AMD EPYC 7302P vs Intel Core i7-12700E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data presents a fascinating split between the AMD EPYC 7302P and the Intel Core i7-12700E. Across the six Cinebench tests, the AMD EPYC 7302P wins decisively, while the Intel Core i7-12700E takes both Geekbench tests. The margin of victory is remarkably consistent in Cinebench: the EPYC 7302P leads by 16.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 16.5% in R15 single-core, 16.4% in R20 multi-core, 16.4% in R20 single-core, 16.4% in R23 multi-core, and 16.3% in R23 single-core. This uniformity across different Cinebench versions and core count workloads suggests a stable architectural advantage for the EPYC part in this rendering workload.

The Geekbench results flip the script entirely. The Intel Core i7-12700E scores 10,676 in Geekbench multi-core, which is 30.1% ahead of the EPYC 7302P's 7,462. In Geekbench single-core, the Intel part scores 2,094 versus 1,114, a 46.8% advantage. These are large deltas, not marginal differences. The EPYC 7302P wins six of the eight head-to-head benchmarks, but the two Geekbench losses are substantial enough to reshape the overall picture.

Looking at average benchmark scores, the EPYC 7302P posts 7,100 while the Intel part posts 6,776. The EPYC's nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-7980XE, scores 7,018, a 1.2% difference. The Intel Core i7-12700E sits near the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX at 6,760, a 0.2% gap, and the Intel Xeon Gold 6154 at 6,803, where the i7-12700E trails by 0.4%. The EPYC 7302P ranks in the 63rd percentile of all CPUs, while the i7-12700E ranks in the 62nd percentile.

The Cinebench numbers deserve closer scrutiny. A 16.4% lead in multi-core for the EPYC 7302P seems modest given the core count difference, but the consistency of the single-core margins tells a different story. The EPYC 7302P wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 16.3% despite having a much lower boost clock. That is a notable result for a server-oriented Zen 2 part against a desktop Alder Lake chip.

Architecture Differences

The architecture gap between these two processors is substantial. The AMD EPYC 7302P uses the Zen 2 architecture on the Rome codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i7-12700E uses the Alder Lake architecture on the Alder Lake-S codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. The EPYC packs 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel part offers 12 cores and 20 threads. The EPYC's die is composed of four 74 mm² chiplets, totaling 15,200 million transistors. The Intel die is a single 215 mm² piece.

Cache configurations differ markedly. The EPYC 7302P has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 per die, adding up to 128 MB of total L3. The i7-12700E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3. The EPYC's 128 MB total L3 dwarfs the Intel part's 25 MB, a fivefold difference that likely contributes to the EPYC's Cinebench dominance in certain access patterns.

Memory support reveals the EPYC's server pedigree. It supports DDR4 with an eight-channel memory bus and 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The i7-12700E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 but only on a dual-channel bus, with no bandwidth figure recorded in the database. ECC memory is supported on the EPYC but not on the Intel part. PCIe connectivity also diverges: the EPYC offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The EPYC has no integrated graphics; the i7-12700E includes UHD Graphics 770.

Clock speeds favor the Intel part on paper. The i7-12700E has a 2.10 GHz base clock and a 4.80 GHz boost clock. The EPYC 7302P has a 3.00 GHz base clock but only a 3.30 GHz boost clock. The 1.5 GHz boost advantage for Intel is significant, yet the EPYC still wins every Cinebench test. The EPYC's TDP is 155 watts, while the Intel part is rated at 65 watts. Both are locked multipliers. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3; the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data suggests a clear use-case split. The AMD EPYC 7302P wins every Cinebench test, from R15 through R23, in both multi-core and single-core variants. Cinebench is a rendering workload that stresses sustained compute. The EPYC's 16 cores, 32 threads, and 128 MB of L3 cache appear to provide a strong foundation for this type of workload. The 16.4% multi-core margins across all three Cinebench versions indicate that the EPYC's architecture handles rendering tasks consistently better than the i7-12700E, regardless of the specific Cinebench generation.

The Intel Core i7-12700E wins in Geekbench, both multi-core and single-core. The 30.1% multi-core lead and the 46.8% single-core lead are substantial. Geekbench includes a broader mix of workloads, including encryption, compression, and memory tests, which may favor the Alder Lake architecture's higher boost clocks and newer core design. The i7-12700E's 4.80 GHz boost clock versus the EPYC's 3.30 GHz likely plays a role in these results.

