AMD EPYC 7351 vs Intel Xeon W-1290P Comparison

The benchmark data in this comparison is remarkably consistent: the AMD EPYC 7351 wins every single head-to-head Cinebench test against the Intel Xeon W-1290P, although the margins are uniformly narrow. Across six recorded tests, the AMD processor leads by a margin of 3.7% to 3.9% in every instance, establishing a clear but modest performance advantage in this specific workload suite. The Intel part does post a higher average benchmark score when including additional Geekbench results, but the Cinebench comparison shows a perfect 6-0 sweep for the EPYC 7351.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test opens the comparison with the AMD EPYC 7351 scoring 1989 against the Intel Xeon W-1290P’s 1915, a lead of 3.9%. The single-core variant of the same test shows a similar pattern: 280 for AMD versus 270 for Intel, a 3.7% advantage. These early results establish the tone for the entire benchmark suite, where the EPYC 7351’s advantage hovers consistently around 4%.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore scores are 8291 for the AMD part and 7983 for the Intel part, again a 3.9% delta. The single-core R20 result mirrors this exactly in percentage terms: 1170 versus 1126, a 3.9% gap. The consistency of these margins across different workload generations suggests a stable architectural efficiency difference rather than a test-specific anomaly.

The newest test in the suite, Cinebench R23, follows the same script. The AMD EPYC 7351 produces a multicore score of 19742, while the Intel Xeon W-1290P reaches 19008, a 3.9% difference. Single-core R23 results are 2787 against 2683, which again translates to a 3.9% lead for the AMD processor. Every single head-to-head comparison in the database shows the EPYC 7351 ahead, with no test going the Intel part’s way.

It is notably the Intel Xeon W-1290P has additional Geekbench scores recorded in the database, with a multicore result of 8852 and a single-core result of 1703. These figures are not part of the direct head-to-head comparison, but they contribute to the Intel part’s average benchmark score of 5443, which trails the EPYC 7351’s average of 5710. The database’s percentile ranking places the AMD part at the 61st percentile of all CPUs, just one point above the Intel part’s 60th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors approach their workloads from fundamentally different architectural directions. The AMD EPYC 7351 is built on the Zen architecture with the Naples codename, part of the EPYC 7001 series, manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, a substantial core count advantage over its rival. The Intel Xeon W-1290P uses the Comet Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process at Intel, with 10 cores and 20 threads.

Cache configurations differ significantly between the two. The AMD part features 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a large 64 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel part has a smaller cache hierarchy: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7351’s L3 cache is three times larger in total capacity, which likely contributes to its consistent performance edge in multi-threaded workloads.

Memory architecture presents another major divergence. The AMD EPYC 7351 supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a theoretical bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, while the Intel Xeon W-1290P uses dual-channel DDR4 with 46.9 GB/s of bandwidth. This is a substantial difference in memory throughput capability, though the database does not record a direct memory benchmark result to quantify its impact. Both processors support ECC memory, making them suitable for workstation and server duties.

The physical and electrical characteristics also separate these parts. The AMD EPYC 7351 has a TDP of 170 watts and uses the AMD Socket SP3, while the Intel Xeon W-1290P draws 125 watts and fits the Intel Socket 1200. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel part is locked. The Intel processor includes integrated UHD Graphics P630, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics. The Intel part also specifies PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD part lists PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count in the recorded data.

Transistor counts and die sizes differ as well. The AMD EPYC 7351 contains 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die, while the Intel Xeon W-1290P has no transistor count recorded but a slightly smaller die at 206 mm². The release dates are roughly three years apart: the AMD part launched in June 2017, and the Intel part in May 2020.

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data points to a straightforward conclusion: the AMD EPYC 7351 is the faster processor in Cinebench workloads, but only by a narrow margin. The 3.9% lead in multi-core tests is consistent across all three Cinebench generations, indicating that the EPYC 7351’s 16-core, 32-thread configuration translates into a modest but real advantage over the 10-core, 20-thread Intel part in these heavily threaded render tests.

The single-core results tell a similar story with the same 3.7% to 3.9% margin, which is somewhat unexpected given that the Intel Xeon W-1290P has a much higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz compared to the EPYC 7351’s 2.90 GHz. The database does not include a direct explanation for this outcome, but the benchmark results are unambiguous: the AMD part wins single-core Cinebench tests despite the clock speed disadvantage.

