AMD EPYC 7303 vs Intel Core i7-13700K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core i7-13700K, which wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the AMD EPYC 7303. The Intel part's dominance is most pronounced in single-threaded PassMark tests, where it scores 4333 against the EPYC's 1460, a margin of 196.8%. This is the largest delta recorded between the two processors, and it underscores a fundamental difference in their design priorities.

Multi-core Cinebench results also favor Intel, though the margin narrows as the workload scales. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-13700K scores 30745 versus the EPYC's 24286, a 26.6% advantage. The gap widens significantly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where Intel leads 16292 to 10200, a 59.7% delta, and in Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel part scores 4507.5 against 2448, an 84.1% lead. These results indicate that the i7-13700K maintains its advantage across different generations of the Cinebench workload, with the older R15 test showing the largest relative spread.

The PassMark suite reinforces the Intel lead with consistent wins in every category. Floating point math shows a 76.9% advantage (114867 versus 64940), while integer math is 36.2% higher (154446 versus 113422). Multithreaded PassMark scores place Intel at 45887 versus 28572, a 60.6% margin. Data compression favors Intel by 39% (595292 versus 428319), and data encryption shows a 32.1% lead (33249 versus 25167). Physics tests record a 51.6% advantage for Intel (2716 versus 1792), and random string sorting is 48.3% higher (62670 versus 42259). Even the extended instructions test, which often rewards server-class features, goes to Intel by 15.9% (36625 versus 31603). The smallest Intel win is in prime number finding, where the delta is just 6.1% (191 versus 180).

The AMD EPYC 7303 claims only two victories, both in single-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the EPYC scores 345 against Intel's 303, a 12.2% advantage. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the margin is larger: the EPYC scores 3428 versus 2116, a 38.3% lead. This pattern suggests that the EPYC's Zen 3 architecture delivers strong per-core performance in certain synthetic single-threaded workloads, but the Intel part's higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus 3.40 GHz appears to carry it through most other single-threaded tests, including the PassMark single-thread test where Intel leads by the aforementioned 196.8%.

The average benchmark scores place the Intel part at 46881 and the AMD part at 45960, a difference of roughly 2%. Both processors sit at the 89th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 with an average score of 46971 (a 0.2% delta), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 at 47022 (0.3% delta), the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX at 46654 (0.5% delta), and the Intel Xeon w3-2535 at 46653 (0.5% delta). For the AMD EPYC 7303, the closest competitors are the Intel Core i7-14700HX at 45953 (0% delta), the AMD EPYC 4364P at 45970 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 at 46030 (0.2% delta), and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 at 46062 (0.2% delta). These narrow deltas indicate that both processors are tightly clustered with their respective peers, and the head-to-head deltas between the two are more significant than their overall positioning.

The Verdict

The data directs different buyers toward different parts. The Intel Core i7-13700K is the clear choice for workloads that favor high single-threaded throughput and mixed desktop productivity. Its 196.8% lead in PassMark single-thread performance and its 60.6% advantage in PassMark multithreaded tests suggest it can handle both lightly threaded and heavily threaded applications with ease. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 30745 versus 24286 further confirms that the Intel part scales well across cores, even though it has fewer threads (24 versus 32). The Intel part also integrates UHD Graphics 770, which the EPYC lacks entirely, making the i7-13700K a self-contained solution for systems without a discrete GPU.

The AMD EPYC 7303 is positioned for server and workstation environments where its eight-channel memory bus and 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth matter more than raw benchmark scores. Its 64 MB of shared L3 cache is double the Intel part's 30 MB, and its 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes vastly exceed Intel's 20 Gen 5 lanes. These features are not directly measured in the head-to-head benchmarks, but they are critical for memory-bound server workloads and high-expansion systems. The EPYC also supports DDR4 memory exclusively, while the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, giving the Intel part more memory flexibility for desktop builds.

