AMD EPYC 7343 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7343 offers 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus offers 20 cores and 20 threads. Intel has more physical cores, but AMD provides simultaneous multithreading, which doubles its thread count.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus leads in every single-core benchmark recorded. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 5917 versus AMD's 5237, a margin of 11.5%. In PassMark single-thread, Intel scores 4764 against AMD's 2740, a much larger 42.5% advantage.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 41913 versus AMD's 37097, an 11.5% advantage. The same 11.5% delta appears in R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7343 win any benchmarks at all?

A: Yes, the AMD EPYC 7343 wins four recorded benchmarks: PassMark data compression (19.6% ahead), PassMark integer math (27.4% ahead), PassMark physics (24.2% ahead), and PassMark random string sorting (12.6% ahead).

Q: How much memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The AMD EPYC 7343 supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. AMD's memory bandwidth is exactly double that of Intel.

Q: What are the power requirements for these two chips?

A: The AMD EPYC 7343 has a TDP of 190 watts, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has a TDP of 55 watts. The Intel processor consumes substantially less power according to the recorded TDP values.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7343 belongs to the EPYC 7003 series and uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan. It is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC with 16,600 million transistors spread across a 4x 81 mm² die configuration. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus comes from the Core Ultra Series 2, codenamed Arrow Lake-HX Refresh, and uses a 3 nm TSMC process with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. Both are manufactured by TSMC, but Intel's process node is smaller, and the transistor count is higher by 1,200 million units.

Cache organization differs significantly between the two. The EPYC 7343 allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and shares 128 MB of L3 cache across all cores. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus allocates 192 KB of L1 cache per core, a much larger 3 MB of L2 cache per core, but only 30 MB of shared L3. AMD's L3 cache is more than four times larger, which likely contributes to its strong data compression and integer math results.

Memory architecture is another major split. The EPYC 7343 uses DDR4 memory with an eight-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. AMD also supports ECC memory, while Intel does not. The EPYC's PCIe implementation uses Gen 4 with 128 lanes, whereas Intel uses Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Intel's lanes are newer and faster per lane, but AMD offers far more of them.

The Intel processor includes integrated graphics, specifically Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The AMD EPYC 7343 has no integrated graphics listed. The EPYC also has a locked multiplier, while Intel's multiplier is unlocked. The EPYC 7343 uses AMD Socket SP3, and the Intel chip uses BGA 2114. Market segments differ as well: the EPYC is positioned for server and workstation use, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus targets mobile platforms.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7343 wins in workloads that favor large shared caches and high memory bandwidth. Its 128 MB of shared L3 cache and 204.8 GB/s eight-channel memory bandwidth align with its victories in data compression, integer math, physics, and random string sorting. These are tasks that often benefit from keeping large datasets close to the cores and moving data quickly between memory and compute units.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus wins in rendering, single-threaded workloads, and floating-point math. Its Cinebench victories across R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core tests indicate strong all-around CPU rendering capability. The 5.30 GHz boost clock and 3 nm process likely support its dominant single-thread performance. The 47.2% lead in floating-point math is the largest single benchmark margin in the comparison, suggesting Intel's execution units handle floating-point operations with much greater efficiency.

PassMark extended instructions and prime number finding also favor Intel, with margins of 9.3% and 20.7% respectively. Data encryption is essentially a tie, with Intel ahead by only 0.9%. The Intel chip wins 13 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, while AMD wins 4.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The EPYC 7343 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 20 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for AMD and 2.40 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 3.90 GHz for AMD and 5.30 GHz for Intel, a difference of 1.40 GHz in Intel's favor.

TDP values are far apart: 190 watts for AMD versus 55 watts for Intel. The EPYC uses DDR4 memory, and the Core Ultra uses DDR5. Memory channels differ from eight to two, and memory bandwidth from 204.8 GB/s to 102.4 GB/s. ECC support is present on AMD and absent on Intel. PCIe versions differ from Gen 4 to Gen 5, and lane counts from 128 to 20.

