AMD EPYC 7402 vs Intel Core i3-12100 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall benchmark standing?

A: The AMD EPYC 7402 sits at the 66th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel Core i3-12100 sits at the 67th percentile. Despite the Intel part having a higher average benchmark score of 12054 compared to the EPYC's 11312, the EPYC's nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 73F3 (avg score 11334, delta 0.2% behind), while the Core i3-12100's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon Gold 6314U (avg score 12026, delta 0.2% behind).

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench multi-core tests?

A: The AMD EPYC 7402 wins all three Cinebench multi-core tests by a wide margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 3942 against the Core i3-12100's 1070, a 268.4% advantage. In R20 multi-core, the EPYC scores 16426 versus 4461 (268.2% ahead), and in R23 multi-core, it scores 39110 versus 10623 (268.2% ahead).

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-12100 win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data shows 6 wins for the AMD EPYC 7402 and 0 wins for the Intel Core i3-12100. The Intel processor does have additional benchmark entries in the database (3DMark, Geekbench, PassMark) that are not part of the direct head-to-head comparison set.

Q: What is the difference in single-core Cinebench performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7402 leads in every single-core Cinebench test. In R15 single-core, it scores 556 versus 150 for the Intel (270.7% ahead). In R20 single-core, the EPYC scores 2318 versus 629 (268.5% ahead), and in R23 single-core, it scores 5521 versus 1499 (268.3% ahead).

Q: What are the physical specifications of each processor?

A: The AMD EPYC 7402 uses a 7 nm process from TSMC with 15,200 million transistors and a die size of 4x 74 mm². The Intel Core i3-12100 uses Intel's 10 nm process with a 163 mm² die size. The EPYC has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Core i3 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What memory and expansion capabilities differ between the two?

A: The AMD EPYC 7402 supports DDR4 memory across an eight-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. The Intel Core i3-12100 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus, with no ECC support and no recorded memory bandwidth figure. The EPYC provides PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes, while the Core i3 provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

The Verdict

The data points to two entirely different deployment scenarios. The AMD EPYC 7402 is the clear choice for multi-threaded server and workstation workloads, as evidenced by its 268% to 271% advantage across all six direct Cinebench comparisons. Its 24 cores and 48 threads, combined with 128 MB of total L3 cache and eight-channel DDR4 memory support, make it a processor built for sustained parallel computation.

The Intel Core i3-12100, despite its lower core count and smaller die, achieves a higher average benchmark score (12054) and a slightly higher percentile ranking (67th versus 66th). This suggests that for workloads that leverage fewer threads, the Core i3-12100 delivers competitive per-thread performance, reinforced by its higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz and its support for DDR5 memory. Its integrated UHD Graphics 730 also makes it a self-contained desktop solution, whereas the EPYC 7402 has no integrated graphics.

Users with heavily threaded workloads, such as database servers, virtualization hosts, or compilation farms, should choose the AMD EPYC 7402. Users building a desktop system where single-thread responsiveness and lower power draw matter should choose the Intel Core i3-12100, which has a 60 W TDP against the EPYC's 180 W. The Intel part also supports both DDR4 and DDR5, giving platform flexibility that the EPYC's DDR4-only memory controller cannot match.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six direct comparisons all favor the AMD EPYC 7402, and the margins are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 3942 against 1070 for the Core i3-12100, a 268.4% lead. The R15 single-core test shows a similar pattern: 556 versus 150, a 270.7% advantage for the EPYC. These percentages indicate that the EPYC's advantage is not merely a function of core count, but reflects a strong per-core performance profile in this workload.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the EPYC scores 16426 in multi-core versus 4461 for the Intel, a 268.2% lead. In single-core R20, the EPYC scores 2318 against 629, a 268.5% advantage. The R23 results continue the trend: 39110 versus 10623 in multi-core (268.2% ahead) and 5521 versus 1499 in single-core (268.3% ahead).

The consistency of these deltas, ranging from 268.2% to 270.7%, suggests that the EPYC 7402 delivers a uniform performance advantage across different Cinebench versions and threading levels. The Intel Core i3-12100 does have additional benchmark data in the database, including a Geekbench single-core score of 1962 and a PassMark single-thread score of 3173, but these are not part of the direct head-to-head set.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The AMD EPYC 7402 has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Intel Core i3-12100 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ: 2.80 GHz for the EPYC versus 3.30 GHz for the Intel. Boost clocks are 3.35 GHz for the EPYC and 4.30 GHz for the Intel. The EPYC has a 180 W TDP, the Core i3 has a 60 W TDP.

Sockets are incompatible: the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3, while the Core i3 uses Intel Socket 1700. Memory support diverges sharply: the EPYC supports DDR4 on an eight-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core i3 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with no recorded bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported on the EPYC but not on the Core i3.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation and lane count: the EPYC offers PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes, while the Core i3 offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The EPYC has no integrated graphics; the Core i3 includes UHD Graphics 730. The EPYC's launch MSRP is $1783, while the Core i3's launch MSRP is $122. Both processors have locked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7402 is built on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome, representing the EPYC 7002 series. It uses a 7 nm process from TSMC with 15,200 million transistors and a die size of 4x 74 mm². Its cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 per die, totaling 128 MB of L3 cache.

The Intel Core i3-12100 uses the Alder Lake architecture, codenamed Alder Lake-S, from the Core 12th Gen series. It is manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 163 mm². Its cache configuration is 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

The EPYC's multi-die design, with four separate dies each containing 32 MB of L3, explains its massive 128 MB total L3 cache. The Core i3's single-die design with 12 MB of shared L3 is far smaller but serves only 4 cores. The EPYC's transistor count of 15,200 million reflects its server-class complexity, while the Core i3's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

The release dates also differ significantly: the EPYC 7402 launched on 2019-08-06, while the Core i3-12100 launched on 2022-01-03. Both are listed as active production parts. The EPYC's eight-channel memory architecture and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes position it for multi-socket server platforms, while the Core i3's dual-channel memory and 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes target mainstream desktop platforms.