CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-7700 and AMD EPYC 7453 occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, yet their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, 11914 for Intel and 11912 for AMD, a 0% deltaPct. This statistical tie in aggregate performance masks a fundamental divide: the 4-core desktop chip and the 28-core server processor achieve their averages through entirely different means. The head-to-head benchmark data shows a complete sweep, with the EPYC 7453 winning all six cinebench comparisons by a uniform deltaPct of -82.2% (from Intel’s perspective). In cinebench R23 multicore, the EPYC scores 41185 versus the i7’s 7344, a 5.6x advantage. Even in single-core R23, where the i7’s higher clock speed might be expected to help, the EPYC leads 5814 to 1036. These are not close contests; they are categorical differences in compute capacity.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The pattern across all six cinebench tests is consistent and stark. In cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC 7453 scores 4151 against the i7-7700’s 740. The single-core R15 test shows 585 versus 104, again favoring AMD. Moving to R20, the multicore result is 17297 for the EPYC and 3084 for the i7; single-core is 2441 versus 435. In R23, the newest test in the set, multicore performance reaches 41185 for AMD and 7344 for Intel, while single-core sits at 5814 and 1036, respectively. Every deltaPct is -82.2%, meaning the i7-7700 scores roughly 18% of the EPYC’s result in each case. This uniformity suggests the gap is structural rather than workload-specific, it reflects core count and memory bandwidth scaling, not a particular instruction mix.

The single-core results deserve attention because they appear counterintuitive. The i7-7700 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost of 4.20 GHz, while the EPYC runs at 2.75 GHz base and 3.45 GHz boost. Higher clocks on the Intel part do not translate into a single-core win. The EPYC’s Zen 3 architecture, built on a 7 nm process from TSMC, delivers 5814 points in R23 single-core versus 1036 for Kaby Lake on 14 nm. That is a 5.6x gap in a test that typically rewards per-thread efficiency. The data shows that IPC improvements across four generations outweigh a 0.75 GHz clock advantage. For users expecting a desktop chip to win at lightly threaded tasks, these numbers upend that assumption.

In the broader benchmark context, the i7-7700’s average score of 11914 comes from a wider test suite, including PassMark integer math (27538), floating point math (16904), and multithread (8635). The EPYC 7453’s average of 11912 is derived only from cinebench results, which may understate its real-world server performance. Both chips sit at the 67th percentile among all CPUs, and their nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X (avg 12000, -0.7% deltaPct) and Intel Xeon Bronze 3408U (avg 12019, -0.9% deltaPct). The i7-7700 and EPYC 7453 are statistically tied in aggregate, yet the head-to-head data shows the EPYC dominating every comparable metric. This paradox, similar averages, lopsided direct comparisons, arises because the i7 has many more benchmark entries feeding its average, including PassMark scores that are not available for the EPYC.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The i7-7700 uses Intel’s Kaby Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process at Intel’s foundry. It has 4 cores and 8 threads. The EPYC 7453 uses AMD’s Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan, manufactured by TSMC on a 7 nm node. It has 28 cores and 56 threads. The transistor counts reflect this gap: the EPYC packs 16,600 million transistors across four 81 mm² dies, while the i7-7700’s transistor count and die size are not listed in the data. The EPYC’s cache hierarchy is substantially larger: 512 KB L2 per core versus 256 KB on the i7, and 64 MB shared L3 versus 8 MB. L1 cache is identical at 64 KB per core.

Memory subsystems diverge sharply. The i7-7700 supports dual-channel DDR4 with a theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The EPYC 7453 supports eight-channel DDR4, yielding 204.8 GB/s, more than 5x the bandwidth. This directly feeds the multicore workloads where the EPYC excels. The i7 lacks ECC memory support; the EPYC includes it as a standard feature. PCIe connectivity also differs: the i7 provides Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the EPYC offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes. The EPYC has no integrated graphics, whereas the i7 includes an HD 630 iGPU. Socket and platform targets are likewise distinct: LGA 1151 for desktop versus SP3 for server/workstation. Power envelopes reflect these roles: the i7 is rated at 65 W TDP, the EPYC at 225 W. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

The release dates show a four-year gap: the i7-7700 launched on 2017-01-02, the EPYC 7453 on 2021-03-14. The EPYC’s launch MSRP is $1570; the i7’s launch MSRP is not listed. Both parts remain in active production. The EPYC belongs to the EPYC 7003 series, while the i7 is part of the Core i7 (Kaby Lake) generation. Foundry choices also differ, Intel fabricates the i7, while TSMC produces the EPYC. These architectural differences explain the benchmark results: more cores, more cache, more memory channels, and a newer process node all favor the EPYC.

