AMD EPYC 7371 vs Intel Core i9-9990XE Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7371 and Intel Core i9-9990XE are two very different processors that land in the same performance neighborhood, making their comparison more about platform and workload fit than raw speed. Both CPUs sit at the 63rd percentile of all CPUs, yet the EPYC 7371 edges out the i9-9990XE in every single benchmark recorded. The data shows a consistent, if narrow, victory for AMD across all six Cinebench tests, with the i9-9990XE never managing to take a single win.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably one-sided, with the AMD EPYC 7371 winning all six head-to-head comparisons. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the EPYC 7371 scores 372 against the i9-9990XE’s 364, a 2.2% advantage. This is notable because single-core performance is typically where Intel’s higher clock speeds would be expected to dominate, yet the data shows AMD taking the lead here.

In multi-core workloads, the pattern holds. The EPYC 7371 scores 2637 in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 2584 for the i9-9990XE, a 2.1% delta. The same 2.1% advantage appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, with scores of 10988 and 10767 respectively. Moving to Cinebench R23, the EPYC 7371 posts 26164 against the i9-9990XE’s 25637, again a 2.1% gap. Single-core results in R20 and R23 mirror this, with the EPYC 7371 leading 1551 to 1519 (2.1%) and 3693 to 3619 (2%), respectively.

The consistency is striking. Every single benchmark result favors the AMD part, but the margins are tight enough that they could be considered within run-to-run variance. However, six straight wins with deltas between 2.0% and 2.2% suggests a real, if modest, performance advantage for the EPYC 7371. The i9-9990XE’s higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus the EPYC’s 3.80 GHz does not translate into a single benchmark victory, which is a significant finding for anyone considering the Intel part for its clock speed advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD EPYC 7371 has an average benchmark score of 7568, while the Intel Core i9-9990XE scores 7415. This places the EPYC 7371 slightly ahead in overall performance, though both are in the 63rd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How does the EPYC 7371 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The EPYC 7371’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-6500, which has an average score of 7569, a delta of 0%. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX trails by 0.1% with a score of 7578, while the Intel Core i5-4590 is 0.5% behind at 7609. The Intel Core i5-7400 is 1.3% ahead of the EPYC 7371 with a score of 7469.

Q: What is the i9-9990XE’s closest competitor?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570 is the nearest rival with an average score of 7421, a delta of -0.1% relative to the i9-9990XE. The AMD EPYC 7282 scores 7409, just 0.1% behind, and the Intel Core i9-9980XE scores 7398, 0.2% behind. The Intel Core i5-7400 is 0.7% ahead with a score of 7469.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7371 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i9-9990XE has 14 cores and 28 threads. This gives the AMD part a 2-core and 4-thread advantage.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the i9-9990XE?

A: The Intel Core i9-9990XE has a launch MSRP of $2800. The AMD EPYC 7371 has no listed launch MSRP.

Q: Does the i9-9990XE support ECC memory?

A: No, the Intel Core i9-9990XE does not support ECC memory. The AMD EPYC 7371 does support ECC memory.

The Verdict

The benchmark data makes a clear case for the AMD EPYC 7371. It wins every single head-to-head comparison, from single-core to multi-core, across all three Cinebench versions tested. The margins are narrow, ranging from 2.0% to 2.2%, but they are consistent and unambiguous. For any workload that relies on Cinebench-style rendering, the EPYC 7371 is the better performer.

The i9-9990XE is not without its merits. It offers a much higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus the EPYC’s 3.80 GHz, and its base clock of 4.00 GHz is significantly higher than the EPYC’s 3.10 GHz. However, these clock advantages do not translate into benchmark wins. The i9-9990XE’s 14 cores and 28 threads are fewer than the EPYC’s 16 cores and 32 threads, which likely explains the multi-core results. The single-core results are more puzzling for Intel, as the higher clocks should have helped, but the data shows AMD still ahead.

For users building a server or workstation, the EPYC 7371 is the obvious choice based on performance. It also supports ECC memory and has an eight-channel memory bus versus the i9-9990XE’s quad-channel setup, making it more suitable for data integrity and memory bandwidth-intensive tasks. The i9-9990XE is a desktop part marked as end-of-life, while the EPYC 7371 is still active in production. The data supports choosing the AMD part for any workload where Cinebench scores are representative.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ substantially in their specifications. The AMD EPYC 7371 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i9-9990XE has 14 cores and 28 threads. Base clocks differ significantly, with the EPYC 7371 running at 3.10 GHz and the i9-9990XE at 4.00 GHz. Boost clocks are even further apart: 3.80 GHz for the EPYC versus 5.10 GHz for the Intel part.

Thermal design power is another major split. The EPYC 7371 has a TDP of 170 watts, while the i9-9990XE is rated at 255 watts. Sockets are incompatible, with the EPYC using AMD Socket SP3 and the i9-9990XE using Intel Socket 2066. Memory support differs: the EPYC 7371 has an eight-channel memory bus with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i9-9990XE has a quad-channel bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC supports ECC memory; the i9-9990XE does not. Market segments also differ, with the EPYC being a Server/Workstation part and the i9-9990XE being a Desktop part. The EPYC’s production status is Active, while the i9-9990XE is End-of-life.

Architecture Differences

Architecturally, these are very different chips. The AMD EPYC 7371 is built on the Zen architecture with the codename Naples, part of the EPYC 7001 series. It uses a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries and contains 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. Cache layout includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. PCIe support is Gen 3, and the multiplier is unlocked.

The Intel Core i9-9990XE uses the Skylake architecture with the codename Skylake-X, part of the Core i9 Extreme X-Series 9th Gen. It also uses a 14 nm process, but from Intel’s own foundry. Transistor count and die size are not listed. Cache is smaller: 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache. PCIe support is Gen 3 with 44 lanes (CPU only), and the multiplier is unlocked. The EPYC 7371’s larger L3 cache of 64 MB versus 19.25 MB is a significant difference that likely contributes to its benchmark wins, particularly in multi-threaded workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7371 wins in every benchmark category recorded. It takes all six head-to-head comparisons, including both single-core and multi-core in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. This makes it the clear choice for any workload that is measured by these tests. Beyond raw benchmark scores, the EPYC 7371 also wins on platform features: it supports ECC memory, offers eight-channel memory bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s (double the i9-9990XE’s 85.3 GB/s), and has more cores and threads. Its 64 MB of L3 cache is over three times larger than the Intel part’s 19.25 MB.

The Intel Core i9-9990XE does not win any benchmark comparisons, but it does have advantages in other areas. Its base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 5.10 GHz are significantly higher than the EPYC’s 3.10 GHz and 3.80 GHz, which could matter for lightly-threaded workloads not represented in the Cinebench suite. It also has a lower TDP of 255 watts versus the EPYC’s 170 watts, which is counterintuitive but factual. The i9-9990XE is a desktop part with a quad-channel memory bus, which may be simpler to integrate into a consumer build. However, with zero benchmark wins and an end-of-life production status, the data strongly favors the EPYC 7371 for any performance-oriented purchase decision. The i9-9990XE’s higher clocks did not yield any single-core victories, suggesting that the EPYC’s architecture is more efficient per clock in these tests. For users prioritizing Cinebench performance, ECC memory support, or memory bandwidth, the AMD EPYC 7371 is the definitive choice.