AMD EPYC 7443P vs Intel Xeon w5-3535X Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7443P and Intel Xeon w5-3535X are both 96th-percentile server/workstation processors, yet they achieve that standing through distinctly different performance profiles. The AMD part, a 24-core Zen 3 Milan chip from 2021, and the Intel part, a 20-core Sapphire Rapids chip from 2024, trade blows across the benchmark suite, with AMD winning 13 of 17 head-to-head tests while Intel takes 4. Their average benchmark scores sit nearly identical — 81661 for AMD versus 81115 for Intel, a 0.7% gap — but the distribution of wins reveals a fascinating split between raw multi-threaded throughput and single-thread agility.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the entire comparison belongs to AMD in data encryption. The EPYC 7443P scores 57263 versus Intel’s 36784, a 55.7% advantage that suggests a fundamental architectural edge in cryptographic workloads. This is not a marginal win; it is a dominant one. Similarly, the AMD chip leads in prime number finding by 52.4% (410 versus 269), and in physics calculations by 33.9% (4748 versus 3547). Integer math also favors AMD substantially, with a 25% lead (232632 versus 186158). Random string sorting shows a 29.8% gap in AMD’s favor (95581 versus 73618), and data compression is 12.2% ahead (820859 versus 731388).

Across the Cinebench suite, AMD wins every single test by a consistent margin. In R15 multi-core, it scores 4881 against Intel’s 4634, a 5.3% lead. The single-core R15 test also goes to AMD, 689 versus 654, a 5.4% edge. R20 multi-core shows the same 5.3% pattern (20341 versus 19309), as does R20 single-core (2871 versus 2725, also 5.4%). R23 multi-core gives AMD 48433 against 45974, and single-core 6837 versus 6490, both again at 5.3%. The PassMark multi-thread test rounds out AMD’s consistent wins at 5.3% (56981 versus 54088).

Intel’s wins are fewer but revealing. The biggest is in PassMark single-thread, where Intel scores 3602 against AMD’s 2907 — a 19.3% advantage that appears twice in the data (both `passmark_single_thread` and `passmark_singlethread`). Intel also wins extended instructions by 19.9% (60183 versus 48213) and floating-point math by 11% (145924 versus 129932). These are not trivial margins; they indicate that for workloads that scale poorly across cores or rely on vectorized floating-point operations, the Intel chip has a clear edge. The question is whether those workloads matter more than the broad multi-threaded wins AMD accumulates.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD EPYC 7443P has an average benchmark score of 81661, while the Intel Xeon w5-3535X scores 81115. The difference is 0.7%, within the margin of what rival products like the Intel Core i9-14900KS (81127) also achieve.

Q: How large is AMD’s lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: AMD scores 48433 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus Intel’s 45974, a 5.3% advantage. This same 5.3% delta appears across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both single and multi-core.

Q: Where does Intel outperform AMD by the largest margin?

A: Intel’s biggest win is in PassMark single-thread performance, where it scores 3602 against AMD’s 2907, a 19.3% lead. Intel also wins extended instructions by 19.9% (60183 versus 48213) and floating-point math by 11% (145924 versus 129932).

Q: What is the most dramatic single workload difference between the two?

A: PassMark data encryption shows AMD at 57263 versus Intel’s 36784, a 55.7% advantage. This is the largest delta in either direction across the entire benchmark set.

Q: Do both processors sit in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the AMD EPYC 7443P and Intel Xeon w5-3535X are in the 96th percentile against all CPUs, indicating they occupy the same elite performance tier despite their different benchmark distributions.

Q: How do their core counts compare, and does it show in the results?

A: AMD has 24 cores and 48 threads, while Intel has 20 cores and 40 threads. AMD’s four extra cores correlate with its wins in multi-threaded tests like PassMark multithread (56981 versus 54088) and data compression, though Intel’s higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.00 GHz helps explain its single-thread dominance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. AMD’s EPYC 7443P uses the Zen 3 architecture on TSMC’s 7 nm process node, with a 16,600 million transistor count spread across a 4x 81 mm² die configuration. Intel’s Xeon w5-3535X uses the Sapphire Rapids architecture on Intel’s 10 nm node, with a 4x 477 mm² die size — significantly larger physical dies despite a process node that is less dense on paper. The foundry difference (TSMC versus Intel) and the transistor count disparity (AMD has 16,600 million; Intel does not list a figure) point to different integration strategies.

Cache hierarchies diverge sharply. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a massive 128 MB shared L3 cache. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core, but only 52.5 MB of total L3. AMD’s triple-the-L3 capacity likely explains its dominance in data compression and encryption, where larger working sets can stay on-die. Intel’s larger per-core L2 (2 MB versus 512 KB) may contribute to its single-thread and floating-point strengths, but the overall cache budget favors AMD heavily.

