AMD EPYC 7413 vs Intel Xeon 6731P Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Xeon 6731P, which wins 13 of the 17 benchmark comparisons. The AMD EPYC 7413 takes only 4 wins. However, the margin of victory in each category tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

In the Cinebench suite, the Intel part delivers a consistent advantage across every single test. The scores are remarkably uniform: the Xeon 6731P leads by 4.2% in Cinebench R15 multicore (4522 vs 4338), R15 singlecore (638 vs 612), R20 multicore (18845 vs 18078), R23 multicore (44871 vs 43044), and R23 singlecore (6334 vs 6076). The only exception is R20 singlecore, where the margin is 4.3% (2660 vs 2551). These results indicate that in rendering and general CPU-bound workloads, the Intel chip holds a small but measurable edge across the board.

The Passmark suite reveals where each chip excels more dramatically. The Intel Xeon 6731P dominates in extended instruction workloads, scoring 65656 against the AMD's 45696, a 43.7% blowout. Prime number finding also heavily favors Intel: 541 vs 397, a 36.3% gap. The floating point math test shows a 32.3% lead for Intel (157330 vs 118881). Most lopsided of all is the physics test, where the Intel leads by 50.9% (7105 vs 4708). Data compression also swings Intel's way by 11.7% (799474 vs 715616), and random string sorting goes to Intel by 8.5% (88019 vs 81134). The PassMark multithread score is 4.2% higher for Intel (52790 vs 50641).

The AMD EPYC 7413 fights back in specific areas. Its data encryption score of 48492 beats the Intel's 40087, a 17.3% advantage. Integer math also goes to AMD: 215629 vs 198761, a 7.8% lead. Most notably, the AMD shows superior single-thread PassMark results, scoring 2400 to the Intel's 2107, a 12.2% margin. This is a striking reversal given that the Intel wins every single-thread Cinebench test.

The average benchmark scores in the database reflect this split. The Intel Xeon 6731P sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs with an average score of 87756, while the AMD EPYC 7413 sits in the 95th percentile with 80041. The Intel's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6736P (87864, 0.1% higher), the Intel Xeon w7-2575X (88172, 0.5% higher), and the AMD EPYC 7F72 (85072, 3.2% lower). The AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus (79574, 0.6% lower) and the Intel Core i9-14900KF (79371, 0.8% lower).

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but split picture. The Intel Xeon 6731P is the stronger all-around processor, especially for compute-heavy workloads that leverage many cores and advanced instructions. It wins all six Cinebench tests, plus the vast majority of PassMark subseries, including the critical multithread score. Its 32 physical cores and 64 threads, combined with a 144 MB L3 cache, give it a structural advantage in rendering, simulation, and number-crunching tasks.

The AMD EPYC 7413, however, is the better choice for specific, narrow tasks. It is faster in data encryption, integer math, and single-thread PassMark tests. The PassMark single-thread result is particularly interesting: the AMD scores 2400, which is 12.2% higher than the Intel's 2107. This suggests that the AMD may be preferable for lightly threaded legacy software or workloads that rely heavily on integer operations and encryption.

For any buyer who needs a general-purpose server or workstation CPU, the Intel 6731P is the pick. The consistent 4.2% lead in the Cinebench suite and the massive 43.7% lead in extended instructions point to a chip that handles both modern and specialized workloads better. For a buyer whose workload is dominated by integer math, encryption, or single-threaded PassMark patterns, the AMD offers a meaningful performance edge that could justify its lower launch MSRP of $1825 compared to the Intel's $2700.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Xeon 6731P wins in: every Cinebench test (multi and single core, all versions), data compression, extended instructions, prime number find, floating point math, multithread, physics, and random string sorting. This is a comprehensive sweep of rendering, scientific computing, data processing, and parallel workloads. The physics test is its most dominant win at 50.9% over the AMD.

AMD EPYC 7413 wins in: data encryption (17.3% faster), integer math (7.8% faster), and PassMark single-thread (12.2% faster). The encryption win is significant for security-related workloads. The integer math win suggests a strong suit for certain financial or scientific algorithms. The single-thread PassMark result is the only single-thread test where AMD leads, which is unusual given the Intel's Cinebench single-core dominance.

