AMD EPYC 72F3 vs Intel Core i7-12800HE Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD EPYC 72F3 is the outright performance winner in every recorded Cinebench test, taking all six head-to-head matchups. The Intel Core i7-12800HE never claims a single benchmark win, with the EPYC 72F3 leading by 3.3% to 3.5% across both single-core and multi-core workloads. The data is consistent: the EPYC 72F3 posts higher scores in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core runs. The Intel part is a mobile processor with a 45W TDP, while the EPYC 72F3 is a server/workstation chip with a 180W TDP, and the benchmark results reflect that power envelope difference. Choose the EPYC 72F3 if maximum Cinebench throughput is the priority. Choose the Intel Core i7-12800HE if the platform demands a mobile form factor, integrated graphics, and lower power draw, accepting a small but consistent performance deficit. The average benchmark score also favors AMD: the EPYC 72F3 records 6700, while the Intel part records 6467, a difference of roughly 3.5%. Both processors sit at the 62nd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier despite the EPYC’s consistent edge in every individual test.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-12800HE uses the Alder Lake-H architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process with a die size of 217 mm². It packs 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The cache hierarchy is split per core: 80 KB of L1, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 24 MB L3. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, and it does not support ECC memory. The chip carries Intel’s Iris Xe 96EU integrated graphics, which the EPYC 72F3 completely lacks. It uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket and is classified as a mobile part. Its PCIe implementation is Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU only.

The AMD EPYC 72F3 is a Zen 3 part codenamed Milan, fabricated by TSMC on a 7 nm process with 33,200 million transistors and a die size of 8x 81 mm². It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The cache design is radically different: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 256 MB of shared L3, over ten times the L3 capacity of the Intel part. It supports only DDR4 memory, but over an eight-channel bus with a recorded memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, and it does support ECC memory. It uses the AMD Socket SP3 and is classified as server/workstation. It provides Gen 4 PCIe with 128 lanes from the CPU, far exceeding the Intel part’s lane count. The EPYC 72F3 was released on 2021-03-14, and its launch MSRP is $2468. The Intel part has no recorded release date or launch MSRP in the database.

The architectural gap is stark: the Intel chip leverages a hybrid mobile design with many cores and integrated graphics, while the AMD chip uses a smaller core count but compensates with an enormous L3 cache, eight-channel memory, and a higher TDP. The process node difference (10 nm Intel versus 7 nm TSMC) and the foundry difference (Intel versus TSMC) further separate the two designs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The EPYC 72F3 wins all six recorded benchmarks, but the margins are narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 2334 against the Intel’s 2253, a 3.5% delta. In R15 single-core, the EPYC scores 329 against 318, a 3.3% delta. The pattern repeats in R20: multi-core shows 9728 versus 9391 (3.5% delta), and single-core shows 1373 versus 1325 (3.5% delta). In R23, the EPYC posts 23164 versus 22360 in multi-core (3.5% delta), and 3270 versus 3156 in single-core (3.5% delta). Every multi-core test shows the same 3.5% gap, and single-core gaps range from 3.3% to 3.5%. The consistency suggests the EPYC 72F3’s advantage is not workload-specific but stems from its higher base clock and superior memory subsystem.

The Intel part’s best showing is in R15 single-core, where it trails by only 3.3%. Its worst deficit is the 3.5% delta seen across all multi-core tests and most single-core tests. The EPYC 72F3’s 8-core, 16-thread configuration outperforms the Intel’s 14-core, 20-thread configuration in every test, indicating that the Intel part’s extra cores do not translate into Cinebench wins. The per-core L2 cache on the Intel part (1.25 MB) is larger than the EPYC’s (512 KB), but the EPYC’s 256 MB L3 and higher clock speeds dominate. The recorded data shows no scenario where the Intel part takes a lead, and the wins count is 0 for Intel and 6 for AMD.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD EPYC 72F3 scores 23164, while the Intel Core i7-12800HE scores 22360, giving AMD a 3.5% lead.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-12800HE have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel Iris Xe 96EU. The AMD EPYC 72F3 has no integrated graphics in the recorded data.

