AMD EPYC 7351P vs Intel Core i7-12700T Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12700T and AMD EPYC 7351P present a fascinating contrast, as benchmark data reveals a near-total split based on workload type. In Cinebench rendering tests, the EPYC 7351P dominates decisively, while the i7-12700T achieves overwhelming victories in Geekbench. The average benchmark scores are remarkably close—5,606 for Intel versus 5,469 for AMD—placing both in the 61st percentile of all CPUs, yet the underlying performance profiles could not be more different.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD EPYC 7351P wins six of the eight head-to-head comparisons, and it does so with striking consistency. Across all four Cinebench iterations, the EPYC holds a virtually identical advantage of 18.6% to 18.7% over the Intel chip. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the EPYC scores 22,135 against Intel's 18,012, a delta of -18.6%. The single-core R23 result shows the same pattern: EPYC at 3,125 versus Intel at 2,542, a -18.7% gap. This uniformity extends to Cinebench R20, where the EPYC posts 9,296 multicore and 1,312 single-core, versus Intel's 7,565 and 1,067. Even in the older R15 test, the EPYC's 2,231 multicore and 314 single-core beat Intel's 1,815 and 256 by 18.6% and 18.5%, respectively.

The Intel Core i7-12700T's wins are fewer but far more dramatic. In Geekbench multicore, the i7 scores 11,502 against the EPYC's 4,607, a delta of 149.7% in Intel's favor. The Geekbench single-core result is even more lopsided: Intel at 2,089 versus AMD at 733, a 185% advantage. These are not marginal differences; the Intel chip more than doubles the EPYC's Geekbench scores.

This bifurcation is unusual. The Cinebench results suggest the EPYC is consistently faster in rendering workloads by roughly a fifth, regardless of thread count or test version. The Geekbench results, meanwhile, indicate the i7-12700T has a completely different performance character—one that excels in tasks measured by that suite. The data does not show a gradual scaling from one benchmark to another; it shows two processors optimized for entirely different computational priorities.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7351P is the clear choice for Cinebench-style rendering. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with a 64 MB shared L3 cache, deliver a 18.6% to 18.7% advantage across R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multicore. The consistency of this margin is notable: whether the workload is short (R15) or extended (R23), the EPYC maintains the same proportional lead. This suggests a fundamental architectural efficiency in the Zen design for these rendering tasks, not a workload-specific quirk.

The Intel Core i7-12700T wins decisively in Geekbench, where its scores are 149.7% higher in multicore and 185% higher in single-core. This is not a close contest; the i7's Alder Lake architecture, with its 12 cores, 20 threads, and 25 MB shared L3 cache, appears far better suited to the Geekbench workload mix. The i7 also benefits from a much higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus the EPYC's 2.90 GHz, which likely contributes to its single-core dominance. Additionally, the i7 includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, whereas the EPYC has no integrated graphics, making the Intel part viable for systems without a discrete GPU.

The EPYC's strengths extend to memory bandwidth and capacity. It supports eight-channel DDR4 with a rated bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, compared to the i7's dual-channel memory bus. For memory-intensive server or workstation tasks, this eight-channel configuration gives the EPYC a structural advantage that does not appear directly in these CPU benchmarks but would matter in real-world data-heavy workloads. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, while the i7 does not, an important feature for error-sensitive computing environments.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward conclusion: choose the AMD EPYC 7351P for rendering and server-class workloads, and choose the Intel Core i7-12700T for Geekbench-style general computing. The EPYC's six benchmark wins, all in Cinebench, establish it as the superior renderer. The i7's two wins, both in Geekbench, establish it as the superior performer in that suite. There is no ambiguity in the head-to-head results—no test shows a near tie or a mixed outcome.

The average benchmark scores are close (5,606 for Intel, 5,469 for AMD), but this aggregate masks the extreme divergence. The i7's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 at 5,610 (-0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i9-11900KB at 5,587 (0.3% delta). The EPYC's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W-1290P at 5,443 (0.5% delta) and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 at 5,425 (0.8% delta). These rivalries show both chips are competitive with similar-tier hardware, but the head-to-head data reveals which workloads each one dominates.

For a user prioritizing Cinebench performance, the EPYC is the only rational pick. For a user prioritizing Geekbench performance, the i7 is the only rational pick. The 35W TDP of the i7 versus the 170W TDP of the EPYC also suggests vastly different power envelopes, though the data does not include wattage figures beyond these TDP values. The i7's lower TDP makes it suitable for compact or power-sensitive builds, while the EPYC's higher TDP aligns with server environments where power is less constrained.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700T has an average benchmark score of 5,606, while the AMD EPYC 7351P has an average of 5,469. Both are in the 61st percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How much faster is the AMD EPYC 7351P in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The EPYC scores 22,135 versus Intel's 18,012, a delta of -18.6% in favor of AMD. The same 18.6% margin appears in Cinebench R20 multicore (9,296 vs. 7,565).

Q: What is the Geekbench single-core score difference?

A: The Intel i7-12700T scores 2,089, while the EPYC scores 733. This gives Intel a 185% advantage in Geekbench single-core.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel i7-12700T has 12 cores and 20 threads. The AMD EPYC 7351P has 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD EPYC 7351P supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-12700T does not.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel i7-12700T boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 7351P boosts to 2.90 GHz. The EPYC has a higher base clock at 2.40 GHz versus Intel's 1.40 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-12700T is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry, with a die size of 215 mm². It uses the Alder Lake architecture (codenamed Alder Lake-S) and fits the Intel Socket 1700. The AMD EPYC 7351P uses a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 213 mm² and 4,800 million transistors. It employs the Zen architecture (codenamed Naples) on the AMD Socket SP3.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i7-12700T has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 25 MB of shared L3 cache. The EPYC 7351P has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a much larger 64 MB of shared L3 cache. This larger L3 cache likely contributes to the EPYC's Cinebench dominance, while the per-core L1 advantage may help in other workloads.

Memory support is another major differentiator. The i7 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel memory bus, with no ECC support. The EPYC supports DDR4 over an eight-channel memory bus, with a rated bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s and full ECC support. The EPYC's eight-channel architecture is designed for server memory throughput, while the i7's dual-channel setup is typical for desktop platforms.

PCIe capabilities also diverge. The i7 offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the EPYC offers PCIe Gen 3. The i7 includes integrated UHD Graphics 770; the EPYC has no integrated graphics. The i7 has a launch MSRP of $339 and a 35W TDP, whereas the EPYC has no listed launch MSRP and a 170W TDP. The EPYC was released in 2017, while the i7's release date is not listed. The EPYC has an unlocked multiplier, while the i7's multiplier is locked. Both are listed as Active in production status, with the i7 targeting the desktop market and the EPYC targeting server/workstation use.