AMD EPYC 7443P vs Intel Xeon 6736P Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits these two server processors into clearly different roles. The AMD EPYC 7443P wins 13 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, including every Cinebench iteration and the PassMark multithread test. Its advantage is broad but not universal. The Intel Xeon 6736P takes 4 wins, and those wins are concentrated in specialized workloads where its architecture pulls ahead by double digits. The verdict depends on the workload mix, not on a single overall score.

For general server duty, database workloads, and mixed enterprise applications, the AMD EPYC 7443P is the stronger choice based on the recorded data. It delivers higher scores in integer math, data compression, encryption, and every single-threaded test. The EPYC 7443P also posts a higher average benchmark score of 81661 against the Xeon 6736P's 87864, though that figure is pulled up by the Xeon's wins in floating-point and physics tests. Both chips sit at the 96th percentile among all CPUs, so they are both high-end parts; the difference is in where they excel.

The Intel Xeon 6736P is the pick for floating-point-heavy, physics-simulation, and extended-instruction workloads. Its 37.6% lead in PassMark physics and 15.3% lead in floating-point math are the largest margins in either direction. If the server runs scientific computing, signal processing, or any code that leans on AVX-style extended instructions, the Xeon 6736P is the better fit. It also wins random string sorting by 8.5%, which suggests some database query and text-processing scenarios could favor it.

The AMD part wins on raw thread count efficiency. Despite having 36 cores and 72 threads versus the AMD's 24 cores and 48 threads, the Intel Xeon 6736P loses the multicore Cinebench tests by 12.1% across the board. The EPYC 7443P's higher base clock of 2.85 GHz versus 2.00 GHz, combined with its Zen 3 core design, lets it outperform with fewer physical cores. This is a significant result: the Intel chip has 50% more cores and 50% more threads, yet it cannot translate that into a multithreaded win.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7443P dominates the Cinebench suite entirely. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core versions show the same 12.1% to 12.2% deficit for the Intel part. This consistency across three Cinebench versions indicates a fundamental per-core performance gap, not a workload-specific quirk. The EPYC 7443P also wins PassMark multithread by 12.1%, integer math by 11.1%, data compression by 2.9%, and data encryption by 19.3%. The encryption margin is particularly large and matters for any server handling secure connections or encrypted storage.

The Intel Xeon 6736P wins exactly four tests, and they form a coherent pattern. PassMark physics shows a 37.6% advantage, the largest single margin in the entire comparison. Floating-point math follows at 15.3%, and extended instructions at 15.2%. Random string sorting adds an 8.5% win. These results point to a processor with strong SIMD and vector execution capabilities, which is typical of a newer architecture designed for data-center compute tasks. The Xeon 6736P's 5 nm process node, versus the EPYC's 7 nm node, contributes to its ability to sustain higher floating-point throughput.

The single-threaded results are decisively in AMD's favor. PassMark single-thread shows 2907 for the EPYC against 2024 for the Xeon, a 30.4% difference. This is the largest percentage gap in the single-core tests and explains why the EPYC wins every Cinebench single-core test as well. The Xeon's boost clock of 4.10 GHz is slightly higher than the EPYC's 4.00 GHz, but the AMD core still delivers far better single-thread performance in the recorded data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and design philosophies. The Intel Xeon 6736P uses Granite Rapids architecture, fabricated on a 5 nm process at Intel's foundry. It has 36 cores and 72 threads, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The die size is 598 mm², and it ships in the Intel Socket 4710. Its cache hierarchy includes 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 144 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR5 over an eight-channel bus, providing 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The PCIe implementation is Gen 5 with 88 lanes from the CPU.

The AMD EPYC 7443P belongs to the EPYC 7003 series, using Zen 3 architecture under the Milan codename. It is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC, with 24 cores and 48 threads. Base clock is 2.85 GHz, boost is 4.00 GHz, and TDP is 200 watts versus the Intel's 205 watts. The package uses 4x 81 mm² chiplets, totaling 16,600 million transistors. Cache is smaller per core: 64 KB L1, 512 KB L2, and 128 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 over an eight-channel bus, yielding 204.8 GB/s, exactly half the Intel's bandwidth. PCIe is Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU.

