AMD EPYC 7443 vs Intel Core i7-7700K Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7443 and Intel Core i7-7700K occupy completely different market segments, and the benchmark data reflects this split clearly. The EPYC 7443 wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark in the database, with six wins out of six tests. The i7-7700K records zero wins in these comparisons. This is not a close contest by any metric available in the database.

The EPYC 7443 is built for server and workstation workloads. Its 24 cores and 48 threads, combined with 128 MB of shared L3 cache and eight-channel DDR4 memory, position it for heavily parallel compute tasks. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 48183 illustrates this: the EPYC 7443 delivers roughly 488% more multicore performance than the i7-7700K's 8189 in the same test. For rendering, simulation, data processing, or any workload that scales across many threads, the EPYC 7443 is the clear choice.

The i7-7700K, with 4 cores and 8 threads, is a desktop processor from the Kaby Lake generation. Its base clock of 4.20 GHz and boost clock of 4.50 GHz are higher than the EPYC's 2.85 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost. However, the database shows that in single-core Cinebench R23, the EPYC 7443 still scores 6802 versus 1156 for the i7-7700K, a delta of 488.4%. The EPYC's Zen 3 architecture delivers superior instructions per clock, which more than compensates for its lower clock speeds. The i7-7700K's integrated HD 630 graphics and unlocked multiplier make it a legacy desktop part, but its benchmark scores place it far behind the EPYC in every recorded test.

The percentile rankings are identical at 68 for both processors, meaning each sits at the same position relative to all CPUs in the database. This is a consequence of the different benchmark suites available for each. The i7-7700K has additional PassMark and Geekbench entries, which pull its average benchmark score to 13291. The EPYC 7443, with only Cinebench scores, averages 13936. The nearest rivals for the EPYC include the Intel Core i7-8750H (average score 13868, delta 0.5%) and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (average score 13786, delta 1.1%). For the i7-7700K, the nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-8500 (average score 13142, delta 1.1%) and the Intel Core i5-9500 (average score 13452, delta -1.2%). These comparisons show that the EPYC's average score sits slightly above its closest competitors, while the i7-7700K's average score is marginally below some of its peers.

Architecture Differences

The architecture gap between these two processors is generations apart. The EPYC 7443 uses Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The i7-7700K uses Kaby Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process at Intel. The process node difference alone explains a significant portion of the performance gap, as the smaller 7 nm node allows for higher transistor density and lower power consumption per operation.

The EPYC 7443 packs 16,600 million transistors across a 4x 81 mm² die arrangement. The i7-7700K's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database. The EPYC's 24 cores and 48 threads dwarf the i7-7700K's 4 cores and 8 threads. Cache hierarchies differ substantially: both have 64 KB L1 per core, but the EPYC has 512 KB L2 per core versus 256 KB for the i7-7700K. L3 cache is the largest gap: the EPYC has 128 MB shared, while the i7-7700K has only 8 MB shared.

Memory support also separates these processors. The EPYC 7443 uses eight-channel DDR4 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The i7-7700K uses dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. This five-fold difference in memory bandwidth is critical for server workloads that stream large datasets. ECC memory is supported on the EPYC 7443, but not on the i7-7700K. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the EPYC offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-7700K offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The EPYC also lacks integrated graphics, whereas the i7-7700K includes HD 630.

The sockets are incompatible: the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3, while the i7-7700K uses Intel Socket 1151. The EPYC's market segment is Server/Workstation, and its production status is Active. The i7-7700K's segment is Desktop, also Active. The EPYC was released on 2021-03-14, while the i7-7700K was released on 2017-01-02. The EPYC's launch MSRP is $2010, stated once here as recorded. The i7-7700K has no launch MSRP in the database. The i7-7700K's multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking, while the EPYC's multiplier is locked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, and the EPYC 7443 wins all of them by nearly identical margins. The deltas range from 488.4% to 490.5%, indicating a consistent performance advantage across all tested workloads.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC scores 4856 against the i7-7700K's 825, a delta of 488.6%. In R15 singlecore, the EPYC scores 685 against 116, a delta of 490.5%, the largest margin in any test. This single-core result is particularly telling because the i7-7700K has a higher boost clock (4.50 GHz versus 4.00 GHz), yet the EPYC's architectural efficiency wins decisively.

