AMD EPYC 7351 vs Intel Xeon W-2175 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unusually clear picture: the Intel Xeon W-2175 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons against the AMD EPYC 7351, with margins ranging from 1.0% to 1.1%. The average benchmark score confirms the narrow gap — Intel sits at 5770, AMD at 5710, a 1.1% difference. Both processors share the same 61st percentile ranking among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier.

For workloads dominated by Cinebench-style rendering, the Intel Xeon W-2175 is the data-backed choice. Its wins are consistent across every test generation, from R15 through R23, and across both multicore and singlecore workloads. The margins are small but uniform, suggesting a genuine architectural edge rather than test-specific noise.

The AMD EPYC 7351, despite having more cores (16 vs 14) and more threads (32 vs 28), cannot translate that hardware advantage into a benchmark victory. Its 170W TDP is also higher than Intel's 140W, meaning the EPYC consumes more power while delivering slightly lower scores. However, the EPYC 7351 counters with an eight-channel memory bus that doubles the theoretical bandwidth (170.6 GB/s vs 85.3 GB/s), a factor that Cinebench does not heavily stress but that could matter in memory-sensitive server workloads.

The verdict splits by use case: for pure compute throughput as measured by Cinebench, the Intel Xeon W-2175 wins every test. For memory-bandwidth-hungry applications or systems requiring an active production processor with an unlocked multiplier, the EPYC 7351 offers structural advantages. The Intel part is end-of-life; the AMD part remains active. Neither processor dominates the other absolutely, but the benchmark data leans consistently toward Intel.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon W-2175 uses the Skylake-W architecture on a 14nm process fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 484 mm². The AMD EPYC 7351 uses the Zen (Naples) architecture, also on 14nm, but fabricated by GlobalFoundries with a substantially smaller die at 213 mm² and 4,800 million transistors.

Core configuration differs meaningfully. The Intel chip packs 14 cores and 28 threads, while the AMD chip offers 16 cores and 32 threads. Despite having fewer cores, Intel achieves higher clock speeds: a 2.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost versus AMD's 2.40 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. The boost clock gap is particularly large — 4.30 GHz versus 2.90 GHz — which explains how Intel compensates for its core deficit in single-threaded tests.

Cache hierarchies diverge completely. Intel uses a per-core design: 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 19.25 MB shared L3. AMD uses a different distribution: 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a much larger 64 MB shared L3. The AMD L3 cache is more than three times larger, which typically benefits workloads with large working sets.

Memory architecture presents the starkest contrast. Intel supports DDR4 with a quad-channel bus and 85.3 GB/s bandwidth. AMD also supports DDR4 but with an eight-channel bus and exactly double the bandwidth at 170.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs as well: Intel provides Gen 3 with 48 lanes (CPU only), while the EPYC 7351 lists Gen 3 without a lane count in the data.

The socket and platform are entirely different: Intel uses Socket 2066, AMD uses Socket SP3. The Intel part is marked end-of-life, while the EPYC 7351 remains active production. The EPYC also has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not. The Intel launch MSRP is $1947; no launch MSRP exists for the AMD part in the data.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head data shows a 6-0 sweep for the Intel Xeon W-2175. Every Cinebench test — R15, R20, and R23, in both multicore and singlecore variants — goes to Intel. The largest margin is 1.1%, appearing in four tests: R15 multicore, R15 singlecore, R20 multicore, and R23 multicore. Two tests show a 1.0% margin: R20 singlecore and R23 singlecore.

The Intel wins are consistent but modest. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the score is 2010 versus 1989. In R20 multicore, it is 8379 versus 8291. In R23 multicore, it is 19951 versus 19742. The singlecore results follow the same pattern: 283 vs 280 (R15), 1182 vs 1170 (R20), and 2816 vs 2787 (R23).

The AMD EPYC 7351 wins no benchmark tests in this dataset. However, the data suggests areas where it could prove superior outside these specific tests. The eight-channel memory bus with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth is a structural advantage for memory-bound workloads. The 64 MB shared L3 cache could benefit database or virtualization workloads with large cached datasets. The unlocked multiplier offers overclocking flexibility that the Intel part lacks.

