AMD EPYC 7302P vs Intel Core i9-9980XE Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9980XE and AMD EPYC 7302P represent two distinct philosophies for high-core-count computing: one is a desktop extreme processor, the other a server/workstation part. The benchmark data shows a clear split, with the AMD EPYC 7302P dominating in Cinebench workloads while the Intel Core i9-9980XE takes a commanding lead in Geekbench. Head-to-head results show the AMD processor winning 6 out of 8 tests, but the Intel chip’s victories in Geekbench are by much larger margins.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite is a consistent victory for the AMD EPYC 7302P, but the margins are remarkably uniform. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD EPYC 7302P scores 2800 against the Intel Core i9-9980XE’s 2699, a 3.6% advantage. The single-core R15 test follows the same pattern: 395 versus 380, a 3.8% lead for AMD. This uniformity continues across newer versions of the benchmark. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the AMD EPYC 7302P posts 11670 compared to 11247, again a 3.6% delta. The R20 single-core result is 1647 versus 1587, also a 3.6% difference. The R23 multi-core score of 27786 for the AMD EPYC 7302P versus 26780 for the Intel part repeats the exact same 3.6% margin, and the R23 single-core score of 3922 versus 3780 is also a 3.6% delta. This consistency suggests a fundamental architectural efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Geekbench results tell a completely different story. The Intel Core i9-9980XE scores 11270 in Geekbench multi-core, which is 51% higher than the AMD EPYC 7302P’s 7462. The single-core Geekbench test shows a 29% advantage for Intel, with scores of 1437 versus 1114. These are substantial swings that completely reverse the Cinebench narrative. The Intel part’s high boost clock of 4.50 GHz likely explains the single-core Geekbench win, while the multi-core Geekbench gap is more difficult to attribute from the data alone, but it is a decisive factor in the overall benchmark picture.

Averaging all benchmark scores, the Intel Core i9-9980XE achieves an average of 7398 across its eight tests, while the AMD EPYC 7302P averages 7100. The Intel part’s percentile ranking among all CPUs is 63, and the AMD EPYC 7302P also sits at the 63rd percentile. The Intel Core i9-9980XE’s nearest rival by average score is the AMD EPYC 7282, which is only 0.1% behind, indicating how tightly clustered the competition is around this performance level. The AMD EPYC 7302P’s closest rival is the Intel Core i9-7980XE, which it leads by 1.2%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The AMD EPYC 7302P wins 6 out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, including all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core variants). The Intel Core i9-9980XE wins the remaining two Geekbench tests.

Q: How large is the Intel Core i9-9980XE’s lead in Geekbench multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i9-9980XE scores 11270 in Geekbench multi-core, which is 51% higher than the AMD EPYC 7302P’s score of 7462. This is the largest performance gap in either direction across all tests.

Q: What is the typical performance difference in Cinebench tests?

A: The AMD EPYC 7302P leads by 3.6% in five of the six Cinebench tests (R20 multi, R20 single, R23 multi, R23 single, and R15 multi). The R15 single-core test shows a slightly larger 3.8% advantage for AMD.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7302P have more cores than the Intel Core i9-9980XE?

A: No. The Intel Core i9-9980XE has 18 cores and 36 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7302P has 16 cores and 32 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD EPYC 7302P wins all Cinebench tests.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-9980XE has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 7302P boosts to 3.30 GHz. Both processors share the same 3.00 GHz base clock.

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD EPYC 7302P offers 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth via an eight-channel memory bus, compared to 85.3 GB/s on the Intel Core i9-9980XE’s quad-channel bus. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different manufacturing and design philosophies. The Intel Core i9-9980XE uses Intel’s 14 nm process and is based on the Skylake architecture with the Skylake-X codename. It is a monolithic die measuring 484 mm². The AMD EPYC 7302P uses a 7 nm process from TSMC and is based on the Zen 2 architecture with the Rome codename. The AMD part uses a chiplet design with four dies, each measuring 74 mm², for a combined die area of 4x 74 mm². The AMD EPYC 7302P has a total of 15,200 million transistors, while the Intel part’s transistor count is not specified in the data.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Intel Core i9-9980XE has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with a shared 24.75 MB L3 cache. The AMD EPYC 7302P also has 64 KB of L1 cache per core but only 512 KB of L2 cache per core. However, the AMD part has 32 MB of L3 cache per die, totaling 128 MB of L3 cache across all four dies. This is more than five times the L3 cache capacity of the Intel part.

