CPU Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7302 and the Intel Core i7-13700E are both 16-core processors, but they are engineered for entirely different environments. The EPYC 7302 is a server/workstation chip built for massive memory bandwidth and multi-threaded throughput, while the Core i7-13700E is a desktop processor with a high boost clock and integrated graphics. The benchmark data shows a remarkably tight race in raw compute, with the EPYC 7302 taking a narrow win in all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, yet the two chips serve fundamentally different use cases.

Where Each One Wins

The EPYC 7302 wins every single benchmark recorded in the head-to-head comparison, but the margins are minuscule. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 28140 against the 13700E’s 27941, a 0.7% advantage. The pattern repeats across R15, R20, and single-core tests, where the EPYC leads by 0.7% to 0.8%. This means that in pure CPU compute, the two are essentially equal. The EPYC’s wins are real but not decisive.

The Core i7-13700E, however, has benchmarks the EPYC cannot match in other categories. It scores 12728 in Geekbench multi-core and 2437 in Geekbench single-core, while the EPYC has no Geekbench data in the pack. The 13700E also features integrated UHD Graphics 770, which the EPYC lacks entirely. For a system that needs a display output without a discrete GPU, the Intel chip is the only option here.

The EPYC 7302 pulls ahead in platform-level capabilities. Its memory bandwidth is listed at 204.8 GB/s across an eight-channel DDR4 bus, while the 13700E’s memory bandwidth is not specified in the pack. The EPYC also offers 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), compared to the 13700E’s 16 Gen 5 lanes. For storage arrays, networking, or GPU clusters, the EPYC’s expansion capacity is the decisive advantage.

Architecture Differences

These chips come from different design philosophies. The EPYC 7302 uses AMD’s Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm TSMC process, with a 15,200 million transistor count spread across four 74 mm² dies. Its cache structure is 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 32 MB L3 per die, totaling 128 MB of L3. The 13700E uses Intel’s Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm Intel process, with a single 257 mm² die. It has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3.

The core counts are identical at 16, but the thread counts differ. The EPYC 7302 has 32 threads, meaning all 16 cores support simultaneous multithreading. The 13700E has 24 threads, indicating a hybrid design with a mix of performance and efficiency cores, though the pack does not break down the core types. The clock speeds tell a clear story: the EPYC runs at a base of 3.00 GHz and boosts to 3.30 GHz, while the 13700E has a base of 1900.00 MHz but boosts to 5.10 GHz. The Intel chip is designed for bursty, high-frequency workloads, while the AMD chip prioritizes consistent throughput across many cores.

Memory support also diverges. The EPYC 7302 supports only DDR4, but with an eight-channel bus. The 13700E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but with a dual-channel bus. Both support ECC memory. The EPYC’s thermal design power is 155 watts, while the 13700E is rated at 65 watts, a substantial difference that reflects the server chip’s larger memory controllers and PCIe lanes.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward choice. If you need a processor for a server or workstation with heavy multi-threaded workloads, high memory bandwidth, or massive PCIe expansion, the AMD EPYC 7302 is the correct pick. It wins all six Cinebench comparisons, offers eight-channel memory, and provides 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. Its 64th percentile ranking among all CPUs matches the 13700E, but its platform features are in a different class.

If you need a desktop processor with high single-thread boost speeds, integrated graphics, or lower power consumption, the Intel Core i7-13700E is the better fit. It boosts to 5.10 GHz, includes UHD Graphics 770, and has a 65-watt TDP. It also has Geekbench scores that the EPYC cannot match, with 12728 multi-core and 2437 single-core. The 13700E is also multiplier unlocked, whereas the EPYC is locked.

There is no performance winner here, only a use-case winner. The EPYC 7302 is for scale-out systems; the 13700E is for single-socket desktops or workstations where integrated graphics and high clocks matter.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD EPYC 7302 scores 28140, while the Intel Core i7-13700E scores 27941. The EPYC leads by 0.7%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-13700E have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD Graphics 770. The AMD EPYC 7302 has no integrated graphics listed in the data.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does each CPU provide?

A: The EPYC 7302 provides 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only). The 13700E provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only).

Q: What is the thread count difference?

A: The EPYC 7302 has 32 threads from 16 cores. The 13700E has 24 threads from 16 cores.

Q: Which processor supports more memory channels?

A: The EPYC 7302 supports eight-channel DDR4 memory. The 13700E supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The EPYC 7302 has a TDP of 155 watts. The 13700E has a TDP of 65 watts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six Cinebench results show a consistent pattern of narrow EPYC wins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 2836 against the 13700E’s 2816, a 0.7% lead. The single-core R15 test is similar: 400 versus 397, a 0.8% edge for the EPYC. These are negligible differences in real-world terms, but they are consistent.

Cinebench R20 follows the same script. Multi-core shows 11818 for the EPYC and 11735 for the 13700E, a 0.7% delta. Single-core shows 1668 versus 1656, also a 0.7% delta. The largest absolute gap is in R23 multi-core, where the EPYC leads by 199 points (28140 vs 27941). The smallest is R23 single-core, with a 28-point gap (3972 vs 3944).

The 13700E’s only benchmark wins come from Geekbench, where it scores 12728 multi-core and 2437 single-core. The EPYC has no Geekbench scores in the data, so no direct comparison is possible there. The wins A count is 6 for the EPYC and 0 for the 13700E in the head-to-head tests, but the 13700E’s Geekbench results and integrated graphics give it capabilities the EPYC cannot offer.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every platform specification while sharing a 16-core count. The EPYC 7302 uses 32 threads versus 24 threads on the 13700E. Clock speeds are reversed in style: the EPYC has a 3.00 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost, while the 13700E has a 1900.00 MHz base and 5.10 GHz boost. The EPYC has a 155-watt TDP, the 13700E has a 65-watt TDP.

Process and die design differ completely. The EPYC uses 7 nm TSMC fabrication with 15,200 million transistors across four 74 mm² dies. The 13700E uses 10 nm Intel fabrication on a single 257 mm² die. Cache configurations are distinct: the EPYC has 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 32 MB L3 per die (128 MB total). The 13700E has 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core, with 30 MB shared L3.

Memory support diverges sharply. The EPYC supports DDR4 with an eight-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The 13700E supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, and its bandwidth is not listed. PCIe capabilities favor the EPYC, with 128 Gen 4 lanes versus 16 Gen 5 lanes on the 13700E. The 13700E has integrated UHD Graphics 770 and an unlocked multiplier; the EPYC has neither. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3, while the 13700E uses Intel Socket 1700. The EPYC’s launch MSRP is $978; the 13700E has no launch MSRP listed.