AMD EPYC 7401P vs Intel Xeon W-2170B Comparison

Intel Xeon W-2170B and AMD EPYC 7401P are both 14nm server/workstation processors from 2017, but they target different extremes of the compute spectrum. The Intel chip is a high-frequency 14-core part built for lightly-threaded responsiveness, while the AMD EPYC is a 24-core dense-compute monster with massive memory bandwidth. Benchmark data shows a decisive sweep: the EPYC 7401P wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with margins locked at exactly 12.5–12.6% across every test. However, the Xeon's higher boost clock and smaller core count tell a more nuanced story in specific workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD EPYC 7401P dominates every measured Cinebench run, but the margins are remarkably uniform. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC scores 2384 against the Xeon's 2085, a 12.5% deficit for Intel. The single-core R15 test shows the same pattern: 336 for AMD versus 294 for Intel, again a 12.5% gap. This consistency repeats in Cinebench R20, where the EPYC's 9937 multicore score beats the Xeon's 8691 by 12.5%, and in single-core, where 1402 versus 1226 represents a 12.6% lead for AMD.

The trend carries into Cinebench R23, the most modern test in the set. The EPYC 7401P posts 23660 multicore, while the Xeon W-2170B manages 20693 — a 12.5% difference. Single-core R23 shows 3340 for AMD against 2921 for Intel, once again a 12.5% margin. The uniformity of these deltas suggests the EPYC's advantage is structural rather than workload-specific: it consistently delivers roughly one-eighth more performance regardless of thread count or rendering complexity.

Notably, the EPYC 7401P also has Geekbench results in its benchmark profile — 4666 multicore and 787 single-core — though the Xeon W-2170B has no corresponding Geekbench entries in the data, so no direct comparison is possible there. Across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the EPYC wins every single one, giving it a clean 6-0 sweep.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon W-2170B uses the Skylake-W architecture, built on a 14nm process at Intel's own foundry, with a die size of 484 mm². It packs 14 cores and 28 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The AMD EPYC 7401P, by contrast, uses the Zen architecture (codenamed Naples) on a 14nm process from GlobalFoundries, with a much smaller 213 mm² die. Despite the smaller die, it crams in 24 cores and 48 threads, but at significantly lower clocks: 2.00 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost.

Cache hierarchies diverge sharply. The Xeon allocates 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, plus a shared 19.25 MB L3 cache. The EPYC gives each core 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2, but compensates with a massive 64 MB shared L3. This 3.3x advantage in L3 capacity helps the AMD chip feed its extra cores without constantly hitting memory.

Memory subsystems are another major differentiator. The Xeon W-2170B runs DDR4 in a quad-channel configuration, delivering 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The EPYC 7401P doubles this with an eight-channel design, achieving 170.6 GB/s — exactly twice the bandwidth. Both support ECC memory, and both use PCIe Gen 3, though the Xeon specifies 48 CPU-only lanes while the EPYC's lane count is not listed.

Other differences: the Xeon has a 140W TDP versus the EPYC's 170W, reflecting the AMD part's higher core count. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 2066, while the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3. The Xeon's multiplier is locked; the EPYC's is unlocked. The Xeon is end-of-life, while the EPYC remains in active production. The EPYC also lists a transistor count of 4,800 million, while the Xeon's is not provided.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core rendering workloads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7401P wins every multi-core Cinebench test in the data. It leads by 12.5% in R15 (2384 vs 2085), R20 (9937 vs 8691), and R23 (23660 vs 20693).

Q: Is the Intel Xeon W-2170B faster in single-threaded tasks?

A: No. Despite its higher 4.30 GHz boost clock versus the EPYC's 3.00 GHz, the Xeon loses every single-core test by 12.5-12.6%. The EPYC scores 336 vs 294 in R15 single-core, 1402 vs 1226 in R20, and 3340 vs 2921 in R23.

Q: How do their memory bandwidth capabilities compare?

A: The EPYC 7401P has a two-fold advantage. It uses an eight-channel DDR4 bus delivering 170.6 GB/s, while the Xeon W-2170B uses quad-channel DDR4 at 85.3 GB/s.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The EPYC 7401P has 24 cores and 48 threads. The Xeon W-2170B has 14 cores and 28 threads. The EPYC also has a larger 64 MB shared L3 cache versus the Xeon's 19.25 MB.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The EPYC 7401P has a 170W TDP, which is 30W higher than the Xeon W-2170B's 140W TDP. This reflects the EPYC's additional 10 cores.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD EPYC 7401P is listed as active, while the Intel Xeon W-2170B is end-of-life. The Xeon was released on 2017-12-20, about six months after the EPYC's 2017-06-28 launch.

Specification Differences

• Cores: 14 (Intel) vs 24 (AMD)
• Threads: 28 (Intel) vs 48 (AMD)
• Base Clock: 2.50 GHz (Intel) vs 2.00 GHz (AMD)
• Boost Clock: 4.30 GHz (Intel) vs 3.00 GHz (AMD)
• TDP: 140W (Intel) vs 170W (AMD)
• Socket: Intel Socket 2066 vs AMD Socket SP3
• Architecture: Skylake vs Zen
• Codename: Skylake-W vs Naples
• Foundry: Intel vs GlobalFoundries
• Die Size: 484 mm² vs 213 mm²
• Transistors: Not listed vs 4,800 million
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core vs 96 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 1 MB per core vs 512 KB per core
• L3 Cache: 19.25 MB shared vs 64 MB shared
• Memory Bus: Quad-channel vs Eight-channel
• Memory Bandwidth: 85.3 GB/s vs 170.6 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 3, 48 lanes (CPU only) vs Gen 3 (lane count not specified)
• Production Status: End-of-life vs Active
• Multiplier: Locked vs Unlocked
• Part Number: SR3W3 vs PS740PBEVHCAF

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7401P wins every measured benchmark in this comparison, so its strengths are clear-cut. In multi-core workloads like Cinebench R23, the EPYC's 24 cores and 48 threads, combined with 64 MB of L3 cache and 170.6 GB/s of eight-channel memory bandwidth, deliver a 12.5% advantage over the Xeon. This makes it the better choice for heavily threaded rendering, scientific computing, and virtualization workloads where the extra cores and double memory bandwidth can be fully utilized. Its unlocked multiplier also offers overclocking headroom, and its active production status means ongoing availability.

The Intel Xeon W-2170B, despite losing all six benchmark tests, is not without merit. Its 4.30 GHz boost clock is 43% higher than the EPYC's 3.00 GHz, which could translate to better performance in lightly-threaded or latency-sensitive applications that are not captured by the Cinebench suite. Its lower 140W TDP means less heat output, and its smaller 14-core count may be sufficient for mid-range server workloads where the EPYC's extra cores would sit idle. The Xeon's 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only) provide dedicated I/O connectivity, and its per-core L2 cache of 1 MB is double the EPYC's allocation, which can help with certain access patterns.

The data, however, is unambiguous in aggregate. The EPYC's average benchmark score of 5814 sits close to the Xeon's 5985, but that average is pulled down by the EPYC's Geekbench scores (4666 multicore, 787 single-core), which have no Xeon counterparts. In pure Cinebench performance, the EPYC leads every single test. For users who prioritize raw multi-threaded throughput and memory bandwidth, the EPYC 7401P is the clear victor. For those who need high single-thread clocks, lower power draw, and a mature end-of-life platform, the Xeon W-2170B remains a viable but less performant option in this head-to-head.