AMD EPYC 7351 vs Intel Xeon W-2170B Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a consistent picture across all six Cinebench tests: the Intel Xeon W-2170B wins every single head-to-head matchup against the AMD EPYC 7351. The margin is remarkably uniform, hovering at 4.8% in the multi-core tests and peaking at 5% in the Cinebench R15 single-core run. This consistency suggests a systematic performance advantage rather than workload-specific quirks.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon W-2170B scores 2085 against the EPYC 7351's 1989, a 4.8% lead. The single-core R15 result shows the Intel part at 294 versus 280, which translates to a 5% advantage, the largest margin recorded in the entire comparison. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core score favors Intel 8691 to 8291, again a 4.8% gap, while single-core lands at 1226 versus 1170, also 4.8%. The R23 tests repeat the pattern: 20693 to 19742 in multi-core and 2921 to 2787 in single-core, both at 4.8%.

The average benchmark score reinforces the trend. The Xeon W-2170B posts an average of 5985, while the EPYC 7351 averages 5710. That is a raw difference of 275 points, which puts the Intel part roughly 4.8% ahead on average, matching the individual test deltas. The database's percentile rankings place both processors at the 61st percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy similar tiers in the overall performance distribution despite the Intel part's consistent edge in this direct comparison.

Looking at the nearest rivals offers additional context. The Xeon W-2170B sits 1.1% above the Intel Core i9-9920X and 1.2% above the AMD EPYC 7451, while trailing the AMD EPYC 7501 by 2.3% and the Intel Core i9-7940X by 2.6%. The EPYC 7351, by contrast, is essentially tied with the AMD EPYC 7F32 at 0.1% ahead, 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X, 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i9-7920X, and 1% behind the Intel Xeon W-2175. These neighboring data points show that both CPUs are competitive with similar-generation workstation and server parts, but the Intel chip consistently edges out the AMD part in this pairing.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon W-2170B wins in every recorded benchmark category. There are no tests in the database where the AMD EPYC 7351 comes out ahead, so the use-case split is straightforward: the Intel part is the stronger choice for any workload captured by the Cinebench suite, which includes both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering tasks.

The single-core results deserve particular attention. The Xeon W-2170B's boost clock reaches 4.30 GHz against the EPYC 7351's 2.90 GHz, and that clock advantage shows up directly in the single-threaded scores. For applications that rely heavily on per-core performance, such as lightly threaded CAD tools, legacy software, or interactive workstation tasks, the Intel part holds a clear edge. The 5% single-core delta in R15 and the 4.8% deltas in R20 and R23 indicate that the clock speed disparity is not fully offset by the AMD architecture's other characteristics.

For multi-threaded rendering and compute workloads, the EPYC 7351 does bring more physical resources to the table with 16 cores and 32 threads versus 14 cores and 28 threads on the Intel side. However, the benchmark results show that the Intel part still manages a 4.8% multi-core win across all three Cinebench versions. This suggests that the Xeon W-2170B extracts more performance per core, likely due to its higher operating frequencies, and that advantage is sufficient to overcome the two-core deficit in these specific tests.

The EPYC 7351's strongest showing relative to the Intel part is in the multi-core tests where it comes closest, but even there it loses by nearly 5%. In absolute terms, the AMD chip is not a poor performer: its average benchmark score of 5710 places it in the same 61st percentile as the Intel part. But in a direct head-to-head, the Intel Xeon W-2170B is the winner in every recorded category.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2170B averages 5985, while the AMD EPYC 7351 averages 5710. That puts the Intel part ahead by 275 points, or roughly 4.8%.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7351 win in any Cinebench test?

A: No. The database records six head-to-head Cinebench tests, and the Intel Xeon W-2170B wins all six. The AMD EPYC 7351 has zero wins in this comparison.

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

A: The Intel Xeon W-2170B leads in all single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 it scores 294 versus 280, a 5% lead. In R20 it scores 1226 versus 1170, and in R23 it scores 2921 versus 2787, both 4.8% leads.

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

A: The Intel Xeon W-2170B leads by 4.8% in all three multi-core tests. The scores are 2085 versus 1989 in R15, 8691 versus 8291 in R20, and 20693 versus 19742 in R23.

