AMD EPYC 7453 vs Intel Core i3-1215U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a stark picture: the AMD EPYC 7453 wins all six recorded head-to-head comparisons, with every single delta at -83.9% relative to the Intel Core i3-1215U. This uniform margin across both multi-core and single-core tests indicates a fundamental performance gulf rather than workload-specific variance.

In Cinebench R15, the EPYC 7453 scores 4,151 in multi-core versus 669 for the i3-1215U, and 585 in single-core versus 94. The same -83.9% delta appears in Cinebench R20, where the EPYC reaches 17,297 multi-core and 2,441 single-core, while the Intel chip manages 2,790 and 393 respectively. Cinebench R23 confirms the pattern: 41,185 multi-core for the EPYC against 6,644 for the i3, and 5,814 single-core versus 938.

The consistency of the -83.9% figure across every test is notable. It suggests that the performance difference is not dependent on thread scaling or instruction mix, but rather reflects a raw throughput advantage that applies equally to lightly threaded and heavily threaded workloads. The EPYC 7453 does not merely outrun the i3-1215U; it outruns it by the same proportion in every measured scenario.

Looking at the broader database context, the i3-1215U holds a 67th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 12,604. The EPYC 7453 also sits at the 67th percentile, with an average score of 11,912. This is a curious outcome: the EPYC wins every head-to-head test, yet its aggregate average is lower. This occurs because the i3-1215U has additional PassMark scores recorded (data compression, encryption, integer math, and others) that lift its overall average, while the EPYC only has Cinebench entries in this comparison set. The percentile ranking for both is identical, which indicates that the database positions them at the same level of overall capability, despite the EPYC's decisive head-to-head dominance.

The nearest rival data reinforces the divergence. The i3-1215U's closest competitors include the Intel Atom x7809C (0% delta), Intel Core i3-10105F (-0.3%), and Intel Core i5-1230U (0.4%). The EPYC 7453's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-7700 (0% delta), AMD Ryzen 5 3500X (-0.7%), and Intel Xeon Bronze 3408U (-0.9%). These rival groups are entirely different performance classes, which underscores that the two chips inhabit separate tiers of the database despite sharing a percentile.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap explains the benchmark outcomes. The Intel Core i3-1215U is built on Alder Lake-U, a 10 nm mobile design from Intel, featuring 6 cores and 8 threads. It uses a hybrid layout typical of Intel's recent mobile parts, with a base clock of 1,200 MHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its thermal design power is 15 watts, reflecting an ultra-low-power mobile focus. The chip supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, has no ECC support, and provides 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU. It includes integrated UHD Graphics with 64 execution units, which is absent on the EPYC.

The AMD EPYC 7453 is a Zen 3 server processor from the EPYC 7003 series, manufactured on TSMC's 7 nm process. It packs 28 cores and 56 threads, with a base clock of 2.75 GHz and a boost clock of 3.45 GHz. The thermal design power is 225 watts, a 15-fold increase over the Intel part. Memory support is DDR4 only, but across an eight-channel bus, yielding a recorded memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported, and the CPU provides 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The die is composed of 4x 81 mm² chiplets, containing 16,600 million transistors, and the shared L3 cache is 64 MB.

Cache configurations differ sharply. The i3-1215U has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 10 MB shared L3. The EPYC has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 64 MB shared L3. The EPYC's L3 cache is 6.4 times larger, which benefits server workloads with large working sets. The i3's per-core L2 is larger, but with only 6 cores versus 28, total on-die storage is far smaller.

The socket and market segment also separate them: Intel BGA 1744 for mobile versus AMD Socket SP3 for server/workstation. The i3 was released on 2022-02-22, the EPYC on 2021-03-14. Both are listed as active production parts.

Where Each One Wins

The EPYC 7453 wins every recorded benchmark, so the use-case split is one-sided in terms of raw performance. The EPYC's 28 cores and 56 threads deliver a 6.2x multi-core advantage in Cinebench R23 (41,185 versus 6,644), which positions it for heavily parallel workloads: database serving, virtualization, scientific computing, and any server-side application that can utilize many threads. Its eight-channel memory bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth further suit memory-intensive enterprise tasks, and ECC support is critical for data integrity in server environments.

The Intel Core i3-1215U, despite losing every comparison, has its own advantages that are not captured in these Cinebench scores. It integrates graphics, which the EPYC lacks entirely, so systems built around the i3 do not require a discrete GPU for basic display output. Its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for fanless or low-power mobile designs, and its 4.40 GHz boost clock is higher than the EPYC's 3.45 GHz, though the single-core scores show the EPYC still wins due to architecture efficiency. The i3 also supports DDR5 memory, which the EPYC does not, though the EPYC's eight-channel DDR4 provides far greater aggregate bandwidth.

The data does not show any benchmark where the i3-1215U wins. The only wins for the Intel part are qualitative: integrated graphics, lower power draw, and DDR5 memory support. For pure compute, the EPYC is superior in every measured test.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD EPYC 7453 scores 5,814, compared to the Intel Core i3-1215U's 938, a -83.9% delta in favor of the EPYC.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i3-1215U has 6 cores and 8 threads. The AMD EPYC 7453 has 28 cores and 56 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-1215U support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported on the i3-1215U. The AMD EPYC 7453 does support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the AMD EPYC 7453?

A: The EPYC 7453 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, achieved through an eight-channel DDR4 memory bus.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i3-1215U includes UHD Graphics with 64 execution units. The AMD EPYC 7453 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings?

A: The Intel Core i3-1215U has a TDP of 15 watts. The AMD EPYC 7453 has a TDP of 225 watts.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7453 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks with a consistent -83.9% delta, meaning the Intel Core i3-1215U scores only about 16% of the EPYC's results in each test. For any workload that prioritizes raw compute, the EPYC is the clear choice. Its 28 cores, 56 threads, 64 MB L3 cache, eight-channel memory, and ECC support make it a server-grade part designed for sustained throughput.

The Intel Core i3-1215U is not without merit, but its strengths lie outside the benchmark suite. It offers integrated graphics, a much lower 15 W power envelope, and DDR5 memory support. These features suit compact mobile devices, low-power embedded systems, or basic productivity machines where the EPYC's 225 W TDP and server socket are impractical.

The database's percentile ranking (67 for both) and average benchmark scores (12,604 for the i3, 11,912 for the EPYC) may suggest parity, but that is an artifact of the i3 having additional PassMark scores in its record. The head-to-head data, which uses identical tests, shows no contest. A user who needs compute should select the EPYC 7453. A user who needs a low-power, graphics-capable mobile chip should select the i3-1215U, accepting that its performance will be far below the EPYC in every measured category.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-1215U | AMD EPYC 7453 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 28 |

| Threads | 8 | 56 |

| Base Clock | 1,200 MHz | 2.75 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 3.45 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 225 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 3 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 16,600 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 4x 81 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 10 MB (shared) | 64 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 204.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 128 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 64EU | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | 2022-02-22 | 2021-03-14 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $1570 |

| Part Number | SRLFU | 100-000000319 |