AMD EPYC 7343 vs Intel Core i9-13900KS Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7343 and Intel Core i9-13900KS are both 95th-percentile processors, but they achieve that status through fundamentally different designs. The data shows the Intel part wins 15 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, often by large margins, while the AMD EPYC claims two specific wins that hint at distinct strengths. The verdict is clear: the i9-13900KS is the raw performance king for most workloads, but the EPYC 7343 holds its ground in server-relevant tasks.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900KS is the default choice for anyone prioritizing maximum throughput and single-thread speed. Its average benchmark score of 63,990 is virtually tied with the EPYC 7343’s 64,202 (a 0.3% difference), yet it wins nearly every direct comparison. The i9-13900KS delivers a 28% higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23 (51,548 vs 37,097) and a 39% higher single-thread score in PassMark (4,712 vs 2,740). This is a desktop part built for brute force, and the data reflects that.

The AMD EPYC 7343 is the pick for specific server workloads where its architecture shines. It wins PassMark’s find prime numbers test by 48.6% (382 vs 257) and physics by 38.7% (4,774 vs 3,441). These wins are not trivial; they indicate superior integer-heavy, latency-sensitive performance in certain scientific or physics simulation tasks. For general multi-threaded rendering, video encoding, or compression, the i9-13900KS is the faster chip despite the EPYC’s enterprise pedigree.

If you are building a workstation for Cinebench, compression, or floating-point math, choose the i9-13900KS. If you need a server CPU that excels at prime-number finding and physics calculations, the EPYC 7343 is the data-backed answer. The i9-13900KS also has a lower launch MSRP of $699 versus the EPYC’s $1,565, though both are premium parts.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-13900KS dominates in every Cinebench test (R15, R20, R23) for both multi-core and single-core, with consistent 28% leads. It also wins all PassMark data processing tests: compression by 27.6% (814,838 vs 589,770), encryption by 21.6% (47,772 vs 37,454), extended instructions by 26.1% (48,217 vs 35,626), floating-point math by 44.2% (154,805 vs 86,311), integer math by 26.1% (211,027 vs 156,033), multithread by 28% (60,644 vs 43,644), and random string sorting by 25.1% (90,257 vs 67,576). The single-thread PassMark gap is even larger at 41.9% (4,712 vs 2,740).

The EPYC 7343 wins only two tests but wins them decisively. Its find prime numbers score of 382 versus 257 is a 48.6% advantage. Its physics score of 4,774 versus 3,441 is a 38.7% lead. These are substantial margins, not edge cases. The EPYC’s wins suggest its Zen 3 architecture handles certain integer and physics workloads far better than Intel’s hybrid design.

The i9-13900KS also has a Geekbench multi-core score of 21,426 and single-core of 3,125, while the EPYC has no Geekbench results in the data. The i9-13900KS’s 3DMark scores (single-thread 1,226, 2-thread 2,412, 4-thread 4,754, 8-thread 8,812, 16-thread 11,616, max-thread 16,243) are all present, showing strong scaling from 2 to 16 threads, while the EPYC lacks these entries.

Architecture Differences

The EPYC 7343 uses AMD’s Zen 3 architecture on a 7nm TSMC process, with a 16-core, 32-thread configuration. It has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 128 MB of shared L3 cache. The i9-13900KS uses Intel’s Raptor Lake architecture on a 10nm Intel process, with 24 cores and 32 threads. Its L1 is 80 KB per core, L2 is 2 MB per core, and L3 is 36 MB shared. The EPYC’s L3 cache is over 3.5 times larger, which likely explains its wins in cache-sensitive tests.