Cache allocations differ in structure: AMD uses 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 128 MB shared L3. Intel uses 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3. The EPYC has no integrated graphics; Intel includes Arc Xe-LPG with 64 execution units. The EPYC is socketed at SP3, while Intel is BGA 2114. AMD's multiplier is locked, Intel's is unlocked. The EPYC has a launch MSRP of $1565; the Intel chip has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus wins all six Cinebench tests, and the margins are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel scores 4224 versus AMD's 3739, an 11.5% lead. In R15 single-core, Intel scores 596 versus 527, an 11.6% lead. In R20 multi-core, the scores are 17603 versus 15580, again 11.5%. In R20 single-core, 2485 versus 2199, again 11.5%. In R23 multi-core, 41913 versus 37097, again 11.5%. In R23 single-core, 5917 versus 5237, again 11.5%. The consistent delta across all six tests suggests a stable performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

PassMark results are more varied. The biggest Intel win is floating-point math, where Intel scores 163567 against AMD's 86311, a 47.2% margin. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison. PassMark single-thread shows Intel at 4764 versus AMD's 2740, a 42.5% lead. Prime number finding favors Intel by 20.7%, with scores of 482 versus 382. PassMark multithread favors Intel by 9.6%, at 48270 versus 43644. Extended instructions favor Intel by 9.3%, at 39283 versus 35626. Data encryption is nearly even, with Intel ahead by just 0.9% at 37813 versus 37454.

AMD's wins are concentrated in four PassMark tests. Integer math shows AMD at 156033 versus Intel's 122449, a 27.4% margin. Physics favors AMD by 24.2%, with scores of 4774 versus 3843. Data compression favors AMD by 19.6%, at 589770 versus 493179. Random string sorting favors AMD by 12.6%, at 67576 versus 60020. These wins align with AMD's larger L3 cache and higher memory bandwidth.

The average benchmark scores place the two chips close together in the overall database. The EPYC 7343 has an average benchmark score of 64202 and sits in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has an average benchmark score of 61834, also in the 93rd percentile. The EPYC's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-13900KS with a delta of 0.2% and the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 with a delta of 0.7%. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-13900KF with a delta of 0% and the Intel Core i9-13900K with a delta of 0.1%.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinctly different usage profiles. The AMD EPYC 7343 is a server and workstation processor with 16 cores, 32 threads, 128 MB of shared L3 cache, eight-channel DDR4 memory, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. Its wins in integer math, physics, data compression, and random string sorting suggest it is better suited for database-style workloads, scientific computing, and data processing tasks that rely on large caches and high memory throughput. The 27.4% lead in integer math and the 24.2% lead in physics are substantial margins.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is a mobile processor with 20 cores, 20 threads, a 5.30 GHz boost clock, DDR5 memory, and integrated Arc graphics. Its consistent 11.5% lead across all Cinebench tests, combined with a 47.2% lead in floating-point math and a 42.5% lead in single-thread performance, makes it the stronger choice for rendering, single-threaded applications, and floating-point-heavy tasks. The 55 watt TDP also gives it a clear efficiency advantage over the 190 watt EPYC.

The overall win count favors Intel at 13 versus 4, but the average benchmark scores are close: 64202 for AMD versus 61834 for Intel, a difference of about 3.8%. Both processors sit in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. The choice depends on the workload. For multi-threaded rendering and general compute across diverse tasks, Intel's Cinebench dominance and floating-point strength make it the more versatile performer. For cache-sensitive data operations and memory-bandwidth-bound server workloads, AMD's architecture delivers targeted advantages that Intel cannot match. The EPYC is the server part with ECC support and eight-channel memory. The Core Ultra 7 is the mobile part with integrated graphics and a much lower TDP. They are not direct competitors in the same system class, but the benchmark data shows where each excels.