CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-2775TE and AMD EPYC 72F3 are positioned as near-identical performers in aggregate benchmarks, yet they achieve this parity through radically different designs. With an average benchmark score of 6711 for the Intel part and 6700 for the AMD part, the delta between them is a mere 0.2%. This places both processors at the 62nd percentile of all CPUs tested, making them direct competitors despite their architectural divergence.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon D-2775TE, though every victory is marginal. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Intel part wins with deltas ranging from 0.1% to 0.3%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel scores 2338 against the AMD's 2334, a 0.2% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows 330 versus 329, a 0.3% edge for Intel. Moving to R20, the multicore result is 9745 for Intel versus 9728 for AMD, again a 0.2% margin, while single-core is 1375 versus 1373, a 0.1% difference.

The R23 results follow the same pattern: Intel's 23204 multicore score edges out AMD's 23164 by 0.2%, and the single-core score of 3275 versus 3270 represents a 0.2% lead. These margins are within run-to-run variation for most workloads, but the consistency is notable. The Intel part wins all six tests, while the AMD EPYC 72F3 records zero wins. The largest single advantage for Intel is the 0.3% delta in R15 single-core, while the smallest is the 0.1% delta in R20 single-core.

When compared to other rivals, both CPUs sit in a tight cluster. The Intel Xeon Gold 5317 scores 6710, which is 0% different from the Xeon D-2775TE, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX scores 6760, putting it 0.7% ahead of the Intel part. The Intel Core i9-9940X trails at 6657, which is 0.8% behind the Xeon D-2775TE. For the EPYC 72F3, the Xeon Gold 5317 is 0.1% ahead, the Xeon D-2775TE is 0.2% ahead, the Core i9-9940X is 0.6% behind, and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is 0.8% behind. The data shows that these two CPUs are effectively interchangeable in raw Cinebench performance, with the Intel part holding a razor-thin edge across every test.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental divergence lies in core count and process technology. The Intel Xeon D-2775TE packs 16 cores and 32 threads, built on Intel's 10 nm process at the Ice Lake-D node. The AMD EPYC 72F3 counters with just 8 cores and 16 threads, fabricated on TSMC's 7 nm process using the Zen 3 Milan architecture. This means the Intel part relies on twice the core count to match the AMD part's higher per-core throughput.

Clock speeds tell the story of that per-core advantage. The AMD EPYC 72F3 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, while the Intel Xeon D-2775TE operates at 2.00 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost. Despite the AMD part's 85% higher base clock and 32% higher boost clock, the Intel part's additional cores compensate entirely in multi-threaded workloads. The power envelope reflects this: the AMD EPYC 72F3 draws 180 W TDP, while the Intel Xeon D-2775TE is rated at just 100 W TDP.

Cache hierarchies are dramatically different. The Intel part offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, but a massive 256 MB of shared L3 cache, ten times the Intel part's L3. The AMD chip also has a much larger transistor budget at 33,200 million transistors spread across eight chiplets of 81 mm² each, while the Intel part's transistor count and die size are not specified. The AMD design uses eight-channel memory with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, versus the Intel part's quad-channel configuration at 93.9 GB/s, a 118% bandwidth advantage for AMD.

PCIe connectivity is another major differentiator. The AMD EPYC 72F3 supports Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Xeon D-2775TE offers Gen 4 with just 32 lanes. This fourfold difference in PCIe lanes makes the AMD part far more suitable for I/O-heavy configurations. Both CPUs support DDR4 memory and ECC, but the memory bus width and bandwidth favor AMD significantly.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear picture: for pure CPU compute in Cinebench workloads, the Intel Xeon D-2775TE and AMD EPYC 72F3 are statistically tied, with Intel winning every test by 0.1% to 0.3%. The Intel part achieves this with half the TDP (100 W versus 180 W) and double the core count. If power efficiency and core density are priorities, the Intel Xeon D-2775TE is the data-backed choice, especially in environments where the 100 W TDP allows for denser server deployments.

However, the AMD EPYC 72F3's advantages lie outside raw Cinebench scores. Its 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes versus Intel's 32 lanes, combined with 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth versus 93.9 GB/s, make it the superior option for workloads that are memory-bandwidth-bound or require extensive I/O expansion. The 256 MB L3 cache also suggests better performance in cache-sensitive workloads, even though Cinebench does not reveal this advantage. The AMD part's newer 7 nm process and 3.70 GHz base clock indicate a design optimized for per-core performance, while the Intel part's 16 cores target parallel throughput.

The launch MSRP for the Intel Xeon D-2775TE is $1751, while the AMD EPYC 72F3 carries a launch MSRP of $2468. Both parts are actively in production, with the Intel releasing on 2022-02-23 and the AMD on 2021-03-14. The Intel part's lower TDP and comparable compute performance make it attractive for power-constrained environments, while the AMD part's I/O and memory capabilities justify its higher power draw for specific server roles.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon D-2775TE | AMD EPYC 72F3 |

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

| Cores | 16 | 8 |

| Threads | 32 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2000.00 MHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.10 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 100 W | 180 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2579 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Architecture | Ice Lake | Zen 3 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not specified | 33,200 million |

| Die Size | Not specified | 8x 81 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 25 MB (shared) | 256 MB (shared) |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 93.9 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 32 Lanes | Gen 4, 128 Lanes |

| Release Date | 2022-02-23 | 2021-03-14 |

| Launch MSRP | $1751 | $2468 |

| Part Number | SRM26SRLCM | 100-000000327100-100000327WOF |

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2775TE has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD EPYC 72F3 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part offers exactly double the core and thread count.

Q: How do their single-core Cinebench R23 scores compare?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2775TE scores 3275 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the AMD EPYC 72F3 scores 3270. This gives Intel a 0.2% advantage in that test.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD EPYC 72F3 provides 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth over an eight-channel DDR4 configuration, while the Intel Xeon D-2775TE provides 93.9 GB/s over quad-channel DDR4. AMD's bandwidth is 118% higher.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does each CPU support?

A: The AMD EPYC 72F3 supports 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Xeon D-2775TE supports 32 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. This is a fourfold difference in favor of AMD.

Q: Which CPU has a higher TDP?

A: The AMD EPYC 72F3 has a TDP of 180 W, while the Intel Xeon D-2775TE has a TDP of 100 W. The Intel part consumes 44% less power under its thermal design envelope.

Q: What are the launch MSRPs?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2775TE has a launch MSRP of $1751, and the AMD EPYC 72F3 has a launch MSRP of $2468.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 72F3 has 256 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Xeon D-2775TE has 25 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part offers ten times the L3 capacity.