AMD EPYC 7351P vs Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a sharply split picture between these two server processors. The AMD EPYC 7351P wins six of the eight head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 takes the remaining two. The most striking pattern is consistency: in every Cinebench test, the AMD part leads by almost exactly 24.2%. The Cinebench R15 multicore result shows AMD at 2231 against Intel's 1796, a 24.2% advantage. Single-core R15 follows the same shape, 314 versus 253, again a 24.1% gap. The Cinebench R20 and R23 suites repeat this theme, with multicore scores of 9296 versus 7486 and 22135 versus 17826 respectively, each carrying the same 24.2% delta. Single-core R20 and R23 show 1312 versus 1056 and 3125 versus 2516, both at 24.2%. This uniform margin across all six Cinebench workloads indicates a fundamental per-thread efficiency advantage for the AMD architecture, not a scaling quirk.

The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 counters decisively in Geekbench. The multicore result is 10118 for Intel versus 4607 for AMD, a 54.5% swing in Intel's favor. The single-core Geekbench test also favors Intel, 1020 versus 733, a 28.1% margin. These are large, unambiguous wins. The contradiction between Cinebench and Geekbench is not a measurement error; it reflects different workload characteristics. Cinebench is highly sensitive to memory latency and per-core instruction efficiency, while Geekbench's suite includes broader integer and floating-point patterns that appear to favor the Intel design. The database shows a 6-to-2 win count, but the magnitude of Intel's Geekbench victories means the average benchmark score remains close: AMD's average is 5469, Intel's is 5259.

Looking at nearest rivals, the AMD EPYC 7351P sits 0.5% above the Intel Xeon W-1290P and 0.8% above the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 in average score. It trails the Intel Core i9-10900X by 1.5% and the Intel Celeron G6900 by 1.7%. For the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4, the nearest rivals are much tighter: it is 0.1% above the Intel Core i5-14401E, 0.4% above the Intel Core i7-11700B, and 0.4% above the Intel Core i9-10850K. It sits 0.8% below the Intel Core i9-9900X. The percentile ranking is nearly identical, with AMD at the 61st percentile and Intel at the 60th percentile of all CPUs. These figures suggest that in overall aggregate performance, neither processor has a commanding lead; their strengths simply manifest in different benchmark families.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design generations and physical layouts. The AMD EPYC 7351P is built on the Zen architecture, codenamed Naples, using a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It contains 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 uses the Broadwell architecture, codenamed Broadwell-EP, also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by Intel. It has 22 cores and 44 threads, with the same 2.40 GHz base clock but a higher 3.60 GHz boost clock. The Intel part's higher boost clock helps explain its Geekbench single-core win, despite the AMD chip's superior Cinebench single-core numbers.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. AMD allocates 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 64 MB L3 cache. Intel provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 55 MB L3 cache. The AMD chip has more total cache and a larger L3, which likely contributes to its Cinebench dominance. Transistor counts and die sizes also diverge: AMD packs 4,800 million transistors into a 213 mm² die, while Intel uses 7,200 million transistors across a 456 mm² die. The Intel die is more than twice the physical size, reflecting the older Broadwell layout.

Memory architecture is another major split. The AMD EPYC 7351P supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a peak bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s. The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 supports quad-channel DDR4 with a peak bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. That is a 2.2x bandwidth advantage for AMD, which is critical for multi-threaded rendering workloads that stream large datasets. Both processors support ECC memory, and both use PCIe Gen 3, though Intel's specification notes 40 lanes from the CPU only. AMD uses the Socket SP3 platform, while Intel uses Socket 2011-3. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is locked. Production status also differs: AMD lists the EPYC 7351P as active, while Intel marks the Xeon E5-2699A v4 as end-of-life. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $4938, while the AMD part has no launch MSRP recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The data supports a clear use-case split. For heavily threaded, compute-bound workloads that stress cache and memory bandwidth, the AMD EPYC 7351P is the stronger choice. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 22135 versus 17826 represents a 24.2% advantage, and that margin holds across all Cinebench versions. Rendering, simulation, and other workloads that follow similar access patterns should see a consistent lead. The eight-channel memory bus at 170.6 GB/s gives AMD a theoretical bandwidth edge that aligns with its Cinebench performance. The 64 MB shared L3 cache also helps keep working sets resident, reducing main-memory pressure.

The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 wins in Geekbench, both single-core and multicore. The single-core margin of 28.1% and multicore margin of 54.5% are substantial. This suggests that workloads which resemble Geekbench's mixed integer and floating-point operations, database transactions, certain scientific codes, or general-purpose server tasks may run faster on Intel. The higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz versus 2.90 GHz, combined with the older but mature Broadwell core design, appears to deliver an advantage in latency-sensitive or branch-heavy code. The 44 threads versus 32 threads also help in thread-scalable tasks that are not cache-bound.

The average benchmark score, however, tells a more nuanced story. AMD's 5469 average is only 4% higher than Intel's 5259. The percentile ranks are separated by just one point, 61 versus 60. This indicates that for a balanced mix of workloads, the two processors perform at a similar level. The choice between them depends on the specific application profile. A server running predominantly Cinebench-like rendering tasks will favor AMD. A server running Geekbench-like general-purpose workloads will favor Intel. The database also shows that both processors have nearest rivals with near-identical average scores, meaning neither part is an outlier in its performance class.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to the AMD EPYC 7351P as the better choice for sustained multi-threaded rendering and cache-heavy compute. It wins every Cinebench test by 24.2%, has a larger L3 cache, and offers more than double the memory bandwidth. The eight-channel memory subsystem and 64 MB shared cache are structural advantages that directly explain the Cinebench results. For users running rendering engines, video encoding, or scientific simulations that mirror Cinebench's memory access patterns, the AMD part delivers a consistent, measurable lead.

The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 is the better choice for Geekbench-style workloads and for applications that benefit from higher boost clocks. Its 3.60 GHz boost clock and 44 threads give it a raw throughput advantage in the Geekbench suite, where it wins multicore by 54.5% and single-core by 28.1%. The Intel part also has a higher transistor count and a larger die, which may indicate different optimization priorities. Its end-of-life production status, however, is a practical consideration for new deployments.

The aggregate data shows no overwhelming winner. The average benchmark scores are close, and the percentiles are nearly identical. The AMD EPYC 7351P is the safer bet for new server builds focused on rendering and compute throughput, given its active production status and consistent Cinebench wins. The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 remains viable for existing Socket 2011-3 platforms or for workloads where Geekbench performance is the primary metric. The data does not support a universal recommendation; it supports a workload-specific one.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD EPYC 7351P scores 22135, while the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 scores 17826. The AMD part leads by 24.2%.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins both Geekbench tests. The multicore score is 10118 versus 4607, a 54.5% advantage, and the single-core score is 1020 versus 733, a 28.1% advantage.

Q: How do the memory bandwidths compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7351P supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 supports quad-channel DDR4 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD EPYC 7351P has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 has 22 cores and 44 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each part?

A: The AMD EPYC 7351P has an average benchmark score of 5469, and the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 has an average of 5259. AMD sits at the 61st percentile, Intel at the 60th.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 7351P has a shared 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 has a shared 55 MB L3 cache.