AMD EPYC 7473X vs Intel Core i7-9750H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9750H and AMD EPYC 7473X occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, and the benchmark data reflects a complete sweep for the EPYC part. Across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the AMD EPYC 7473X wins every round, with the Intel chip trailing by roughly 82% in each discipline. The EPYC 7473X delivers a multi-core Cinebench R23 score of 50,388 against the i7-9750H’s 8,973, and even in single-core workloads, the gap remains massive at 7,113 versus 1,266. This is not a close contest; it is a category difference, driven by core counts, cache sizes, and platform ambitions.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7473X outperforms the Intel Core i7-9750H in every measured benchmark. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 5,078 while the Intel part manages just 904, a delta of -82.2% for the i7-9750H. The single-core result in the same test shows 716 for AMD versus 127 for Intel, again a -82.3% difference. Moving to Cinebench R20, the EPYC’s 21,162 multi-core score dwarfs the i7-9750H’s 3,768, and the single-core gap repeats the pattern: 2,987 against 531. The most recent Cinebench R23 results continue the trend, with the EPYC reaching 50,388 multi-core and 7,113 single-core, while the Intel chip posts 8,973 and 1,266 respectively. Every delta sits at -82.2%, meaning the Intel processor delivers roughly one-sixth of the EPYC’s performance in these workloads.

The consistency of the -82.2% delta across all six tests is striking. It suggests that the performance difference is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental throughput advantage. The EPYC’s 24 cores and 48 threads simply outmuscle the i7-9750H’s 6 cores and 12 threads in every Cinebench scenario. Notably, the Intel part’s own benchmark suite includes Geekbench and Passmark scores, but those are not part of the head-to-head comparison. In the direct comparison, the EPYC 7473X claims all 6 wins, leaving the i7-9750H with zero. The nearest rivals for the Intel chip, such as the AMD EPYC 74F3 (average score 14,915, delta -0.2%) and Intel Core i3-10320 (14,852, delta 0.2%), show that the i7-9750H sits in a mid-range cluster, while the EPYC 7473X’s nearest rivals—including the Intel Xeon 6315P (14,574, delta 0%)—are all within a very tight margin, indicating the EPYC’s average score of 14,574 is near a performance plateau for its class.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures, nodes, and platforms. The Intel Core i7-9750H uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR codename, fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The AMD EPYC 7473X, in contrast, is based on Zen 3, with the Milan-X codename, built on TSMC’s 7 nm process. It packs 24 cores and 48 threads, running at a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The process node difference—14 nm versus 7 nm—explains part of the efficiency and density gap, but the more dramatic divergence is in cache and memory architecture.

The i7-9750H has a modest cache layout: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7473X also has 64 KB of L1 per core, but its L2 doubles to 512 KB per core, and its L3 is a staggering 768 MB shared—64 times larger than the Intel chip’s L3. This enormous cache is a hallmark of the Milan-X design, optimizing for data-heavy server workloads. Memory support further separates the two: the Intel part uses dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s and no ECC support, while the EPYC uses eight-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s and full ECC memory support. The EPYC also offers PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7-9750H is limited to PCIe Gen 3.

Other differences include the integrated graphics: the i7-9750H includes an Intel UHD 630, while the EPYC has none. The Intel chip is a mobile processor on the Intel BGA 1440 socket, with a TDP of 45 watts, while the EPYC targets server/workstation use on AMD Socket SP3, with a TDP of 240 watts. The Intel part is end-of-life, released in April 2019, while the EPYC is active, released in March 2022. Transistor counts and die sizes also differ: the EPYC lists 33,200 million transistors across 8x 81 mm² dies, whereas the i7-9750H has a die size of 149 mm² with no listed transistor count. The EPYC’s market segment, server/workstation, explains its higher power envelope and massive cache, while the i7-9750H’s mobile pedigree prioritizes lower power and integration.

Where Each One Wins

Given the benchmark sweep, the EPYC 7473X wins everywhere in the head-to-head data, but the use-case split reveals why each part exists. The EPYC 7473X dominates multi-threaded, cache-sensitive, and memory-bandwidth-heavy workloads. Its 24 cores and 48 threads, combined with 768 MB of L3 cache and 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth, make it ideal for server virtualization, large database operations, scientific computing, and any task where data residency in cache reduces latency. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 50,388 is a direct indicator of sustained throughput for rendering or compilation workloads. The EPYC also leads single-core performance in this comparison, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7,113 versus 1,266 for the Intel part, which is surprising given the EPYC’s lower boost clock (3.70 GHz versus 4.50 GHz). This suggests architectural efficiency in Zen 3 outweighs the raw clock-speed advantage of the older Intel design.

