CPU Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7301 and Intel Core i3-13100E occupy opposite ends of the hardware spectrum, yet their aggregate benchmark scores place them within 0.5% of each other. The EPYC 7301, a 16-core server processor from the Naples generation, and the i3-13100E, a 4-core desktop part from Raptor Lake, both achieve a 56th percentile ranking among all CPUs. The EPYC 7301 averages 3685 points across its tested workloads, while the i3-13100E averages 3668, a marginal difference that belies the significant architectural and market-segment gaps between them. This analysis examines their head-to-head results, specification differences, and architectural distinctions to determine which processor suits which workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite provides a clear picture of performance parity and divergence. Across all six head-to-head tests, the AMD EPYC 7301 emerges victorious, though by a remarkably consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7301 scores 1284 against the i3-13100E's 1180, an 8.8% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a near-identical gap at 9%, with scores of 181 and 166 respectively. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the EPYC 7301 leads by 8.8% in both multi-core (5351 vs 4918) and single-core (755 vs 694) benchmarks.

Cinebench R23 results follow the same trajectory. The EPYC 7301 posts a multi-core score of 12742, beating the i3-13100E's 11710 by 8.8%. In R23 single-core, the EPYC 7301 scores 1798 against 1653, again an 8.8% margin. This consistency across all three Cinebench versions suggests a stable performance relationship that is not workload-dependent within this benchmark family. The EPYC 7301 wins all six head-to-head tests, while the i3-13100E records zero victories.

However, the i3-13100E has one benchmark not shared by the EPYC 7301: Geekbench. The i3-13100E scores 7025 in Geekbench multi-core and 2001 in single-core. While no direct comparison is possible from the provided data, these scores indicate the i3-13100E's capability in that specific test framework. The EPYC 7301's absence from Geekbench testing means this dimension of comparison remains incomplete.

The narrow margins are notable given the hardware differences. The EPYC 7301 uses 16 cores and 32 threads, while the i3-13100E uses 4 cores and 8 threads. A 9% single-core advantage for the EPYC 7301 is particularly counterintuitive, as the i3-13100E has a much higher boost clock. The data, however, is unambiguous: the EPYC 7301 leads in every shared benchmark, and the i3-13100E's higher clocks do not translate into superior Cinebench scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD EPYC 7301 has an average benchmark score of 3685, while the Intel Core i3-13100E averages 3668. The EPYC 7301 leads by 0.5%, with a deltaPct of 0.5 relative to the i3-13100E.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The EPYC 7301 scores 12742 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the i3-13100E scores 11710. The EPYC 7301 holds an 8.8% advantage in this test.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Cinebench R15?

A: In Cinebench R15 single-core, the EPYC 7301 scores 181 and the i3-13100E scores 166. The EPYC 7301 leads by 9%, the largest single-core delta in the head-to-head data.

Q: Does the i3-13100E win any benchmark against the EPYC 7301?

A: No. In the six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the EPYC 7301 wins all six. The i3-13100E records zero victories. The Geekbench scores for the i3-13100E are not compared against any EPYC 7301 result.

Q: How do the processors rank relative to other CPUs?

A: Both processors are at the 56th percentile among all CPUs. The EPYC 7301's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X, which scores 3673 and trails by 0.3%. The i3-13100E's nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 7251, which scores 3671 and leads by 0.1%.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The EPYC 7301 has 16 cores and 32 threads. The i3-13100E has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite having four times the cores, the EPYC 7301 only achieves an 8.8% multi-core advantage.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear but nuanced verdict. For workloads that rely on Cinebench-style rendering or multi-threaded compute, the AMD EPYC 7301 is the superior choice. It wins every shared benchmark, with margins ranging from 8.8% to 9%. The 16-core, 32-thread configuration provides a substantial thread-count advantage, and the 64 MB of shared L3 cache supports heavy parallel workloads.

The Intel Core i3-13100E, however, is not without merit. Its 4 cores and 8 threads deliver performance that is within 9% of a 16-core server processor, a testament to its architectural efficiency. The i3-13100E also benefits from a higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz, which explains its competitive single-core scores despite the core deficit. For desktop users prioritizing lower power consumption, the i3-13100E's 60 W TDP is significantly lower than the EPYC 7301's 170 W.

The choice between these processors hinges on platform and workload. The EPYC 7301 targets server and workstation environments with its AMD Socket SP3, eight-channel DDR4 memory support, and 170.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. The i3-13100E targets desktop systems with Intel Socket 1700, dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 memory, and integrated UHD Graphics 730. Neither processor is a clear all-around winner; the EPYC 7301 leads in raw compute benchmarks, while the i3-13100E offers modern platform features and lower power draw. The data shows no scenario where the i3-13100E outperforms the EPYC 7301 in shared tests, so the EPYC 7301 is the performance pick, with the i3-13100E representing an efficiency-oriented alternative.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. The EPYC 7301 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the i3-13100E has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks diverge significantly: the EPYC 7301 runs at 2.20 GHz, while the i3-13100E runs at 3.30 GHz. Boost clocks show a similar gap, with the EPYC 7301 at 2.70 GHz and the i3-13100E at 4.40 GHz. The EPYC 7301 has a TDP of 170 W, whereas the i3-13100E draws 60 W.

Socket compatibility is entirely different. The EPYC 7301 uses AMD Socket SP3, while the i3-13100E uses Intel Socket 1700. The EPYC 7301 is multiplier unlocked, while the i3-13100E is locked. Memory support varies: the EPYC 7301 uses DDR4 with an eight-channel bus and 170.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3-13100E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and no listed bandwidth figure. Both support ECC memory. The EPYC 7301 uses PCIe Gen 3, while the i3-13100E uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU-only lanes. The i3-13100E includes integrated UHD Graphics 730, while the EPYC 7301 has no integrated graphics. The EPYC 7301 has a 213 mm² die size, while the i3-13100E is 163 mm². The EPYC 7301 has a launch MSRP of none, while the i3-13100E has a launch MSRP of $480.

Architecture Differences

The architectural chasm between these processors is substantial. The EPYC 7301 uses AMD's Zen architecture, codenamed Naples, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It contains 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. The i3-13100E uses Intel's Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-S, built on a 10 nm process at Intel, with a 163 mm² die size and no transistor count listed.

Cache hierarchies differ structurally. The EPYC 7301 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-13100E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The EPYC 7301's 64 MB L3 cache is five times larger than the i3-13100E's 12 MB, reflecting its server-oriented design for large working sets.

The EPYC 7301 belongs to the EPYC 7001 series, targeting the server/workstation segment, and was released on June 28, 2017. The i3-13100E belongs to the Core 13th Gen series, targeting desktop, and was released on January 3, 2023. The EPYC 7301 uses AMD Socket SP3 and supports eight-channel DDR4 memory. The i3-13100E uses Intel Socket 1700 and supports dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5. The EPYC 7301 has PCIe Gen 3 support, while the i3-13100E has PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU-only lanes. The i3-13100E includes integrated UHD Graphics 730, a feature absent from the EPYC 7301. Both processors are active in production, but their underlying designs reflect different generations, process nodes, foundries, and market priorities. The EPYC 7301 prioritizes core count and memory bandwidth, while the i3-13100E prioritizes clock speed, modern PCIe connectivity, and integrated graphics.