CPU Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7451 and Intel Xeon W-2175 are both 2017-era workstation processors that land in the same performance percentile, yet they achieve that status through fundamentally different designs. The EPYC 7451 leverages a 24-core/48-thread configuration with a massive 64 MB shared L3 cache, while the Xeon W-2175 counters with fewer cores but higher clock speeds and a larger per-core L2 cache. Across the six Cinebench benchmarks recorded, the EPYC 7451 wins every single test, but the margins are consistently tight at 2.5%, making this a closer contest than the win tally suggests.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7451 wins all six Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across R15, R20, and R23 versions. The multi-core victories are expected given the 24-core versus 14-core disparity, but the single-core wins are more surprising. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC 7451 scores 2887 against the Xeon W-2175's 2816, a 2.5% advantage despite the Intel part's higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz versus 3.20 GHz. This suggests the Zen architecture's per-core efficiency compensates for the clock speed disadvantage.

The multi-core results show the EPYC 7451 maintaining the same 2.5% delta across all three Cinebench versions. In R23 multi-core, the EPYC 7451 posts 20450 versus 19951 for the Xeon W-2175. While the EPYC 7451 wins, the margin is modest given it has 71% more cores and 71% more threads. The Xeon W-2175's higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz helps it close the gap, but the EPYC's 64 MB shared L3 cache and eight-channel memory bus provide enough bandwidth to keep the larger core count productive.

The Xeon W-2175 has no benchmark wins to claim. Its strengths are theoretical rather than measured: a 2.50 GHz base clock versus 2.30 GHz, a 4.30 GHz boost clock versus 3.20 GHz, and a larger 1 MB per-core L2 cache versus 512 KB. However, these advantages do not translate into Cinebench victories. The EPYC 7451's 170.6 GB/s memory bandwidth versus 85.3 GB/s for the Xeon W-2175 likely explains why the AMD part sustains its lead even in single-threaded tests where memory pressure is lower.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent contrasting design philosophies from the same 14 nm process generation. The AMD EPYC 7451 uses the Zen architecture on the Naples codename, fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm node with 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. It features 24 cores and 48 threads with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a substantial 64 MB shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR4 across an eight-channel bus delivering 170.6 GB/s, and the chip uses AMD Socket SP3 with PCIe Gen 3.

The Intel Xeon W-2175 uses the Skylake architecture on the Skylake-W codename, fabricated by Intel on the same 14 nm process with a larger 484 mm² die. It packs 14 cores and 28 threads with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The cache layout is different: 64 KB of L1 per core, a larger 1 MB of L2 per core, but only 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR4 across a quad-channel bus delivering 85.3 GB/s, and the chip uses Intel Socket 2066 with PCIe Gen 3 providing 48 lanes from the CPU.

The transistor count for the Intel part is not listed, but the die size difference is stark: 484 mm² versus 213 mm². This reflects Intel's monolithic design with fewer cores but larger per-core allocations, while AMD uses a smaller die with more cores and a much larger shared L3 cache. The EPYC 7451's eight-channel memory bus gives it exactly double the theoretical memory bandwidth of the Xeon W-2175's quad-channel setup, a critical advantage for multi-threaded workloads. The EPYC 7451 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon W-2175 is locked. Production status also differs: the EPYC 7451 is listed as Active, while the Xeon W-2175 is End-of-life.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD EPYC 7451 as the better performer in Cinebench workloads, winning every recorded test by a consistent 2.5% margin. For users running rendering or other multi-threaded tasks, the EPYC 7451's 24 cores, 64 MB L3 cache, and 170.6 GB/s memory bandwidth provide a measurable edge over the Xeon W-2175. The fact that the AMD part also wins single-core tests, despite a 1.10 GHz lower boost clock, indicates that the Zen architecture's IPC advantage offsets the clock deficit. The EPYC 7451 also carries an unlocked multiplier, offering overclocking potential that the locked Xeon W-2175 lacks.

However, the Xeon W-2175 should not be dismissed. Its 4.30 GHz boost clock is substantially higher, which could benefit lightly-threaded applications not captured in the Cinebench suite. The 1 MB per-core L2 cache is double the EPYC's allocation, and the 484 mm² die suggests robust per-core resources. The Xeon W-2175 also has a lower TDP of 140 watts versus 180 watts for the EPYC 7451, which may matter in power-constrained environments. Its launch MSRP is $1947, though pricing considerations should not factor into a performance assessment.

For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput, memory bandwidth, or overclocking flexibility, the AMD EPYC 7451 is the clear choice based on the benchmark data. For those who need high single-thread boost clocks or prefer Intel's platform, the Xeon W-2175 remains competitive despite losing every recorded Cinebench test. The EPYC 7451's Active production status versus the Xeon W-2175's End-of-life status also suggests better long-term availability for the AMD part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The AMD EPYC 7451 wins all three multi-core tests: Cinebench R15 with 2061 versus 2010, R20 with 8589 versus 8379, and R23 with 20450 versus 19951. Each win is by a 2.5% margin.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon W-2175 win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the AMD EPYC 7451 winning all six benchmarks, with zero wins recorded for the Intel Xeon W-2175.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7451 has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Intel Xeon W-2175 has 14 cores and 28 threads. The AMD part offers 71% more cores and threads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD EPYC 7451 supports eight-channel DDR4 memory delivering 170.6 GB/s, while the Intel Xeon W-2175 supports quad-channel DDR4 delivering 85.3 GB/s. The EPYC has exactly double the theoretical bandwidth.

Q: Are both processors on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both use a 14 nm process. AMD uses GlobalFoundries for the EPYC 7451, while Intel fabricates the Xeon W-2175 in-house. The EPYC die is 213 mm², while the Xeon die is 484 mm².

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2175 has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, which is significantly higher than the AMD EPYC 7451's 3.20 GHz. Despite this, the EPYC still wins single-core Cinebench tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most telling result is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the EPYC 7451 scores 20450 against the Xeon W-2175's 19951. This 2.5% margin is the same as every other test, suggesting a consistent architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. With 10 more cores, the EPYC 7451 should theoretically dominate, but the Xeon W-2175's 4.30 GHz boost clock and 1 MB per-core L2 cache keep the gap surprisingly narrow. The EPYC's 64 MB shared L3 cache and 170.6 GB/s memory bandwidth are the likely differentiators, preventing the core-count advantage from being diluted by memory bottlenecks.

The single-core results are arguably more impressive for AMD. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC 7451 scores 2887 versus 2816 for the Xeon W-2175. The Intel part's boost clock is 34% higher (4.30 GHz versus 3.20 GHz), yet it still loses by 2.5%. This indicates that the Zen architecture delivers higher instructions-per-clock than Skylake in this workload. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R15 single-core (290 versus 283) and R20 single-core (1212 versus 1182), with identical 2.5% deltas.

Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the EPYC 7451 at 2061 versus 2010, while R20 multi-core shows 8589 versus 8379. The consistency of the 2.5% delta across all six tests is remarkable, it suggests the performance relationship between these two CPUs is stable regardless of workload intensity. The Xeon W-2175's average benchmark score of 5770 places it near the AMD EPYC 7401P (5814, -0.8%) and AMD EPYC 7351 (5710, 1.1%), while the EPYC 7451's average of 5915 sits close to the Intel Core i9-9920X (5917, 0%) and Intel Xeon W-2170B (5985, -1.2%). Both chips land in the 61st percentile of all CPUs, confirming they are closely matched overall despite the EPYC's clean sweep in direct comparisons.