Q: What is the L3 cache difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-12800HE has 24 MB shared L3, while the AMD EPYC 72F3 has 256 MB shared L3, a tenfold difference.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 72F3 supports ECC memory; the Intel Core i7-12800HE does not.

Q: How do their single-core scores compare in Cinebench R20?

A: The EPYC 72F3 scores 1373, and the Intel Core i7-12800HE scores 1325, a 3.5% delta in favor of AMD.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-12800HE has a TDP of 45W, while the AMD EPYC 72F3 has a TDP of 180W.

Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD EPYC 72F3 provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core i7-12800HE provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 72F3 wins every benchmark category recorded: single-core and multi-core across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. Its advantage is uniform, with deltas between 3.3% and 3.5%. The EPYC 72F3 is the choice for any workload that prioritizes raw Cinebench throughput, whether that is rendering, simulation, or other compute-heavy tasks. Its 256 MB L3 cache and eight-channel memory with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth make it suited for server environments where memory bandwidth and cache capacity drive performance. It also supports ECC memory, which matters for reliability in data-center applications. Its 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes support extensive I/O expansion, and its socket is SP3, a server platform.

The Intel Core i7-12800HE, despite losing all benchmarks, wins on platform attributes. It is a mobile part with a 45W TDP, making it suitable for laptops and other power-constrained devices. It includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe 96EU), eliminating the need for a discrete GPU in basic display tasks. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, offering flexibility in memory choice, though on a dual-channel bus. Its socket is Intel BGA 1744, a mobile socket. The Intel part’s 14 cores and 20 threads provide more threads than the EPYC’s 16, but the benchmark data shows this does not yield a performance win in Cinebench. For users needing a compact, low-power processor with built-in graphics, the Intel part is the only viable option between the two. For users needing maximum compute performance and server-grade features, the EPYC 72F3 is the clear pick.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-12800HE has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD EPYC 72F3 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ: 2.40 GHz for Intel versus 3.70 GHz for AMD. Boost clocks also differ: 4.60 GHz for Intel versus 4.10 GHz for AMD. The TDP gap is substantial: 45W for Intel versus 180W for AMD. The socket types are incompatible: Intel BGA 1744 versus AMD Socket SP3. The process nodes differ: 10 nm for Intel (foundry: Intel) versus 7 nm for AMD (foundry: TSMC). The Intel part has a die size of 217 mm², while the AMD part has a die size of 8x 81 mm². The AMD part has 33,200 million transistors, while the Intel part has no recorded transistor count.

Cache configurations differ across all levels. L1 cache: 80 KB per core for Intel versus 64 KB per core for AMD. L2 cache: 1.25 MB per core for Intel versus 512 KB per core for AMD. L3 cache: 24 MB shared for Intel versus 256 MB shared for AMD. Memory support: Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR4. Memory bus: Intel is dual-channel, AMD is eight-channel. Memory bandwidth: Intel has no recorded figure, AMD records 204.8 GB/s. ECC memory: Intel does not support it, AMD does. PCIe: Intel provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), AMD provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics: Intel has Iris Xe 96EU, AMD has none. Market segment: Intel is mobile, AMD is server/workstation. Production status: both are active. The Intel part has no recorded release date, while the AMD part was released on 2021-03-14. The Intel part has no recorded launch MSRP, while the AMD part has a launch MSRP of $2468. The Intel part number is SRLE6, and the AMD part number is 100-000000327100-100000327WOF. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD EPYC 72F3 has a higher average benchmark score (6700 versus 6467) and a higher percentile rank, though both sit at the 62nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the Intel Xeon D-2796TE (delta -0.7%), Intel Xeon W-2191B (delta -1%), Intel Core i9-7960X (delta -1%), and AMD EPYC 7551 (delta 1.2%). The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the Intel Xeon Gold 5317 (delta -0.1%), Intel Xeon D-2775TE (delta -0.2%), Intel Core i9-9940X (delta 0.6%), and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X (delta 0.8%).