The production status matters for system builders: the EPYC 7351 is active and available, while the Xeon W-2175 is end-of-life. For new deployments requiring long-term supply, the AMD part has a practical edge that no benchmark captures.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2175 has an average benchmark score of 5770, compared to 5710 for the AMD EPYC 7351, a difference of 60 points or approximately 1.1%.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7351 ever beat the Intel Xeon W-2175 in any Cinebench test?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows Intel winning all six tests, with margins between 1.0% and 1.1%. The AMD processor has zero wins in the dataset.

Q: How do the core counts compare, and does it matter in the results?

A: The AMD EPYC 7351 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Xeon W-2175 has 14 cores and 28 threads. Despite having fewer cores, Intel wins all multicore tests, likely due to its higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz versus 2.90 GHz.

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

A: The AMD EPYC 7351 provides 170.6 GB/s via an eight-channel memory bus, which is exactly double the 85.3 GB/s available from the Intel Xeon W-2175's quad-channel bus.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Intel Xeon W-2175 is marked end-of-life, while the AMD EPYC 7351 is listed as active production.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 7351 has 64 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 19.25 MB shared on the Intel Xeon W-2175. The AMD cache is over three times larger.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R23 multicore test delivers the largest absolute score gap. The Intel Xeon W-2175 scores 19951 against 19742 for the AMD EPYC 7351, a 1.1% delta. This result is notable because the AMD chip has two additional cores and four additional threads. The Intel advantage of 209 points in this test represents the widest numeric margin across all benchmarks.

The Cinebench R20 multicore test shows 8379 for Intel versus 8291 for AMD, again a 1.1% difference. The 88-point gap is proportionally identical to the R23 result, suggesting consistent scaling behavior between the two architectures across benchmark generations.

Singlecore results mirror the multicore pattern. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, Intel scores 2816 against 2787, a 1.0% delta. The R20 singlecore test shows 1182 versus 1170, also a 1.0% delta. These margins are slightly smaller than the multicore margins, implying Intel's single-core advantage is marginally less pronounced than its multi-core edge.

The R15 tests complete the sweep. Multicore: 2010 versus 1989 (1.1%). Singlecore: 283 versus 280 (1.1%). The consistency across all six tests — every margin falling between 1.0% and 1.1% — indicates a stable, systemic performance advantage for the Intel architecture rather than a test-specific anomaly.

Examining the nearest rivals provides additional context. The Intel Xeon W-2175 sits within 0.8% of the AMD EPYC 7401P (5814 average) and 0.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X (5730). The AMD EPYC 7351 is within 0.1% of the AMD EPYC 7F32 (5703) and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i9-7920X (5673). Both processors occupy the same competitive neighborhood, with the Intel part slightly ahead of its direct rival.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every measurable specification. Core count: Intel 14, AMD 16. Thread count: Intel 28, AMD 32. Base clock: Intel 2.50 GHz, AMD 2.40 GHz. Boost clock: Intel 4.30 GHz, AMD 2.90 GHz. TDP: Intel 140W, AMD 170W.

Socket and platform are completely distinct: Intel Socket 2066 versus AMD Socket SP3. The architecture names differ — Skylake-W versus Zen (Naples) — though both use a 14nm process node. The foundry differs: Intel fabricates its own chip, while GlobalFoundries fabricates the AMD part.

Cache organization varies at every level. L1: 64 KB per core (Intel) versus 96 KB per core (AMD). L2: 1 MB per core (Intel) versus 512 KB per core (AMD). L3: 19.25 MB shared (Intel) versus 64 MB shared (AMD). The transistor count and die size differ dramatically: 4,800 million transistors and 213 mm² for AMD, while the Intel die is 484 mm² with no transistor count listed.

Memory bus width doubles: quad-channel for Intel, eight-channel for AMD. Memory bandwidth doubles accordingly: 85.3 GB/s versus 170.6 GB/s. Both support DDR4 with ECC. PCIe generation is the same (Gen 3), but Intel specifies 48 lanes (CPU only) while AMD lists no lane count.

Production status separates the pair: Intel is end-of-life, AMD is active. The Intel launch MSRP is $1947; no launch MSRP is recorded for AMD. The multiplier is locked on Intel, unlocked on AMD. Release dates differ by roughly four months: Intel came later (October 2017) versus AMD (June 2017). The part numbers are SR3W2 for Intel and PS7351BEVGPAF for AMD.