The Intel Xeon W-1290P does hold one advantage in the recorded data: its average benchmark score of 5443 includes Geekbench results that the AMD part lacks, and its percentile ranking at 60 is only one point behind the AMD part’s 61. However, in the direct head-to-head comparisons that the database provides, the Intel processor wins zero tests. The verdict from the data is clear: for Cinebench rendering workloads, the AMD EPYC 7351 is the superior choice. For users who rely on Geekbench-style workloads, the Intel part has additional recorded data that may be relevant, but the direct comparison favors AMD.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmark tests?

A: The AMD EPYC 7351 wins all six Cinebench head-to-head tests recorded in the database, covering R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multicore variants. The Intel Xeon W-1290P wins zero tests in the direct comparison.

Q: What is the largest performance margin in the head-to-head results?

A: The largest margin is 3.9%, which appears in the Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R20 single-core, R23 multicore, and R23 single-core tests. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a slightly smaller margin of 3.7%.

Q: How do the core counts compare between the two processors?

A: The AMD EPYC 7351 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Xeon W-1290P has 10 cores and 20 threads. The AMD part offers 60% more cores in terms of raw count.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The AMD EPYC 7351 supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s. The Intel Xeon W-1290P supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, which is substantially lower.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon W-1290P have any benchmark advantage?

A: The Intel part has additional Geekbench scores recorded, with a multicore result of 8852 and a single-core result of 1703. It also has a lower TDP of 125 watts compared to the AMD part’s 170 watts.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD EPYC 7351 scores 2787 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Intel Xeon W-1290P scores 2683. The AMD part leads by 3.9% in this test.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7351 wins in every category where the database provides a direct head-to-head comparison. Its six wins cover the full Cinebench suite, including both single-core and multi-core variants of R15, R20, and R23. The 16-core, 32-thread configuration with 64 MB of L3 cache and eight-channel memory support positions it as the stronger choice for multi-threaded rendering and heavily parallel workloads. Its 170.6 GB/s memory bandwidth dwarfs the Intel part’s 46.9 GB/s, which could benefit memory-intensive applications even though no direct memory benchmark is recorded.

The Intel Xeon W-1290P wins in the efficiency and platform attributes. Its 125 watt TDP is lower than the AMD part’s 170 watts, making it a more power-conscious option for systems where thermal management is a priority. It includes integrated UHD Graphics P630, providing a display output capability that the AMD part lacks entirely. The Intel part also has a higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz, which does not translate into a single-core benchmark victory in the recorded data but remains a specification advantage. Its launch MSRP is $539, recorded once in the database.

For users who prioritize the Geekbench workload, the Intel Xeon W-1290P has recorded scores of 8852 multicore and 1703 single-core, while the AMD part has no Geekbench data in the database. This gives the Intel processor a broader benchmark coverage, even though its average score of 5443 is lower than the AMD part’s 5710. The Intel part’s dual-channel memory and smaller cache hierarchy are clear specification disadvantages, but its lower power draw and integrated graphics make it a viable option for compact or power-sensitive workstation builds.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The AMD EPYC 7351 uses the Zen architecture with the Naples codename, while the Intel Xeon W-1290P uses Comet Lake. The AMD part is built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, while the Intel part uses a 10 nm process at Intel. Core counts differ at 16 versus 10, and threads at 32 versus 20. The AMD part has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz, while the Intel part runs at 3.70 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost.

Cache hierarchies are substantially different, with the AMD part featuring 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 64 MB shared L3, against the Intel part’s 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3. The AMD EPYC 7351 uses eight-channel memory, while the Intel Xeon W-1290P uses dual-channel. Memory bandwidth figures are 170.6 GB/s for AMD and 46.9 GB/s for Intel. The AMD part uses AMD Socket SP3, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1200. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD part has no integrated graphics, while the Intel part includes UHD Graphics P630. The AMD part has a TDP of 170 watts versus 125 watts for the Intel part. The AMD part contains 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die, while the Intel part has no recorded transistor count and a 206 mm² die.