The memory bandwidth difference is stark. The Xeon 6736P offers 409.6 GB/s versus 204.8 GB/s for the EPYC, a 2x advantage for Intel. Yet this does not translate into wins in the bandwidth-sensitive tests like data compression or multithread. The EPYC's higher clock speeds and efficient Zen 3 cores compensate for the lower memory throughput in most recorded benchmarks. The Intel part has a larger L3 cache at 144 MB versus 128 MB, but the AMD chip still wins the tests that typically benefit from cache capacity, such as encryption and integer math.

The process node difference favors Intel at 5 nm versus 7 nm, and the newer Granite Rapids architecture is reflected in the extended instructions and floating-point wins. However, the AMD part's higher base clock and mature Zen 3 design give it the overall edge in the majority of tests. The EPYC also uses a socket, SP3, that has been in the market since 2021, while the Xeon 6736P uses the newer Socket 4710 and was released in February 2025, nearly four years after the EPYC's March 2021 release.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon 6736P has 36 cores and 72 threads. The AMD EPYC 7443P has 24 cores and 48 threads. Despite this 50% core advantage, the Intel part loses all multicore Cinebench tests.

Q: Why does the AMD EPYC win single-threaded tests?

A: The EPYC 7443P records a PassMark single-thread score of 2907 against 2024 for the Xeon, a 30.4% advantage. Its higher base clock of 2.85 GHz versus 2.00 GHz contributes to this result, as does its Zen 3 core design.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Xeon 6736P supports DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD EPYC 7443P supports DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s. The Intel part has exactly double the memory bandwidth, yet this does not produce wins in most bandwidth-heavy benchmarks.

Q: Does the Intel part win any benchmark by a large margin?

A: Yes, the Xeon 6736P wins PassMark physics by 37.6%, which is the largest margin in either direction. It also wins floating-point math by 15.3% and extended instructions by 15.2%.

Q: Which processor has better encryption performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7443P wins PassMark data encryption by 19.3%, scoring 57263 against 46236 for the Intel Xeon 6736P. This is one of the EPYC's largest advantages.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon 6736P and the AMD EPYC 7443P are at the 96th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores differ, with the Xeon at 87864 and the EPYC at 81661.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are uniformly in favor of the AMD EPYC 7443P. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC scores 4881 against 4290 for the Xeon, a 12.1% delta. The single-core R15 test shows 689 versus 605, a 12.2% gap. Cinebench R20 multicore repeats the pattern: 20341 for AMD, 17875 for Intel, again 12.1%. The R20 single-core test gives 2871 versus 2523, also 12.1%. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 48433 versus 42561, and R23 single-core shows 6837 versus 6008. Every Cinebench test, from oldest to newest, produces nearly the same percentage deficit for the Intel part.

The PassMark suite tells a more varied story. The AMD EPYC wins data compression by 2.9%, scoring 820859 versus 796658. It wins data encryption by 19.3% at 57263 versus 46236. It wins find prime numbers by 4.4% at 410 versus 392. It wins integer math by 11.1% at 232632 versus 206833. It wins multithread by 12.1% at 56981 versus 50072. It also wins the single-thread test by 30.4%, scoring 2907 versus 2024.

The Intel Xeon 6736P wins the remaining PassMark tests with substantial margins. Extended instructions show 55563 versus 48213, a 15.2% win for Intel. Floating-point math shows 149770 versus 129932, a 15.3% win. Physics shows 6531 versus 4748, a massive 37.6% win. Random string sorting shows 103723 versus 95581, an 8.5% win. These four wins are the only bright spots for Intel, but they are meaningful for specific workloads.

The overall win count is 13 for AMD and 4 for Intel. The average benchmark score, however, tells a different aggregate story. The Intel Xeon 6736P averages 87864 across all its recorded benchmarks, while the AMD EPYC 7443P averages 81661. This is because the Intel part's wins in physics and floating-point math are large enough to lift its average, even though it loses more tests. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the Intel Xeon 6731P at 87756 (0.1% delta) and the Intel Xeon w7-2575X at 88172 (-0.3% delta). The AMD EPYC 7443P's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900KS at 81127 (0.7% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX at 81103 (0.7% delta). These figures place both processors in the same performance tier, with the EPYC trading wins in frequency and the Xeon winning on specialized compute.