The Intel Core i7-9750H, despite losing every direct benchmark, has a clear niche in mobile computing. Its 45-watt TDP, integrated UHD 630 graphics, and BGA 1440 socket are designed for laptops where power and space are constrained. The i7-9750H’s boost clock of 4.50 GHz means it can handle bursty single-threaded tasks like web browsing or office applications, though its single-core scores in this data (e.g., 1,266 in Cinebench R23) are far below the EPYC. The Intel part also includes several Passmark benchmarks not available for the EPYC, such as data compression (150,443), integer math (37,822), and floating point math (23,343), which show it has some utility in client-side encryption or compression tasks, but these are not part of the head-to-head set. The EPYC’s lack of integrated graphics and server-only socket mean it cannot serve mobile or desktop consumer roles, so the i7-9750H wins on portability and platform flexibility, not performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD EPYC 7473X scores 50,388, while the Intel Core i7-9750H scores 8,973, a delta of -82.2% for the Intel part.

Q: Does the Intel chip beat the EPYC in any benchmark?

A: No. In the six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the EPYC 7473X wins all six, with the i7-9750H recording zero wins.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Intel i7-9750H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7473X has 24 cores and 48 threads.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The Intel part has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The EPYC has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 768 MB shared L3.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7473X supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-9750H does not.

Q: What are the release dates?

A: The Intel Core i7-9750H was released on 2019-04-22, and the AMD EPYC 7473X was released on 2022-03-21.

The Verdict

The data is decisive: the AMD EPYC 7473X is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. If the task is raw compute throughput, cache capacity, or memory bandwidth, the EPYC is the only choice. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 50,388 is nearly six times the i7-9750H’s 8,973, and its single-core performance is equally dominant. The EPYC’s 768 MB of L3 cache, eight-channel memory, and 24-core design make it suitable for server and workstation workloads where the i7-9750H cannot compete. The Intel part’s only advantages are its mobility—45-watt TDP, integrated graphics, and laptop socket—but those do not translate into any benchmark win here.

For a mobile user needing a capable laptop processor, the i7-9750H is end-of-life but functional, with a boost clock of 4.50 GHz and a mid-range average benchmark score of 14,886, placing it near rivals like the AMD EPYC 74F3 (14,915) and Intel Core i3-10320 (14,852). For a server or workstation builder, the EPYC 7473X, with an average score of 14,574, sits level with the Intel Xeon 6315P (14,574) and AMD Ryzen 5 5500U (14,589), but its massive core count and cache give it a workload-specific edge that the average score obscures. The EPYC’s launch MSRP is $3900, but that is a single data point; the verdict from benchmarks is that the EPYC wins all six head-to-head tests, making it the clear performance pick. The i7-9750H is not a competitor in this matchup—it is a different class of product for a different physical environment.

Specification Differences

• Cores: Intel i7-9750H has 6; AMD EPYC 7473X has 24
• Threads: Intel i7-9750H has 12; AMD EPYC 7473X has 48
• Base Clock: Intel i7-9750H is 2.60 GHz; AMD EPYC 7473X is 2.80 GHz
• Boost Clock: Intel i7-9750H is 4.50 GHz; AMD EPYC 7473X is 3.70 GHz
• TDP: Intel i7-9750H is 45 watts; AMD EPYC 7473X is 240 watts
• Socket: Intel i7-9750H uses Intel BGA 1440; AMD EPYC 7473X uses AMD Socket SP3
• Architecture: Intel i7-9750H is Coffee Lake; AMD EPYC 7473X is Zen 3
• Process Node: Intel i7-9750H is 14 nm; AMD EPYC 7473X is 7 nm
• Foundry: Intel i7-9750H uses Intel; AMD EPYC 7473X uses TSMC
• Die Size: Intel i7-9750H is 149 mm²; AMD EPYC 7473X is 8x 81 mm²
• L2 Cache: Intel i7-9750H has 256 KB per core; AMD EPYC 7473X has 512 KB per core
• L3 Cache: Intel i7-9750H has 12 MB shared; AMD EPYC 7473X has 768 MB shared
• Memory Bus: Intel i7-9750H is dual-channel; AMD EPYC 7473X is eight-channel
• Memory Bandwidth: Intel i7-9750H is 42.7 GB/s; AMD EPYC 7473X is 204.8 GB/s
• ECC Support: Intel i7-9750H lacks it; AMD EPYC 7473X supports it
• PCIe: Intel i7-9750H is Gen 3; AMD EPYC 7473X is Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated Graphics: Intel i7-9750H has UHD 630; AMD EPYC 7473X has none
• Market Segment: Intel i7-9750H is mobile; AMD EPYC 7473X is server/workstation
• Production Status: Intel i7-9750H is end-of-life; AMD EPYC 7473X is active
• Release Date: Intel i7-9750H is 2019-04-22; AMD EPYC 7473X is 2022-03-21
• Transistors: Intel i7-9750H lists none; AMD EPYC 7473X lists 33,200 million