FAQ

Q: Why does the AMD EPYC 7453 win every cinebench test despite the Intel Core i7-7700 having higher clock speeds?

A: The EPYC 7453 has 28 cores and 56 threads versus 4 cores and 8 threads on the i7-7700. It also uses a 7 nm Zen 3 architecture from TSMC, versus 14 nm Kaby Lake from Intel. Higher clocks on the i7 (4.20 GHz boost versus 3.45 GHz) cannot overcome the EPYC’s 7x core count advantage and newer IPC.

Q: Are the two processors similar in overall performance?

A: Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 11914 for the i7-7700 and 11912 for the EPYC 7453, a 0% deltaPct. Both sit at the 67th percentile of all CPUs. However, this aggregate similarity is misleading because the i7 has additional PassMark scores in its average, while the EPYC’s average comes only from cinebench tests.

Q: What memory configurations do these chips support?

A: The i7-7700 supports dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. The EPYC 7453 supports eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. The EPYC’s memory bandwidth is more than 5x higher, which aids in multicore and server workloads.

Q: Do either of these chips have integrated graphics?

A: The i7-7700 includes an Intel HD 630 integrated GPU. The EPYC 7453 has no integrated graphics, which is typical for server processors that rely on discrete GPUs or headless operation.

Q: What PCIe capabilities does each processor offer?

A: The i7-7700 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The EPYC 7453 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes. This gives the EPYC 8x the lane count and a newer generation, suitable for high-bandwidth server peripherals.

Q: When were these processors released?

A: The i7-7700 launched on January 2, 2017. The EPYC 7453 launched on March 14, 2021. Both are still in active production, but the EPYC is four years newer.

The Verdict

The data points to clear use-case separation. The EPYC 7453 wins all six head-to-head cinebench comparisons, with the i7-7700 scoring only 18% of the EPYC’s result in each test. For any multithreaded cinebench workload, the EPYC is the only choice, its 41185 R23 multicore score versus 7344 for the i7 is a 5.6x difference. Even in single-core R23, the EPYC leads 5814 to 1036, meaning the i7’s higher clock speed does not translate to a win. The EPYC also offers ECC memory, eight-channel bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, all of which are absent on the i7. The i7-7700’s only advantages are a lower 65 W TDP and integrated graphics, plus a smaller footprint suited for desktop sockets. Users needing server-class compute, memory capacity, or I/O should choose the EPYC 7453. Users constrained to a desktop platform with modest power and no discrete GPU requirement might consider the i7-7700, but the benchmark data offers no performance justification for that choice.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-7700 | AMD EPYC 7453 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 28 |

| Threads | 8 | 56 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.75 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 3.45 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 225 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Zen 3 |

| Codename | Kaby Lake | Milan |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 16,600 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 4x 81 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 64 MB (shared) |

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

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

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 128 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | HD 630 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

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

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $1570 |

| Part Number | SR338 | 100-000000319 |

Where Each One Wins

The EPYC 7453 wins every benchmark category where both chips have results. In cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both multicore and single-core, the EPYC leads by an identical -82.2% deltaPct. This includes the R23 multicore test (41185 versus 7344) and R23 single-core (5814 versus 1036). The EPYC is the clear choice for rendering, simulation, and any workload that scales with core count or benefits from high memory bandwidth. Its 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth and 64 MB L3 cache support large datasets and heavily threaded applications. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, which is critical for data integrity in server environments. With 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, it can drive extensive storage and networking arrays.

The i7-7700’s wins are limited to characteristics not measured in the head-to-head benchmarks. Its 65 W TDP makes it suitable for compact desktop builds with modest cooling. The integrated HD 630 GPU eliminates the need for a discrete graphics card in basic systems. The dual-channel memory bus and 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes are sufficient for typical desktop peripherals. The i7’s PassMark scores, such as 27538 in integer math and 16904 in floating point math, show it is capable in single-socket desktop tasks, but these results are not compared against the EPYC because the EPYC lacks PassMark entries. The i7-7700’s higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz does not yield a single-core win in cinebench, so its advantage is purely platform-level, not performance-level. For users who need a low-power desktop processor with integrated graphics, the i7-7700 has a niche. For anyone measuring raw compute, the EPYC 7453 is the decisive winner.