AMD EPYC 7413 vs Intel Core i9-14900KS Comparison

The Intel Core i9-14900KS and the AMD EPYC 7413 are both 24-core processors, but they target fundamentally different segments of the market. The data shows a clear split: Intel dominates in nearly every benchmark, yet the AMD part wins in specific server-oriented workloads. This analysis walks through the head-to-head results, the architectural reasons behind them, and which buyer each chip serves best.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the consistency of Intel’s victories. Across all six Cinebench tests, the i9-14900KS wins by an identical margin of 18.5%. This includes both single-core and multi-core variants of Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The scores tell the story: in Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel posts 50,995 versus AMD’s 43,044. In single-core R23, Intel hits 7,199 while the EPYC manages 6,076. The uniform 18.5% delta across all Cinebench versions suggests a fundamental throughput advantage that scales with workload, not a quirk of any single test version.

The PassMark suite reveals a more nuanced picture. Intel wins the multithread test with 60,012 against AMD’s 50,641, again a 18.5% margin. But the single-thread result is where Intel truly runs away: 4,815 versus 2,400, a 100.6% advantage — Intel is more than twice as fast per thread. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison. Floating point math also favors Intel heavily, with a score of 153,975 versus 118,881, a 29.5% win. Data compression goes to Intel at 803,368 versus 715,616, a 12.3% margin, and random string sorting sees Intel ahead at 89,789 versus 81,134, a 10.7% gain.

AMD’s wins are fewer but meaningful. The largest is in the find prime numbers test, where the EPYC scores 397 against Intel’s 244 — a 38.5% advantage for AMD. Physics simulation also goes to AMD, with 4,708 versus 3,381, a 28.2% lead. The remaining three AMD victories are narrow: data encryption (48,492 vs 47,717, a 1.6% edge), integer math (215,629 vs 212,644, a 1.4% edge), and extended instructions (45,696 vs 45,524, a 0.4% edge). These are close calls, but they cluster around specific instruction patterns.

Overall, the Intel part wins 12 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with the AMD part taking 5. The average benchmark score reflects this: Intel sits at 81,127, which places it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, while AMD’s 80,041 puts it in the 95th percentile. The nearest rival data for Intel shows a cluster of chips within 0.5% of its average score, including the Intel Xeon w5-3535X and AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX. For AMD, the nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900KF at a 0.8% delta, indicating the EPYC is competitive with Intel’s mainstream flagship in aggregate.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900KS wins decisively. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4,815 versus 2,400 for the AMD EPYC 7413, a 100.6% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core confirms this, with Intel at 7,199 and AMD at 6,076, an 18.5% gap.

Q: Where does the AMD EPYC 7413 outperform the Intel chip?

A: The EPYC wins five benchmarks: find prime numbers (397 vs 244, a 38.5% lead), physics (4,708 vs 3,381, a 28.2% lead), data encryption (48,492 vs 47,717), integer math (215,629 vs 212,644), and extended instructions (45,696 vs 45,524). The last three are margin-of-error wins under 2%.

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

A: Intel leads across all Cinebench multi-core tests by 18.5%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 50,995 versus AMD’s 43,044. PassMark multithread shows the same 18.5% delta, with Intel at 60,012 and AMD at 50,641.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: Both have 24 cores. However, the Intel Core i9-14900KS has 32 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7413 has 48 threads. The EPYC’s 48 threads come from simultaneous multithreading on all 24 cores, whereas Intel’s hybrid architecture yields 32 threads.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900KS boosts to 6.20 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 7413 boosts to 3.60 GHz. The base clocks are 3.20 GHz for Intel and 2.65 GHz for AMD.

Q: How does the memory bandwidth compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7413 supports eight-channel DDR4 with a rated bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The Intel Core i9-14900KS supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5, but the fact pack lists no explicit memory bandwidth figure for it.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-14900KS is the clear winner for any workload that rewards raw per-core speed or high-frequency multi-core execution. Its 100.6% lead in PassMark single-thread makes it the obvious choice for applications with single-threaded bottlenecks, such as legacy software, many productivity tools, and games that rely on one or two cores. The 29.5% advantage in floating-point math also points to scientific computing or financial modeling where FPU throughput dominates. Its wins in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, all at 18.5% margins, indicate strong rendering performance across generations of the benchmark. Data compression and string sorting, both Intel wins, suggest it handles general-purpose data manipulation faster.

