AMD EPYC 7301 vs Intel Core i5-11260H Comparison

The Intel Core i5-11260H and AMD EPYC 7301 occupy opposite ends of the hardware spectrum, yet benchmark results place them in a surprisingly narrow performance band. The data shows the mobile Intel chip winning every head-to-head benchmark, though by margins of only 1.1% to 1.3%. Meanwhile, the EPYC 7301 offers far more cores, threads, and memory bandwidth, but its lower clock speeds and older architecture keep it from converting that hardware advantage into benchmark victories.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11260H wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The largest margin is 1.3%, seen in Cinebench R20 multicore and both R23 tests. The smallest margin is 1.1% in Cinebench R15 singlecore. This suggests the Intel chip has a consistent, albeit modest, performance edge in rendering and general compute tasks.

The AMD EPYC 7301 wins no direct comparisons, but its strengths lie in capacity rather than raw speed. With 16 cores and 32 threads, it offers more than double the core count of the Intel part. Its memory subsystem is dramatically wider, with eight-channel DDR4 support and 170.6 GB/s of bandwidth versus the Intel chip’s dual-channel 51.2 GB/s. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not. For workloads that scale with memory capacity, bandwidth, or require error correction, the EPYC 7301 is the more capable platform despite losing every measured benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-11260H uses the Tiger Lake-H architecture on a 10 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The die size is 190 mm². Cache is organized as 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3.

The AMD EPYC 7301 uses the Zen architecture on a 14 nm process node, fabricated by GlobalFoundries. It has 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of only 2.70 GHz. The die size is 213 mm², and it contains 4,800 million transistors. Cache is 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a much larger 64 MB shared L3.

The clock speed difference is stark: the Intel chip boosts to 4.40 GHz, while the EPYC tops out at 2.70 GHz. That 1.70 GHz gap explains why the Intel part wins every single-core test despite having fewer cores. The EPYC’s 64 MB L3 cache is more than five times larger than the Intel’s 12 MB, which helps in server workloads with large working sets.

Other differences include the socket (Intel BGA 1787 for the i5, AMD Socket SP3 for the EPYC), PCIe support (Gen 4 with 20 lanes for Intel, Gen 3 for AMD), and integrated graphics (Intel includes UHD Graphics, AMD has none). The Intel chip is locked, while the EPYC has an unlocked multiplier. The production status for both is listed as Active, though the EPYC’s release date is 2017-06-28, four years before the Intel chip’s 2021-05-10 launch.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-11260H wins every single-core benchmark. It scored 183 in Cinebench R15 singlecore versus 181 for the AMD EPYC 7301, 764 versus 755 in R20, and 1821 versus 1798 in R23. The margins are 1.1% to 1.3%.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7301 have more cores?

A: Yes, the EPYC 7301 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i5-11260H has 6 cores and 12 threads. The EPYC also has a larger L3 cache at 64 MB shared, compared to 12 MB shared on the Intel chip.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD EPYC 7301 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-11260H does not. The EPYC also supports eight-channel memory with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip uses dual-channel memory at 51.2 GB/s.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-11260H has an average benchmark score of 3721, while the AMD EPYC 7301 has 3685. Both sit at the 56th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel chip’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE at 3732 and the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 at 3733.

Q: What is the clock speed difference?

A: The Intel chip has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The AMD chip has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and boost clock of 2.70 GHz. The Intel chip’s boost clock is 1.70 GHz higher.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The Intel Core i5-11260H was released on 2021-05-10, while the AMD EPYC 7301 was released on 2017-06-28. The Intel chip also uses a 10 nm process node versus the EPYC’s 14 nm node.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-11260H | AMD EPYC 7301 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 16 |

| Threads | 12 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 170 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1787 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Zen (Naples) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 190 mm² | 213 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

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

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 64 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 170.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release Date | 2021-05-10 | 2017-06-28 |

| Part Number | SRKT0 | PS7301BEVGPAF |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Core i5-11260H scores 1300 against the AMD EPYC 7301’s 1284, a 1.2% lead. The single-core test shows 183 versus 181, a 1.1% margin. These are the tightest results in the comparison.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Intel chip extends its lead slightly. The multicore score is 5420 versus 5351, a 1.3% advantage. The single-core score is 764 versus 755, a 1.2% margin. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23, where the Intel chip again leads by 1.3% in multicore (12905 versus 12742) and single-core (1821 versus 1798).

The data shows a consistent edge for the Intel chip across every workload and every rendering engine version. The largest absolute gap is 163 points in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is still only a 1.3% difference. Given the EPYC 7301’s substantial core count advantage, one might expect it to win multi-core tests, but the Intel chip’s 4.40 GHz boost clock and newer architecture compensate for its lower core count.

It is also notably the Intel chip’s average benchmark score of 3721 places it 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i9-10980HK, which also appears as a rival to the EPYC 7301. The EPYC 7301’s average score of 3685 puts it 0.6% behind that same i9-10980HK. Both processors occupy the same performance neighborhood, but the Intel mobile chip consistently edges out the server part.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear benchmark winner: the Intel Core i5-11260H wins all six head-to-head tests and has a higher average benchmark score of 3721 versus 3685. For anyone focused purely on Cinebench scores or general compute performance, the Intel chip is the better choice despite its mobile-oriented design.

However, the AMD EPYC 7301 remains the logical pick for server and workstation workloads that the benchmarks do not fully capture. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, eight-channel memory with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC support make it suitable for virtualization, database serving, and memory-intensive tasks. The 64 MB L3 cache is also a major asset for workloads with large working sets.

The Intel chip wins on clock speed, efficiency (35 W TDP versus 170 W), and newer process technology. The EPYC wins on core count, memory capacity, and reliability features. The 1.3% benchmark margin is real but small; the architectural differences are far more significant. Choose the Intel Core i5-11260H for mobile or single-threaded performance. Choose the AMD EPYC 7301 for server duties where cores, memory bandwidth, and ECC matter more than raw Cinebench scores.