For server or workstation workloads that resemble Cinebench, such as 3D rendering, the EPYC 7302P is the stronger choice based on the data. For desktop workloads that resemble Geekbench, such as general productivity or single-threaded applications, the i7-12700E has the edge. The EPYC's eight-channel memory and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes also position it for server environments where memory bandwidth and I/O expansion are critical. The i7-12700E's integrated graphics and dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 support align with a desktop role. The EPYC's market segment is listed as Server/Workstation, while the Intel part is listed as Desktop, which matches the benchmark distribution.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. Core count: 16 cores and 32 threads for the EPYC 7302P versus 12 cores and 20 threads for the i7-12700E. Base clock: 3.00 GHz versus 2.10 GHz. Boost clock: 3.30 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. TDP: 155 watts versus 65 watts. Socket: AMD Socket SP3 versus Intel Socket 1700. Process node: 7 nm versus 10 nm. Foundry: TSMC versus Intel. Die size: four 74 mm² chiplets versus a single 215 mm² die. Transistor count: 15,200 million for the EPYC, with no figure recorded for the Intel part.

Cache: L1 per core is 64 KB on the EPYC versus 80 KB on the Intel part. L2 per core is 512 KB versus 1.25 MB. L3 is 32 MB per die on the EPYC, totaling 128 MB, versus 25 MB shared on the Intel part. Memory support: DDR4 only on the EPYC, DDR4 and DDR5 on the Intel part. Memory bus: eight-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 204.8 GB/s on the EPYC, no figure recorded for the Intel part. ECC: supported on the EPYC, not on the Intel part. PCIe: Gen 4 with 128 lanes versus Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics: none versus UHD Graphics 770. Market segment: Server/Workstation versus Desktop. Release date: August 6, 2019 for the EPYC, no date recorded for the Intel part. Launch MSRP: $825 for the EPYC, $344 for the Intel part. Part numbers: 100-000000049 for the EPYC, SRL6D for the Intel part. Both are locked multipliers and both are listed as Active in production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD EPYC 7302P wins six of the eight benchmarks, including all six Cinebench tests. The Intel Core i7-12700E wins the two Geekbench tests.

Q: How large is the Intel part's Geekbench single-core lead?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700E scores 2,094 versus the EPYC 7302P's 1,114, a 46.8% advantage.

Q: What is the EPYC 7302P's Cinebench R23 multi-core score?

A: The EPYC 7302P scores 27,786 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 16.4% ahead of the i7-12700E's 23,879.

Q: Do these processors use the same memory configuration?

A: No. The EPYC 7302P uses DDR4 on an eight-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support. The i7-12700E uses DDR4 or DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with no recorded bandwidth and no ECC support.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The EPYC 7302P has 16 cores and 32 threads. The i7-12700E has 12 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The EPYC 7302P offers 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU. The i7-12700E offers 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

The Verdict

The data presents two distinct profiles. The AMD EPYC 7302P is the clear winner in Cinebench workloads, with a consistent 16.4% multi-core advantage and a 16.3% single-core lead in R23. Its 128 MB of L3 cache, eight-channel memory, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes support its Server/Workstation designation. The 16 cores and 32 threads provide the compute density expected of a server processor, and the 63rd percentile ranking places it just above the i7-12700E's 62nd percentile.

The Intel Core i7-12700E counters with a dominant Geekbench performance. The 30.1% multi-core and 46.8% single-core leads indicate that this processor excels in workloads that resemble Geekbench's mixed test suite. The 4.80 GHz boost clock, dual-channel DDR5 support, and integrated UHD Graphics 770 align with its Desktop market segment. The 65 watt TDP is notably lower than the EPYC's 155 watts, which may matter for system design.

For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering performance, the EPYC 7302P is the pick. For users prioritizing Geekbench-style general compute, the i7-12700E is the pick. The average benchmark score slightly favors the EPYC at 7,100 versus 6,776, but the benchmark-specific outcomes matter more than the aggregate. The EPYC's nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-7980XE at a 1.2% difference, while the i7-12700E's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX at a 0.2% difference. The choice comes down to workload, not overall superiority.