For a desktop user building a high-performance workstation, the Intel Core i7-13700K is the data-backed pick. It wins 15 of 17 benchmarks, and its single-threaded PassMark score is nearly triple that of the EPYC. For a server administrator prioritizing memory bandwidth, PCIe lane count, and ECC memory across many channels, the AMD EPYC 7303 is the logical choice, despite its lower benchmark scores. The EPYC's 32 threads versus 24 may also benefit specific heavily parallel server tasks, even though the recorded PassMark multithread score favors Intel.

Neither part is a poor choice in absolute terms; both sit at the 89th percentile among all CPUs. But the benchmark deltas are lopsided, and the architectural differences reinforce the split: the i7-13700K is a desktop part with a 125 W TDP and unlocked multiplier, while the EPYC 7303 is a locked server part with a 130 W TDP and a 2023 release date. The Intel part's launch MSRP is $409, and the AMD part's launch MSRP is $604, but the benchmark data alone justifies the Intel pick for general compute tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-threaded PassMark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K scores 4333, which is 196.8% higher than the AMD EPYC 7303's 1460.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7303 win any benchmarks against the Intel Core i7-13700K?

A: Yes, the EPYC 7303 wins two Cinebench single-core tests: R15 singlecore with 345 versus 303 (a 12.2% lead) and R23 singlecore with 3428 versus 2116 (a 38.3% lead).

Q: What is the largest multi-core performance gap between the two?

A: In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel part scores 4507.5 against the EPYC's 2448, an 84.1% advantage. The next largest is PassMark floating point math at 76.9% in Intel's favor.

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 46881, while the AMD EPYC 7303 has 45960. Both are at the 89th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7303 has 32 threads, while the Intel Core i7-13700K has 24 threads, both with 16 cores.

Q: What memory bandwidth does the AMD EPYC 7303 support?

A: The EPYC 7303 has an eight-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The Intel part's memory bandwidth is not listed in the database.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-13700K has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7303 has 16 cores and 32 threads. Base clocks differ: the Intel part runs at 3.40 GHz, and the AMD part at 2.40 GHz. Boost clocks are further apart: Intel at 5.40 GHz, AMD at 3.40 GHz. The TDP is 125 W for Intel and 130 W for AMD.

The cache hierarchies are distinct. The Intel part uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The AMD part uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. Memory support diverges: Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus, while AMD supports only DDR4 on an eight-channel bus. The AMD part has a listed memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s; the Intel part has no listed bandwidth.

PCIe capabilities are also different. The Intel part provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are present only on the Intel part, which includes UHD Graphics 770; the AMD part has no integrated graphics. The Intel multiplier is unlocked, while the AMD multiplier is locked. The market segments differ: Intel targets desktop, AMD targets server/workstation.

The process nodes and foundries differ as well. Intel uses a 10 nm process and its own foundry, while AMD uses a 7 nm process at TSMC. The AMD part has 8,300 million transistors, while the Intel part has no transistor count listed. Die size is 257 mm² for Intel and 2x 81 mm² for AMD. Release dates differ: the Intel part launched in 2022, the AMD part in 2023.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-13700K is built on Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-S, and belongs to the Core 13th Gen series. It uses Intel Socket 1700 and is fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The architecture supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus, and it includes integrated UHD Graphics 770. The part number is SRMB8.

The AMD EPYC 7303 is based on Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan, and is part of the EPYC 7003 series. It uses AMD Socket SP3 and is fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC, with 8,300 million transistors and a die size of 2x 81 mm². The architecture supports DDR4 memory only, on an eight-channel bus with a recorded bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. It has no integrated graphics. The part number is 100-000001288100-100001288WOF.

The core count is identical at 16, but the thread count differs: Intel provides 24 threads, AMD provides 32 threads. The L3 cache is larger on the AMD part (64 MB shared versus 30 MB shared), while the Intel part has larger L1 and L2 caches per core (80 KB and 2 MB versus 64 KB and 512 KB). The Intel architecture's higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz likely explains its single-threaded PassMark dominance, while the AMD architecture's higher thread count and larger shared cache serve server workloads that rely on memory bandwidth and parallel expansion.