Memory architecture also differs. AMD supports DDR4 with eight-channel access and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel supports DDR5 with eight-channel access and 307.2 GB/s bandwidth. Intel’s 50% higher memory bandwidth (307.2 versus 204.8 GB/s) should theoretically help memory-intensive workloads, yet the benchmark data does not show a corresponding win in most multi-threaded tests. PCIe connectivity favors AMD with Gen 4 and 128 lanes, while Intel offers Gen 5 but with fewer lanes at 112. AMD’s integrated graphics are not specified; Intel lists N/A. Both support ECC memory, but they use incompatible sockets — AMD on Socket SP3, Intel on Socket 4677.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ: AMD has 24 cores and 48 threads, Intel has 20 cores and 40 threads. Clock speeds also diverge — AMD runs at 2.85 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost, while Intel runs at 2.90 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. Intel’s 0.8 GHz higher boost clock is the most likely driver of its single-thread wins. Thermal design power differs substantially: AMD is rated at 200 W, Intel at 300 W, a 50% increase that reflects Intel’s higher clocks and larger dies. The process nodes differ (7 nm TSMC versus 10 nm Intel), as do the codenames (Milan versus Sapphire Rapids). Release dates are nearly three years apart — AMD launched 2021-03-14, Intel on 2024-08-23. The launch MSRP for AMD is $1337, and for Intel it is $1689. Intel’s multiplier is unlocked while AMD’s is not, allowing overclocking on the Xeon. Memory support differs (DDR4 versus DDR5), as does PCIe generation and lane count. Intel’s L1 cache is larger per core (80 KB versus 64 KB), its L2 is 4x larger per core (2 MB versus 512 KB), but its L3 is less than half of AMD’s (52.5 MB versus 128 MB).

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split: the AMD EPYC 7443P is the superior multi-threaded workhorse, winning 13 of 17 tests including every Cinebench benchmark, all major PassMark multi-threaded workloads, and the largest margins in encryption (55.7%) and prime finding (52.4%). Its 24 cores, 128 MB L3 cache, and lower 200 W TDP deliver consistent 5.3% wins across rendering workloads and larger wins in data-heavy tasks. The Intel Xeon w5-3535X, despite being newer and carrying a 300 W TDP, only wins 4 tests — but those wins are in precisely the areas that matter for single-thread responsiveness and vectorized math. Its 19.3% single-thread advantage and 19.9% extended instructions lead suggest that for lightly threaded applications or workloads that depend on AVX-style instructions, Intel is the better choice. However, the overall average benchmark score favors AMD by 0.7%, and the breadth of AMD’s wins indicates that for most server and workstation workloads, the EPYC 7443P offers more balanced throughput. The Intel part’s higher launch MSRP of $1689 versus AMD’s $1337 further reinforces that AMD delivers more aggregate performance per dollar, though that is a secondary consideration behind raw capability.

Where Each One Wins

AMD’s territory is clear: any workload that scales across many cores or benefits from a large shared cache. Data encryption shows the biggest gap at 55.7%, meaning security-focused workloads like VPN termination or database encryption will run dramatically faster on the EPYC. Prime number finding (52.4% lead) and physics calculations (33.9% lead) point to scientific computing and simulation strengths. Integer math (25% lead) and random string sorting (29.8% lead) indicate strong database and data-processing performance. All Cinebench tests, at a consistent 5.3% lead, mean rendering and 3D modeling workloads will favor AMD, as will any PassMark multithreaded task (5.3% lead). The 128 MB L3 cache is the architectural factor behind these wins, letting AMD keep more working data on-die.

Intel’s wins are narrower in scope but equally decisive in their domains. The 19.3% single-thread advantage means desktop-style responsiveness, legacy single-threaded applications, and lightly threaded simulation tools will feel snappier on the Xeon. Extended instructions at 19.9% ahead point to cryptography using AES-NI or similar instruction sets, where Intel’s newer architecture shines. Floating-point math at 11% ahead suggests scientific and engineering applications that rely heavily on FPU throughput will see measurable benefits. The 4.80 GHz boost clock is the clear enabler here, and the unlocked multiplier offers overclocking headroom that AMD cannot match. For users whose workloads are dominated by these specific patterns — single-thread latency, heavy vector math, or instruction-set-specific optimizations — the Intel Xeon w5-3535X is the data-backed choice. For everyone else, the AMD EPYC 7443P’s 13-win record and 5.3%+ leads across the board make it the more broadly capable processor.