The AMD EPYC 7413 wins in a narrower set of scenarios, but each is telling. Its 38.5% lead in find prime numbers points to integer-heavy loops with predictable branches, a common pattern in cryptographic hashing or certain simulation workloads. The 28.2% win in physics suggests it handles rigid-body or particle simulations more efficiently, possibly due to higher memory bandwidth (204.8 GB/s) or thread scheduling. The narrow wins in encryption, integer math, and extended instructions show it is not universally slower in integer work, just slightly ahead in specific instruction mixes. For server workloads that involve heavy encryption or integer arithmetic across many threads, the EPYC holds a small but repeatable edge.

For mixed or general-purpose use, the benchmark totals favor Intel. Its average benchmark score of 81,127 exceeds AMD’s 80,041, and it wins 12 of 17 tests. However, the AMD part’s 48 threads versus Intel’s 32 may be a factor in heavily threaded server applications, even if the raw scores do not always show it winning.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every major specification. The Intel Core i9-14900KS has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.20 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 7413 runs at 2.65 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. Intel’s TDP is 150 watts, lower than AMD’s 180 watts. The socket is completely different: Intel uses Socket 1700, AMD uses Socket SP3. Intel’s process node is 10 nm, manufactured by Intel, while AMD uses a 7 nm node from TSMC. The Intel die is 257 mm², whereas AMD uses four 81 mm² chiplets for a total of 16,600 million transistors.

Cache configurations diverge sharply. Intel provides 80 KB L1, 2 MB L2, and 36 MB shared L3 per core. AMD provides 64 KB L1, 512 KB L2, and a much larger 128 MB shared L3. Memory support also differs: Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while AMD supports only DDR4 but across eight channels with a rated bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. PCIe lanes are another major split — Intel has Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, AMD has Gen 4 with 128 CPU lanes. Intel includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while AMD has none.

The launch MSRP for the Intel Core i9-14900KS is $689, and for the AMD EPYC 7413 it is $1825. Intel’s multiplier is unlocked, AMD’s is not. The market segments reflect the intended use: Intel is listed as Desktop, AMD as Server/Workstation. Release dates are March 13, 2024, for Intel and March 14, 2021, for AMD.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-14900KS is built on Raptor Lake-R, part of the Core 14th Gen series, using Intel’s 10 nm process. Its 24 cores and 32 threads indicate a hybrid design, although the fact pack does not specify the performance/efficiency core split. The 6.20 GHz boost clock is the highest in this comparison. The chip uses a monolithic 257 mm² die and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

The AMD EPYC 7413 uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan, from the EPYC 7003 series. It is built on TSMC’s 7 nm process and uses a chiplet design with four 81 mm² dies. The 16,600 million transistor count is listed, and the 128 MB shared L3 cache is over three times larger than Intel’s 36 MB. This large cache, combined with eight-channel DDR4 memory at 204.8 GB/s, is designed for server workloads where memory latency and capacity matter more than raw clock speed.

The process node difference is notable: AMD’s 7 nm from TSMC is denser than Intel’s 10 nm, yet Intel still achieves higher clock speeds. The architectural philosophies also differ — Intel pushes for maximum single-thread frequency, while AMD spreads its budget across more threads (48 versus 32) and a much larger cache. The absence of integrated graphics on the EPYC reinforces its server role, where a discrete GPU is expected.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload. The Intel Core i9-14900KS is the right choice for anyone whose tasks are dominated by single-thread performance, high-frequency multi-core, or floating-point math. Its 100.6% lead in single-thread PassMark and 29.5% lead in floating-point math make it the stronger pick for desktop productivity, gaming, and many content-creation workloads. The 18.5% margin across all Cinebench tests shows it handles rendering with consistent superiority.

The AMD EPYC 7413 is the right choice for server or workstation environments where the specific wins matter. Its 38.5% lead in prime number finding and 28.2% lead in physics suggest it is better suited for certain simulation and cryptographic workloads. The 48 threads, 128 MB L3 cache, and 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth provide a platform-level advantage for heavily threaded server code, even if the aggregate benchmark scores are slightly lower. The narrow wins in integer math, encryption, and extended instructions show it is not outclassed in integer work, just differently tuned.

For a buyer choosing between a desktop flagship and a server processor, the decision is rarely about raw speed alone. If the workload fits the EPYC’s strengths — physics, encryption, integer-heavy loops — the data shows it wins those specific tests. For everything else, the i9-14900KS is the faster chip in the majority of benchmarks, with a lower launch MSRP and a much higher boost clock. The final recommendation: pick the Intel part for general-purpose and single-threaded dominance, pick the AMD part for server-specific integer and physics workloads where its 48 threads and large cache pay off.