The EPYC supports DDR4 memory over an eight-channel bus, delivering 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The i9-13900KS supports both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC’s memory bandwidth is 2.3 times higher, a critical advantage for server workloads. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3 and has 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the i9-13900KS uses Intel Socket 1700 with 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

The i9-13900KS has an integrated UHD Graphics 770, while the EPYC has none. The i9-13900KS has an unlocked multiplier, while the EPYC is locked. The EPYC has a 190W TDP versus the i9-13900KS’s 150W, and the EPYC’s die size is listed as 4x 81 mm² versus the Intel’s 257 mm². The Intel part has 16,600 million transistors, while the EPYC’s transistor count is not listed. The EPYC was released on 2021-03-14, while the i9-13900KS came later on 2023-01-11.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i9-13900KS wins all single-core tests. It scores 7,277 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 5,237 for the EPYC 7343, a 28% lead. In PassMark single-thread, the Intel scores 4,712 versus 2,740, a 41.9% advantage.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7343 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins two of the 17 head-to-head tests. It scores 382 in PassMark find prime numbers versus 257 for Intel (48.6% ahead) and 4,774 in PassMark physics versus 3,441 (38.7% ahead).

Q: How do their memory systems differ?

A: The EPYC 7343 uses eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The i9-13900KS uses dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC’s bandwidth is 2.3 times higher.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The i9-13900KS has more cores at 24 versus 16, but both have 32 threads. The Intel part’s L3 cache is 36 MB, while the EPYC’s is 128 MB.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The EPYC 7343 has a 190W TDP, while the i9-13900KS has a 150W TDP. The EPYC is also a server/workstation part, while the Intel is a desktop part.

Q: Is the i9-13900KS better for multi-threaded workloads?

A: Yes. The Intel wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 51,548 versus 37,097 (28% higher) and PassMark multithread with 60,644 versus 43,644 (28% higher). The EPYC’s only multi-thread wins are in the two mentioned tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i9-13900KS’s biggest win is in PassMark floating-point math, where it scores 154,805 versus 86,311 for the EPYC 7343, a 44.2% delta. This is followed by PassMark single-thread, where the Intel leads by 41.9% (4,712 vs 2,740). In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel scores 51,548 versus 37,097, a 28% gap. The same 28% delta appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core (5,196 vs 3,739), R20 multi-core (21,650 vs 15,580), and R20 single-core (3,056 vs 2,199). Cinebench R23 single-core shows 7,277 versus 5,237, also 28%.

The Intel wins PassMark data compression by 27.6% (814,838 vs 589,770), extended instructions by 26.1% (48,217 vs 35,626), integer math by 26.1% (211,027 vs 156,033), and random string sorting by 25.1% (90,257 vs 67,576). PassMark data encryption shows a 21.6% lead for Intel (47,772 vs 37,454). PassMark multithread is 28% (60,644 vs 43,644).

The EPYC 7343’s wins are notable for their size. Its find prime numbers score of 382 beats the Intel’s 257 by 48.6%. Its physics score of 4,774 beats 3,441 by 38.7%. These are the only two benchmarks where the EPYC is competitive, but they show that for certain integer and physics workloads, the EPYC’s architecture is superior.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The EPYC 7343 has 16 cores and 32 threads; the i9-13900KS has 24 cores and 32 threads. Both have a 3.20 GHz base clock, but the Intel boosts to 6.00 GHz versus the EPYC’s 3.90 GHz. The EPYC has a 190W TDP; the Intel has 150W. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3; the Intel uses Intel Socket 1700.

The EPYC is built on a 7nm TSMC process, while the Intel uses 10nm Intel. The EPYC’s die is 4x 81 mm²; the Intel’s is 257 mm². The EPYC has 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 128 MB L3. The Intel has 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core, with 36 MB L3. The EPYC supports DDR4 only, over eight channels, with 204.8 GB/s. The Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, over dual channels, with 89.6 GB/s.

The EPYC has 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes; the Intel has 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The EPYC has no integrated graphics; the Intel has UHD Graphics 770. The EPYC is not multiplier unlocked; the Intel is. The EPYC’s launch MSRP is $1,565; the Intel’s is $699. The EPYC was released on 2021-03-14; the Intel on 2023-01-11. The EPYC’s part number is 100-000000338100-100000338WOF; the Intel’s is SRMBX.