Cinebench R20 multicore shows the EPYC at 20236 versus 3439, a delta of 488.4%. R20 singlecore has the EPYC at 2856 versus 485, a delta of 488.9%. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the EPYC scores 48183 versus 8189, a delta of 488.4%. R23 singlecore has the EPYC at 6802 versus 1156, also a delta of 488.4%. The consistency of these margins, all hovering near 488-490%, suggests that the performance gap is driven by fundamental architectural differences rather than workload-specific optimizations.

The i7-7700K's additional benchmarks, which are not part of the head-to-head set, show its capabilities in other areas. Its PassMark single-thread score is 2708, and its PassMark multithread score is 9627. Its Geekbench singlecore score is 1547, and Geekbench multicore is 5395. These numbers provide context for the i7-7700K's standing among desktop processors, but they do not appear in the head-to-head comparisons against the EPYC. The EPYC's benchmark suite is limited to Cinebench tests, so the head-to-head data reflects only those six tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7443 wins all single-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, it scores 6802 versus the Intel Core i7-7700K's 1156, a delta of 488.4%. Despite the i7-7700K's higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz, the EPYC's Zen 3 architecture delivers superior per-thread performance.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7443 has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Intel Core i7-7700K has 4 cores and 8 threads. This six-fold core advantage translates directly into the multicore benchmark results, where the EPYC leads by approximately 488% in every Cinebench multicore test.

Q: What memory bandwidth do these processors support?

A: The EPYC 7443 supports eight-channel DDR4 with a recorded bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The i7-7700K supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, which the i7-7700K does not.

Q: Are these processors from the same generation?

A: No. The EPYC 7443 is from the EPYC 7003 series, using Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Milan), released on 2021-03-14. The i7-7700K is from the Kaby Lake generation, released on 2017-01-02. The EPYC is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC, while the i7-7700K uses a 14 nm process at Intel.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The EPYC 7443 has an average benchmark score of 13936, while the i7-7700K has an average of 13291. Both processors are at the 68th percentile relative to all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 4?

A: The EPYC 7443 supports Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). The i7-7700K supports Gen 3 with 16 lanes. This difference is significant for server workloads requiring high-bandwidth I/O.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the AMD EPYC 7443 and Intel Core i7-7700K:

| Specification | AMD EPYC 7443 | Intel Core i7-7700K |

|---|---|---|

| Series | EPYC 7003 series | null |

| Cores | 24 | 4 |

| Threads | 48 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.85 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 200 W | 91 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP3 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Milan | Kaby Lake |

| Generation | EPYC (Zen 3 (Milan)) | Core i7 (Kaby Lake) |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 16,600 million | null |

| Die Size | 4x 81 mm² | null |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 128 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 204.8 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | true | false |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 128 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | null | HD 630 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2021-03-14 | 2017-01-02 |

| Launch MSRP | $2010 | null |

| Multiplier Unlocked | false | true |

| Part Number | 100-000000340100-100000340WOF | SR33A |

The TDP difference is notable: the EPYC 7443 draws 200 W, while the i7-7700K draws 91 W. This reflects the EPYC's higher core count and server-oriented design. The i7-7700K's unlocked multiplier allows user overclocking, a feature absent on the EPYC. The EPYC's L1 cache is identical to the i7-7700K's at 64 KB per core, but its L2 and L3 caches are substantially larger. The EPYC's eight-channel memory bus and Gen 4 PCIe support its workstation role, while the i7-7700K's dual-channel memory and Gen 3 PCIe suit its desktop position. The i7-7700K includes integrated HD 630 graphics, which the EPYC lacks. Both processors support DDR4 memory, but the EPYC's bandwidth advantage is nearly five-fold. The production status for both is Active, indicating they remain available in the market.