AMD EPYC 7301 vs Intel Core i5-11600T Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD EPYC 7301 sweeps all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core i5-11600T, though the margins are consistently narrow. In every Cinebench test—R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core—the EPYC 7301 wins by exactly 2.8%. This uniform delta across workloads is striking: it suggests the performance gap is systematic rather than workload-dependent.

Looking at the raw scores, the EPYC 7301 posts 1284 versus 1248 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, a 36-point advantage. In R20 multi-core, the margin widens slightly to 150 points (5351 versus 5201). The R23 multi-core test shows the EPYC at 12742 against the i5-11600T's 12385, a 357-point gap. Single-core results follow the same pattern: R15 shows 181 versus 176, R20 shows 755 versus 734, and R23 shows 1798 versus 1748.

The consistency of the 2.8% delta across all tests is noteworthy. Most processor comparisons show different margins in single-threaded versus multi-threaded workloads, but here the relationship is stable. This implies the two chips are architecturally more similar in per-core efficiency than their radically different core counts and TDPs might suggest. The i5-11600T's higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz helps it close the per-core gap with the EPYC's 2.70 GHz boost, but the EPYC's Zen architecture still edges ahead in every single-core test.

In the broader context of the average benchmark scores, the i5-11600T actually holds a slight overall edge. Its average benchmark score is 3742, compared to the EPYC's 3685. Both processors sit at the 56th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier despite their different market segments. The i5's nearest rival, the Intel Xeon Silver 4116, scores 3733—just 0.2% behind—while the EPYC's closest competitor, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X, scores 3673, a 0.3% gap.

# Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7301 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but the margins are slim enough that the practical advantage depends heavily on workload characteristics. In all six Cinebench tests, the EPYC's advantage is exactly 2.8%, which translates to a modest but consistent lead. This makes the EPYC the clear winner for sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads, where even small percentage gains accumulate over long render times.

The Intel Core i5-11600T, despite losing every direct comparison, wins in the context of its average benchmark score. Its 3742 average across all tested benchmarks (including Geekbench results not present for the EPYC) tops the EPYC's 3685. The i5 also has a significant advantage in its nearest-rival comparisons: its closest competitor, the Intel Core i5-1245U, scores 3775, just 0.9% higher, while the EPYC's nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-10980HK, sits 0.6% above it. This suggests the i5 is positioned closer to the top of its peer group than the EPYC is to its own.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the i5's 4.10 GHz boost clock versus the EPYC's 2.70 GHz makes the Intel part the more responsive choice in lightly-threaded tasks, even though the EPYC still wins the Cinebench single-core tests by 2.8%. The i5 also brings integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750) and PCIe Gen 4 support, which the EPYC lacks entirely. For desktop workloads where a discrete GPU is absent or where PCIe Gen 4 storage bandwidth matters, the i5 is the more practical choice.

The EPYC's wins are most meaningful in server environments. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, eight-channel memory bus, and 170.6 GB/s memory bandwidth dwarf the i5's six cores, dual-channel setup, and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. In memory-bandwidth-bound server workloads, the EPYC's advantage would extend far beyond the 2.8% Cinebench delta. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, a critical feature for data integrity in server deployments.

# Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-11600T is built on Rocket Lake, a 14 nm architecture from Intel, while the AMD EPYC 7301 uses Zen (Naples), also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by GlobalFoundries rather than Intel. Both chips use the same process node, but the architectural approaches diverge sharply.

Core counts differ dramatically: the i5 has six cores and 12 threads, while the EPYC has 16 cores and 32 threads. This 2.67x core advantage for the EPYC is partially offset by clock speeds: the i5 runs at 1.70 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost, versus the EPYC's 2.20 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost. The i5's much higher boost clock helps it stay competitive in single-threaded tests despite having fewer cores.

Cache hierarchies reveal another major difference. The i5 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The EPYC has 96 KB of L1 per core and the same 512 KB of L2 per core, but its L3 cache is 64 MB shared—more than five times the i5's L3. This massive L3 advantage is typical of server processors designed to handle large working sets.

Memory support diverges even more sharply. The i5 uses dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support. The EPYC uses eight-channel DDR4 with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth and full ECC support. This 3.33x bandwidth advantage is a defining characteristic of the EPYC's server positioning.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The i5 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while the EPYC is limited to PCIe Gen 3. The i5's newer PCIe standard provides higher per-lane bandwidth, but the EPYC's server platform likely offers more total lanes across the socket.

The i5 includes integrated UHD Graphics 750; the EPYC has no integrated graphics. The i5's die size is 276 mm², while the EPYC's is 213 mm²—the EPYC packs far more cores into a smaller die. The EPYC's transistor count is listed at 4,800 million, while the i5's is not specified.

The i5 is a desktop part with a 35 W TDP; the EPYC is a server/workstation part with a 170 W TDP. The i5's multiplier is locked, while the EPYC's is unlocked. The i5 uses Intel Socket 1200; the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3.

# FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7301 wins every single-core Cinebench test by 2.8%. In R15, it scores 181 versus the i5-11600T's 176; in R20, 755 versus 734; in R23, 1798 versus 1748.

Q: How do the core counts compare between these two CPUs?

A: The EPYC 7301 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the i5-11600T has 6 cores and 12 threads. The EPYC has 2.67 times as many cores and threads as the Intel part.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The EPYC supports eight-channel DDR4 with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5 supports dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. The EPYC's bandwidth is 3.33 times higher, and it also supports ECC memory, which the i5 does not.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-11600T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750). The AMD EPYC 7301 has no integrated graphics, which is typical for server processors.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each?

A: The i5-11600T has an average benchmark score of 3742, while the EPYC 7301 has an average of 3685. The i5 is slightly ahead in this aggregate metric, despite losing all head-to-head Cinebench comparisons.

Q: How does the process node compare?

A: Both processors are built on a 14 nm process, but by different foundries: Intel fabricates the i5, while GlobalFoundries manufactures the EPYC. The i5's die size is 276 mm², while the EPYC's is 213 mm².

# Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-11600T | AMD EPYC 7301 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 16 |

| Threads | 12 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 1.70 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 170 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Zen (Naples) |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Die Size | 276 mm² | 213 mm² |

| Transistors | Not specified | 4,800 million |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 96 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 (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2021-03-15 | 2017-06-28 |

| Launch MSRP | $213 | Not specified |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

The EPYC 7301 carries a 170 W TDP versus the i5's 35 W, reflecting its server-class core count and memory subsystem. The i5's launch MSRP was $213, while the EPYC's is not specified in the available data. The i5 is end-of-life while the EPYC remains in active production.