gap: Intel provides Gen 3 with 44 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). The Intel multiplier is unlocked; the AMD multiplier is locked. Intel's socket is Socket 2066, AMD's is Socket SP3. The Intel processor is marked end-of-life, while the AMD processor remains active in production.

Architecture Differences

The architectures could hardly be more different. Intel uses a 14 nm process node fabricated by Intel, with a Skylake-X codename from the Skylake generation, belonging to the Core i9 Extreme (X-Series 9th Gen) family. AMD uses a 7 nm process node fabricated by TSMC, with the Rome codename from the Zen 2 architecture, belonging to the EPYC 7002 series and the EPYC (Zen 2 (Rome)) generation.

Cache configurations differ in structure. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core. Intel's L2 cache is 1 MB per core; AMD's is 512 KB per core. L3 cache shows a notable difference: Intel has 19.25 MB shared across the chip, while AMD has 32 MB per die with a total of 64 MB. AMD's transistor count is listed at 7,600 million, with a die size of 2x 74 mm²; Intel's transistor count and die size are not listed. AMD's architecture uses a multi-die design, as indicated by the 2x die size specification, while Intel's is a monolithic design implied by the shared L3 cache.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the channel configurations differ as noted. The Intel part has no integrated graphics, and neither does the AMD part. The AMD processor was released on 2019-08-06, roughly ten months after Intel's 2018-10-18 release date. The Intel launch MSRP is $2800, while the AMD launch MSRP is $650 — a price difference that the data records but does not analyze further.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results award all six wins to the Intel Core i9-9990XE, but the practical victories are split by workload type and platform attributes.

For singlecore performance, Intel wins four of the three singlecore tests (R15 tie, R20, R23) by 0% to 0.1%. The 5.10 GHz boost clock gives it the edge, however marginal, in lightly threaded workloads. Users running applications that depend on single-thread speed will see the Intel part post the higher numbers, though the difference is negligible.

For multicore performance, Intel also wins all three multicore tests by 0.1%. The 14-core, 28-thread configuration with a 4.00 GHz base clock proves sufficient to outpace AMD's 16-core, 32-thread part in Cinebench. This is notable because AMD has more cores and threads, but the lower clocks at 2.80 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost prevent it from converting that advantage into a benchmark win.

The AMD EPYC 7282 wins in categories not measured by Cinebench. Its ECC memory support and eight-channel memory bus serve memory-intensive server workloads. Its 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes provide connectivity for large numbers of peripherals and accelerators, far exceeding Intel's 44 Gen 3 lanes. The 64 MB total L3 cache, double Intel's 19.25 MB, aids workloads with large working sets. The 7 nm process node from TSMC, with 7,600 million transistors across 2x 74 mm² dies, represents a more modern fabrication approach than Intel's 14 nm node.

The production status also favors AMD, as the EPYC 7282 is listed as active while the Intel part is end-of-life. For new system builds, the AMD processor remains available in the market, whereas the Intel part has ceased production. The locked multiplier on AMD limits overclocking, but the unlocked multiplier on Intel allows manual tuning for those seeking to push beyond stock clocks.

In summary, the Intel Core i9-9990XE wins every benchmark but loses on platform longevity and features. The AMD EPYC 7282 loses every benchmark but wins on architecture, connectivity, and memory support. Users choosing purely on Cinebench scores should select Intel; users choosing on platform capabilities should select AMD. The 0.1% performance differences are too small to influence any real-world decision.