Q: How does each CPU compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2170B is 1.1% above the Core i9-9920X and 1.2% above the EPYC 7451, but 2.3% below the EPYC 7501 and 2.6% below the Core i9-7940X. The AMD EPYC 7351 is 0.1% above the EPYC 7F32 and 0.7% above the Core i9-7920X, but 0.4% below the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X and 1% below the Xeon W-2175.

Q: Do the two processors occupy the same performance percentile?

A: Yes. Both the Intel Xeon W-2170B and the AMD EPYC 7351 are recorded at the 61st percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ: the Intel Xeon W-2170B has 14 cores and 28 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7351 has 16 cores and 32 threads. The AMD part provides two additional physical cores and four additional threads.

Clock speeds also differ significantly. The Intel processor has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The AMD processor has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. The Intel part's boost clock is 1.40 GHz higher, which explains its single-core performance advantage.

Thermal design power differs as well. The Intel Xeon W-2170B is rated at 140 W TDP, while the AMD EPYC 7351 is rated at 170 W TDP. Despite the AMD part consuming more power, it fails to outperform the Intel chip in any recorded benchmark.

Memory channels and bandwidth are another point of divergence. The Intel part uses a quad-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth, while the AMD part uses an eight-channel bus with 170.6 GB/s. The AMD EPYC 7351 offers double the memory bandwidth on paper, but this does not translate into a benchmark win in the Cinebench suite.

The socket and platform differ entirely: the Intel Xeon W-2170B uses Intel Socket 2066, while the AMD EPYC 7351 uses AMD Socket SP3. PCIe support also differs, with the Intel part listed as Gen 3 with 48 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD part is listed simply as Gen 3 without a lane count in this database record.

The multiplier unlock status differs: the Intel part is locked, while the AMD EPYC 7351 is multiplier-unlocked. The production status also differs, with the Intel part marked as end-of-life and the AMD part marked as active.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The Intel Xeon W-2170B uses the Skylake architecture, specifically Skylake-W, built on Intel's 14 nm process with a die size of 484 mm². The AMD EPYC 7351 uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Naples, built on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process with a die size of 213 mm². The AMD part integrates 4,800 million transistors, while the database does not list a transistor count for the Intel part.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Intel Xeon W-2170B has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD EPYC 7351 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a much larger 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part's L3 cache is over three times larger, a characteristic of the Zen architecture's design, but the benchmark data shows this does not overcome the Intel part's clock speed advantage in these tests.

Both processors support DDR4 memory and both have ECC memory support. The AMD part's eight-channel memory controller provides 170.6 GB/s of bandwidth, compared to the Intel part's quad-channel 85.3 GB/s. This is a significant architectural difference, as the EPYC platform was designed for high-memory-bandwidth server workloads.

The release dates differ by roughly six months. The AMD EPYC 7351 was released on 2017-06-28, while the Intel Xeon W-2170B followed on 2017-12-20. Both are 14 nm parts from their respective foundries, but the AMD chip uses a multi-die design with a smaller die size per package, while the Intel chip uses a larger monolithic die.

The Verdict

The recorded data directs a clear conclusion: the Intel Xeon W-2170B outperforms the AMD EPYC 7351 in every benchmark test in the database. If your priority is raw Cinebench rendering performance, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, the Intel part is the stronger choice. The 4.8% multi-core advantage and the 5% single-core advantage in R15 are consistent and repeatable across all three Cinebench versions.

The AMD EPYC 7351 does offer more cores and threads, and its memory subsystem provides substantially higher theoretical bandwidth at 170.6 GB/s versus 85.3 GB/s. It also has a much larger L3 cache at 64 MB versus 19.25 MB. For workloads that are heavily memory-bandwidth dependent or that scale with core count beyond what Cinebench measures, the AMD part may hold advantages that this benchmark suite does not capture. The database does not include such tests, so those potential benefits remain unverified in this comparison.

The AMD part is also the more current product, listed as active production while the Intel part is end-of-life, and it offers an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. However, the benchmark data shows that the Intel part achieves higher scores despite its locked multiplier and older production status.

For a builder choosing between these two specific processors based on the available data, the Intel Xeon W-2170B is the pick for Cinebench-class rendering workloads. The AMD EPYC 7351 remains a relevant option if its 16 cores, larger cache, higher memory bandwidth, or active production status matter more than the recorded performance deltas. Both parts sit at the 61st percentile overall, but in this direct matchup, the Intel processor wins every test.