The pattern is clear: Intel owns the vast majority of synthetic and content-creation benchmarks, while AMD owns a narrow but important set of specialized tasks. The AMD's 24 cores and 48 threads are still formidable, but its 7 nm process node and Zen 3 architecture compared to Intel's 5 nm Granite Rapids design explain the difference.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Xeon 6731P faster in all multi-core tests?

A: No. While it wins in the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests (all by 4.2%), the AMD EPYC 7413 wins the PassMark integer math test by 7.8% and the PassMark multithread test is won by Intel (52790 vs 50641, 4.2%). So Intel is faster in most, but not all, multi-threaded scenarios.

Q: Which chip has more cores, and how does that affect the results?

A: The Intel Xeon 6731P has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7413 has 24 cores and 48 threads. The Intel's 8-core advantage is reflected in its higher multithread and floating-point scores, but the AMD's per-thread efficiency allows it to compete in single-thread and integer tasks.

Q: What is the performance difference in the Cinebench R23 multicore test?

A: The Intel scores 44871, the AMD scores 43044. The Intel leads by 4.2%. This 1827-point gap is consistent across the R15 and R20 versions of the test.

Q: Which CPU is better for encryption and security workloads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7413 is better for encryption. Its PassMark data encryption score is 48492, which is 17.3% higher than the Intel's 40087. This is one of the AMD's four wins in the head-to-head.

Q: How do their memory systems compare?

A: The Intel supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 409.6 GB/s, while the AMD supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. Both are eight-channel, but the Intel's bandwidth is double that of the AMD. The Intel also uses Gen 5 PCIe with 136 lanes, while the AMD uses Gen 4 with 128 lanes.

Q: What is the difference in their architecture?

A: The Intel is built on a 5 nm process by Intel, codenamed Granite Rapids, with a 598 mm² die. The AMD is built on a 7 nm process by TSMC, codenamed Milan, with a 4x 81 mm² die design. The Intel has 144 MB of L3 cache, the AMD has 128 MB. The Intel has 112 KB and 2 MB per core for L1 and L2, while the AMD has 64 KB and 512 KB per core.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent different generations and design philosophies. The Intel Xeon 6731P is from the Xeon 6 generation, codenamed Granite Rapids, built on Intel's 5 nm process. It has a large 598 mm² die. The AMD EPYC 7413 is from the EPYC 7003 series, codenamed Milan, built on TSMC's 7 nm process with a die composed of four 81 mm² chiplets.

The core count is a direct consequence of the design. The Intel packs 32 cores and 64 threads, while the AMD packs 24 cores and 48 threads. The Intel's per-core L1 cache is 112 KB (larger than the AMD's 64 KB), and its L2 cache is 2 MB per core (vs the AMD's 512 KB per core). The shared L3 cache also favors Intel: 144 MB vs 128 MB. These cache differences explain the Intel's strong shows in data compression and extended instructions.

Memory support is a major differentiator. The Intel uses DDR5 memory with an eight-channel bus, delivering 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD uses DDR4 with eight-channel memory, delivering 204.8 GB/s. The Intel has twice the memory bandwidth, which is a crucial edge for memory-hungry workloads. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity also favors Intel: Gen 5 with 136 CPU lanes, compared to the AMD's Gen 4 with 128 lanes. This gives the Intel a modern I/O advantage for the latest accelerators and storage.

The process node difference is significant: 5 nm for Intel vs 7 nm for AMD. The Intel's newer process allows for higher clock speeds (base 2.50 GHz, boost 4.10 GHz) than the AMD (base 2.65 GHz, boost 3.60 GHz). The AMD has a slightly higher base clock, but the Intel has a much higher boost clock. The TDP reflects this, with the Intel rated at 245 W and the AMD at 180 W.

The sockets are not compatible: Intel Socket 4710 vs AMD Socket SP3. The Intel chip has a release date of February 2025, while the AMD was released in March 2021. Both are active production parts. The Intel's launch MSRP is $2700, the AMD's is $1825.

None of these architectural differences are a mystery. The Intel is a newer, more power-hungry, but more capable processor with modern memory and PCIe. The AMD is an older, more efficient design that still wins in specific tasks like encryption and integer math.