AMD EPYC 7473X vs Intel Core i5-10400F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a stark picture. Across every single Cinebench test recorded in the database, the AMD EPYC 7473X delivers a decisive victory over the Intel Core i5-10400F, with margins that are nothing short of lopsided. The EPYC 7473X wins all six head-to-head comparisons, and it does so by roughly the same magnitude in every test.

Starting with the multi-core workloads, the EPYC 7473X posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 50388, which is 390% higher than the Core i5-10400F's 10283. That is not a marginal gap; it is a generational chasm. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R20, where the EPYC scores 21162 against the Intel part's 4318, a delta of 390.1%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 5078 versus 1036, a 390.2% lead.

The single-core results are equally one-sided. The EPYC 7473X scores 7113 in Cinebench R23 single-core, compared to just 1451 for the Core i5-10400F, a 390.2% advantage. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the EPYC posts 2987 versus 609, a 390.5% lead. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows 716 for the EPYC against 146 for the Intel chip, a 390.4% margin. It is rare to see a server processor outpace a desktop chip so comprehensively in single-threaded tests, but the data here is unambiguous.

For context on where these parts sit in the broader landscape, the EPYC 7473X holds a 69th percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 14574. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6315P at an identical 14574 average score, and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U at 14589, which is only 0.1% higher. The Intel Core i5-9600K sits at 14605, a 0.2% margin over the EPYC. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 trails by 0.5% with a score of 14505. These are tight groupings, meaning the EPYC's average sits in a competitive cluster, even though its Cinebench absolute scores tower over the Core i5-10400F.

The Core i5-10400F, by comparison, holds a 68th percentile ranking, just one point below the EPYC, with an average benchmark score of 14185. Its nearest rival is the Intel Xeon 6756E at 14163, a 0.2% gap, and the Intel Core 7 160UL at 14232, which is 0.3% higher. The AMD EPYC 7552 sits at 14115, 0.5% lower, and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C trails at 14277, 0.6% higher. The average scores are surprisingly close between the two processors, but the head-to-head Cinebench tests reveal the real story: the EPYC is in a different performance class entirely.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of the computing spectrum. The AMD EPYC 7473X is a server and workstation part built on the Zen 3 architecture, specifically the Milan-X codename, and manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It is a 24-core, 48-thread powerhouse with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The chip is built for AMD Socket SP3 and has a TDP of 240 W. It packs 33,200 million transistors across an 8x 81 mm² die configuration. Cache is a defining feature: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 768 MB of shared L3 cache, a figure that dwarfs almost anything else in the database.

The Intel Core i5-10400F, in contrast, is a desktop part from the Core 10th Gen series, built on the Comet Lake architecture and fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process. It offers 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. It uses Intel Socket 1200 and has a TDP of just 65 W. Cache is far more modest: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip's higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz versus the EPYC's 3.70 GHz does not translate into a performance win in the recorded benchmarks, which underscores how IPC and cache capacity can outweigh raw clock speed.

Memory support also diverges sharply. The EPYC 7473X supports DDR4 memory over an eight-channel bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, and it includes ECC memory support. The Core i5-10400F also supports DDR4, but over a dual-channel bus, yielding 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth, and it lacks ECC support. PCIe connectivity is another differentiator: the EPYC offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part provides Gen 3 with just 16 lanes. The EPYC's launch MSRP is $3900, and it was released on 2022-03-21. The Core i5-10400F was released on 2020-04-29. Both parts remain in active production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Intel chip has no integrated graphics, and neither does the EPYC, so both rely on discrete GPUs. The market segments tell the story: the EPYC is aimed at server and workstation workloads, while the Core i5-10400F is a mainstream desktop processor. The architectural gulf, from node size to cache hierarchy to memory channels, explains the benchmark outcomes far better than any single spec.

Where Each One Wins

Given the head-to-head results, the EPYC 7473X wins every recorded Cinebench test, both multi-core and single-core. That makes it the clear choice for any workload that stresses CPU throughput, whether that is rendering, scientific simulation, or heavy multi-threaded compilation. The 768 MB of L3 cache is a massive asset for data-intensive server workloads, and the eight-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth ensures the cores are fed without bottlenecks. The 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes also make it suitable for systems with multiple accelerators or high-speed storage arrays.

The Core i5-10400F, despite losing every head-to-head test, still has a place. Its 65 W TDP makes it a low-power option for desktop builds where energy efficiency and thermal output matter more than raw compute. Its 4.30 GHz boost clock is higher than the EPYC's 3.70 GHz, which can benefit lightly threaded applications that are sensitive to frequency, though the recorded single-core Cinebench scores do not reflect that advantage. The dual-channel memory and Gen 3 PCIe are sufficient for everyday desktop tasks, gaming, and office productivity. The Core i5-10400F also has a much lower launch cost, though the database does not record a launch MSRP for it.

For users who need a server-grade processor with massive cache, high core counts, and enterprise features like ECC memory and eight-channel bandwidth, the EPYC 7473X is the only rational choice. For a desktop user who needs a competent 6-core, 12-thread CPU for general use, the Core i5-10400F remains adequate, but it is not competitive with the EPYC in any measured metric.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7473X outperforms the Intel Core i5-10400F by approximately 390% in every Cinebench benchmark recorded in the database. That includes both multi-core and single-core tests, which means the EPYC does not merely win on thread count, it wins on per-thread efficiency as well. The 24-core, 48-thread configuration, combined with 768 MB of L3 cache, an eight-channel memory bus, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, puts it in a different performance tier.

The Core i5-10400F, with 6 cores, 12 threads, 12 MB of L3 cache, and dual-channel memory, is a capable desktop processor for its intended market, but it cannot approach the EPYC's throughput. The percentile rankings are close, 69 for the EPYC and 68 for the Core i5, and their average benchmark scores differ by only 389 points, but the head-to-head tests show the true gap. The EPYC is a server and workstation processor, and the data reflects that positioning.

Anyone selecting between these two parts should base the decision on workload and platform. If the task demands maximum CPU performance, extensive cache, high memory bandwidth, or enterprise features like ECC, the EPYC 7473X is the answer. If the task involves a desktop build with modest power requirements and no need for server-class features, the Core i5-10400F is sufficient, but it will trail the EPYC by a wide margin in any compute-heavy application. The recorded data leaves no room for ambiguity.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the AMD EPYC 7473X than the Intel Core i5-10400F in multi-core performance?

A: The EPYC 7473X scores 50388 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 390% higher than the Core i5-10400F's 10283. Similar margins appear in Cinebench R20 and R15 multi-core tests.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-10400F win in any single-threaded test?

A: No. The EPYC 7473X wins every recorded single-core test, including Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 7113 versus the Intel part's 1451, a 390.2% advantage.

Q: What is the cache difference between the two processors?

A: The EPYC 7473X has 768 MB of shared L3 cache, with 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core. The Core i5-10400F has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, with 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The EPYC 7473X supports ECC memory, while the Core i5-10400F does not. The EPYC also uses an eight-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, compared to the Intel part's dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each CPU?

A: The EPYC 7473X has 24 cores and 48 threads. The Core i5-10400F has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How do the two processors compare in percentile ranking?

A: The EPYC 7473X ranks in the 69th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 14574. The Core i5-10400F ranks in the 68th percentile, with an average score of 14185.