Memory architecture is another major differentiator. The Intel Core i9-9980XE supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth and does not support ECC memory. The AMD EPYC 7302P supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth and does support ECC memory. PCIe capabilities also differ: the Intel part provides Gen 3 with 44 lanes, while the AMD EPYC 7302P provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes.

Specification Differences

The processors differ in several core specifications. The Intel Core i9-9980XE has 18 cores and 36 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7302P has 16 cores and 32 threads. Both have a base clock of 3.00 GHz, but the Intel part boosts to 4.50 GHz compared to the AMD part’s 3.30 GHz. Thermal design power is 165 W for Intel and 155 W for AMD.

The Intel Core i9-9980XE uses Intel Socket 2066, while the AMD EPYC 7302P uses AMD Socket SP3. The Intel part is a desktop-market processor with an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD EPYC 7302P is a server/workstation part with a locked multiplier. The Intel Core i9-9980XE is end-of-life, while the AMD EPYC 7302P is still an active product. Their release dates are 2018-10-18 for Intel and 2019-08-06 for AMD. The Intel part’s launch MSRP is $1979, and the AMD EPYC 7302P’s launch MSRP is $825.

The memory bus width is quad-channel for Intel and eight-channel for AMD, with correspondingly different memory bandwidth figures of 85.3 GB/s and 204.8 GB/s. ECC memory support is absent on the Intel part and present on the AMD part. The Intel Core i9-9980XE provides 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the AMD EPYC 7302P provides 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture of two processors optimized for different workloads. The AMD EPYC 7302P is the winner in all Cinebench tests, which are heavily threaded rendering workloads. Its 3.6% advantage across nearly every Cinebench test, despite having 2 fewer cores and 4 fewer threads, demonstrates superior per-core efficiency in this workload. The AMD part also offers substantially more memory bandwidth, ECC support, and PCIe Gen 4 lanes, making it the more capable platform for server and workstation tasks.

The Intel Core i9-9980XE wins decisively in Geekbench, with a 51% multi-core advantage and a 29% single-core advantage. This suggests the Intel part is better suited to workloads that resemble Geekbench’s test patterns. Its higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz gives it a clear edge in single-threaded performance as measured by Geekbench, and the multi-core Geekbench result shows a massive lead that dwarfs any of the AMD part’s Cinebench victories.

For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering performance, the AMD EPYC 7302P is the data-supported choice. For users whose workloads align with Geekbench’s performance profile, the Intel Core i9-9980XE is clearly superior. The average benchmark score slightly favors Intel (7398 versus 7100), but this is heavily influenced by the large Geekbench multi-core delta. Both processors sit at the 63rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are closely matched in overall standing.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7302P wins in every Cinebench test, making it the better choice for rendering workloads that scale with the Cinebench benchmark family. Its consistent 3.6% lead across R15, R20, and R23 versions indicates sustained superiority in this type of multi-threaded rendering. The AMD part’s eight-channel memory bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, combined with 128 MB of L3 cache, provide the memory subsystem muscle that likely contributes to these wins. ECC memory support and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes make it the stronger candidate for server infrastructure, where data integrity and expandability matter.

The Intel Core i9-9980XE wins in Geekbench, both single-core and multi-core. The single-core win of 29% is directly attributable to the 4.50 GHz boost clock, which is 1.2 GHz higher than the AMD part’s boost. The multi-core win of 51% is more surprising given the Intel part’s 18 cores versus 16 cores, but the margin is so large that it suggests Geekbench rewards the Intel architecture’s design in ways that Cinebench does not. The unlocked multiplier on the Intel part also allows for overclocking, which could extend its lead in Geekbench-style workloads even further, though the data does not include overclocked results.

In summary, the AMD EPYC 7302P is the clear Cinebench champion and server platform choice, while the Intel Core i9-9980XE is the Geekbench champion with a desktop-oriented feature set. The choice between them depends entirely on which benchmark family better represents the target workload.