AMD EPYC 7371 vs Intel Core i9-7980XE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data for the AMD EPYC 7371 and the Intel Core i9-7980XE covers six Cinebench workloads, and the results are remarkably consistent. The AMD EPYC 7371 wins every single test in the head-to-head comparison, with a narrow but uniform margin across both multi-core and single-core scenarios.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7371 scores 2637 against 2527 for the Core i9-7980XE, a 4.4% advantage. The single-core result in the same test shows a similar pattern: 372 versus 356, a 4.5% lead for the AMD part. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core score is 10988 for the EPYC 7371 and 10530 for the Intel chip, again a 4.3% gap. The R20 single-core test shows 1551 versus 1486, a 4.4% difference.

The most recent workload in the set, Cinebench R23, continues the trend. The EPYC 7371 posts 26164 in multi-core, while the Core i9-7980XE reaches 25072, a 4.4% margin. In R23 single-core, the scores are 3693 and 3539 respectively, another 4.4% lead. The consistency of these deltas is notable: every test lands between 4.3% and 4.5% in favor of the AMD EPYC 7371, regardless of whether the workload scales across all cores or runs on a single thread.

This uniformity suggests the advantage is not tied to a specific workload characteristic, but rather reflects a general performance edge across the Cinebench suite. The EPYC 7371 wins all six head-to-head matchups, with zero wins for the Intel Core i9-7980XE in this comparison set.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner in this matchup. The AMD EPYC 7371 outperforms the Intel Core i9-7980XE in every recorded benchmark, with margins ranging from 4.3% to 4.5%. For users choosing strictly on measured performance, the EPYC 7371 is the stronger option across both multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench workloads.

The Intel Core i9-7980XE does have a higher boost clock in the specification sheet, but the benchmark results do not reflect that advantage in practice. The EPYC 7371 achieves higher scores in single-core tests despite a lower listed boost clock, which indicates that the architectural efficiency of the Zen design compensates for the clock speed difference.

The production status also differs: the EPYC 7371 is listed as active, while the Core i9-7980XE is end-of-life. For system builders looking at long-term availability, this is a relevant consideration. The EPYC 7371 also supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not, and offers eight-channel memory support versus quad-channel on the Intel side.

The verdict from the recorded data is straightforward: the AMD EPYC 7371 is the better performer in this comparison. The Intel Core i9-7980XE does not win a single benchmark in the head-to-head set, and its only distinguishing features are a higher boost clock and a larger die size, neither of which translates into a performance win in the measured tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The AMD EPYC 7371 wins all six recorded benchmarks. The Intel Core i9-7980XE does not win any of the head-to-head tests.

Q: What is the largest performance margin between the two processors?

A: The largest margin is 4.5%, recorded in the Cinebench R15 single-core test where the EPYC 7371 scores 372 against 356 for the Core i9-7980XE.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD EPYC 7371 scores 26164 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i9-7980XE scores 25072, giving the AMD part a 4.4% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i9-7980XE have a higher boost clock than the AMD EPYC 7371?

A: Yes, the Intel part has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz compared to 3.80 GHz for the AMD EPYC 7371. Despite this, the EPYC 7371 still wins all single-core benchmark tests.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7371 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i9-7980XE does not list ECC memory support in the recorded data.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD EPYC 7371 is listed as active production, while the Intel Core i9-7980XE is listed as end-of-life.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The AMD EPYC 7371 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i9-7980XE has 18 cores and 36 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the EPYC 7371 achieves higher multi-core benchmark scores.

The base clock of the EPYC 7371 is 3.10 GHz, compared to 2.60 GHz for the Core i9-7980XE. The boost clock tells the opposite story: 3.80 GHz for the AMD part versus 4.40 GHz for the Intel part. The thermal design power is 170 watts for the EPYC 7371 and 165 watts for the Core i9-7980XE.

The socket types are entirely different. The EPYC 7371 uses AMD Socket SP3, while the Core i9-7980XE uses Intel Socket 2066. The memory bus also differs: the EPYC 7371 supports eight-channel memory with a bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, while the Core i9-7980XE supports quad-channel memory with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s.

ECC memory support is present on the EPYC 7371 but absent on the Core i9-7980XE. The market segments differ as well: the EPYC 7371 is classified as Server/Workstation, while the Core i9-7980XE is classified as Desktop. The release dates are also different, with the EPYC 7371 released on 2018-11-15 and the Core i9-7980XE released on 2017-08-31.

The Intel Core i9-7980XE has a launch MSRP of $1999. The EPYC 7371 has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is significant. The AMD EPYC 7371 is built on the Zen architecture with the codename Naples, part of the EPYC 7001 series. The Intel Core i9-7980XE uses the Skylake architecture with the codename Skylake-X, part of the Core i9 Extreme X-Series 7th Gen.

Both processors are manufactured on a 14 nm process node, but they come from different foundries. The EPYC 7371 is produced by GlobalFoundries, while the Core i9-7980XE is produced by Intel. The transistor counts differ substantially: the EPYC 7371 has 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die, while the Core i9-7980XE has no recorded transistor count but uses a much larger 484 mm² die.

The cache hierarchies are structured differently. The EPYC 7371 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with a large 64 MB shared L3 cache. The Core i9-7980XE has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with a smaller 24.75 MB shared L3 cache. The larger L3 cache on the AMD part likely contributes to its consistent performance advantage.

PCIe support is Gen 3 on both processors, but the Intel part specifies 44 lanes from the CPU only, while the AMD part does not list a lane count in the recorded data. The memory architecture is a major differentiator: the EPYC 7371 uses eight-channel DDR4 memory, while the Core i9-7980XE uses quad-channel DDR4. This gives the AMD part a theoretical memory bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, exactly double the 85.3 GB/s of the Intel part.

The EPYC 7371 supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the Core i9-7980XE. Both processors have unlocked multipliers, allowing overclocking. The EPYC 7371 is a server and workstation part, while the Core i9-7980XE is a desktop extreme edition processor.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7371 wins in every measured benchmark category. In multi-core workloads, it leads by 4.3% to 4.4% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. In single-core workloads, it leads by 4.4% to 4.5% across the same three test versions. This makes the EPYC 7371 the clear choice for any application that relies on Cinebench-style rendering performance, whether the workload is fully threaded or runs on a single core.

The EPYC 7371 also wins on platform features that matter for server and workstation deployments. It supports ECC memory, which is critical for data integrity in professional environments. Its eight-channel memory bus provides 170.6 GB/s of bandwidth, which is double the 85.3 GB/s available on the Intel part. This memory bandwidth advantage can benefit workloads that are memory-bound, even if the Cinebench scores do not fully capture that difference.

The Intel Core i9-7980XE does not win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but it does have attributes that may appeal to specific users. Its 18 cores and 36 threads exceed the 16 cores and 32 threads of the EPYC 7371, which could matter in workloads that scale with core count beyond what Cinebench measures. Its higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while not translating to a win in the recorded single-core tests, may still be relevant for lightly threaded applications that are not represented in this benchmark set.

The Core i9-7980XE is a desktop part with a launch MSRP of $1999, while the EPYC 7371 targets the server and workstation market. The Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part remains in active production. For users who prioritize long-term availability and ECC memory support, the EPYC 7371 is the safer choice. For users who need the maximum core count in a desktop form factor, the Core i9-7980XE offers two additional cores, though the recorded data shows that this does not translate into a performance win in the Cinebench suite.