AMD EPYC 7501 vs Intel Xeon W-2170B Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7501 and Intel Xeon W-2170B represent two distinct approaches to high-core-count computing from the same 14 nm era, yet benchmark results show a remarkably consistent performance relationship. The EPYC 7501, a 32-core Naples server part, wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, each by exactly 2.4%. The Xeon W-2170B, a 14-core Skylake-W workstation processor, counters with higher clock speeds and a larger die, but the data indicates the EPYC’s core-count advantage yields a narrow, uniform victory across single- and multi-threaded workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD EPYC 7501 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests against the Intel Xeon W-2170B, covering R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core modes. The Intel part records zero wins in the head-to-head data.

Q: How large is the performance difference between the two?

A: Every head-to-head benchmark shows the same 2.4% deltaPct in favor of the AMD EPYC 7501. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC scores 21186 versus 20693 for the Xeon; in single-core R23, the EPYC scores 2991 versus 2921.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD EPYC 7501 has 32 cores and 64 threads. The Intel Xeon W-2170B has 14 cores and 28 threads. The EPYC thus offers more than double the core count and thread count.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The EPYC 7501 has an average benchmark score of 6128, while the Xeon W-2170B averages 5985. The EPYC’s nearest rival list includes the Intel Core i9-7940X at 6147 (-0.3% delta) and the AMD EPYC 7272 at 6186 (-0.9% delta). The Xeon’s rivals include the Intel Core i9-9920X at 5917 (1.1% delta) and the AMD EPYC 7501 itself at 6128 (-2.3% delta).

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The AMD EPYC 7501 is listed as Active, while the Intel Xeon W-2170B is marked End-of-life. Both processors carry a 61st percentile ranking versus all CPUs.

Q: Do both support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD EPYC 7501 and Intel Xeon W-2170B support ECC memory. Both are also limited to DDR4, with the EPYC using an eight-channel bus and the Xeon a quad-channel bus.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in their architectural priorities. The AMD EPYC 7501 uses the Zen architecture on the Naples codename, fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process with 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. The Intel Xeon W-2170B uses Skylake architecture on the Skylake-W codename, built by Intel on a 14 nm process with a substantially larger 484 mm² die. The EPYC’s smaller die and higher transistor count suggest a denser, more efficient layout, while the Xeon’s larger die reflects a different design philosophy.

Cache hierarchies differ sharply. The EPYC 7501 provides 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 64 MB of shared L3. The Xeon W-2170B offers 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, but only 19.25 MB of shared L3. The EPYC’s L3 cache is over three times larger, which can benefit multi-threaded workloads with shared data.

Memory architecture also separates the two. The EPYC 7501 uses an eight-channel memory bus with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon W-2170B uses a quad-channel bus with 85.3 GB/s, exactly half the bandwidth. For memory-intensive server workloads, this doubling of channel count and bandwidth gives the EPYC a structural advantage. Both support PCIe Gen 3, though the Xeon specifies 48 lanes from the CPU.

Clock speeds favor the Intel part. The Xeon W-2170B runs at 2.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost, versus 2.00 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost for the EPYC 7501. TDP also differs: 140 watts for the Xeon versus 170 watts for the EPYC. The EPYC’s multiplier is unlocked, while the Xeon’s is locked. The EPYC launched on 2017-06-28, roughly six months before the Xeon’s 2017-12-20 release.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unusual picture: every single test, from Cinebench R15 single-core to R23 multi-core, yields a 2.4% win for the AMD EPYC 7501. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 2135 against the Xeon’s 2085. The single-core R15 test shows 301 versus 294. Moving to R20, the EPYC posts 8898 multi-core and 1256 single-core, against 8691 and 1226 for the Xeon. In R23, the EPYC scores 21186 multi-core and 2991 single-core, versus 20693 and 2921.

The consistency of the 2.4% delta across all six tests is notable. Typically, a processor with more than double the cores would show a larger multi-core advantage, but the Xeon’s higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz partially compensates in lightly-threaded tests. Yet even in single-core, the EPYC wins by the same margin. This suggests the EPYC’s Zen cores at 3.00 GHz boost are competitive with the Skylake cores at 4.30 GHz in these Cinebench workloads, or that the benchmark’s scaling favors the EPYC’s architecture.

The average benchmark scores place the EPYC 7501 at 6128, which is 2.3% above the Xeon’s 5985. The EPYC’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-7940X at 6147, just 0.3% higher, and the AMD EPYC 7272 at 6186, 0.9% higher. The Xeon’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-9920X at 5917, which the Xeon beats by 1.1%, and the AMD EPYC 7451 at 5915, beaten by 1.2%. Notably, the EPYC 7501 appears on the Xeon’s rival list with a -2.3% delta, meaning the Xeon trails the EPYC by that margin.

Within the head-to-head data, the EPYC’s six wins and the Xeon’s zero wins are unambiguous. The largest absolute gap is in R23 multi-core, where the EPYC leads by 493 points. The smallest absolute gap is in R15 single-core, a 7-point difference. The percentage margin, however, remains constant at 2.4% in every case.

The Verdict

The data directs a clear choice for multi-threaded server or workstation workloads: the AMD EPYC 7501 outperforms the Intel Xeon W-2170B in every benchmark recorded. With 32 cores versus 14, eight-channel memory delivering 170.6 GB/s versus quad-channel at 85.3 GB/s, and 64 MB of L3 versus 19.25 MB, the EPYC is structurally built for parallel throughput. The 2.4% margin in multi-core tests, while modest, is consistent across Cinebench versions, indicating a stable advantage rather than a workload-specific fluke.

For single-threaded performance, the Xeon’s 4.30 GHz boost clock would normally be expected to dominate the EPYC’s 3.00 GHz boost. Yet the data shows the EPYC winning single-core tests by the same 2.4%. This flips the conventional assumption that higher clock speed equals single-thread superiority, at least within this benchmark suite. Users prioritizing raw single-thread speed should note that the Xeon’s clock advantage does not translate into a win here.

The Xeon W-2170B is not without merits. It consumes less power at 140 watts TDP versus 170, uses a larger 484 mm² die, and offers 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU. Its production status, however, is End-of-life, while the EPYC remains Active. For new deployments, the EPYC’s active status and higher average score of 6128 versus 5985 make it the safer long-term investment. The Xeon’s nearest rival list shows it beating the Core i9-9920X by 1.1% and the EPYC 7451 by 1.2%, but it trails the EPYC 7501 by 2.3%. The verdict is straightforward: the EPYC 7501 wins every benchmark comparison, making it the superior choice based strictly on performance data.

Specification Differences

The AMD EPYC 7501 and Intel Xeon W-2170B differ across nearly every core specification. The most significant divergence is core count: 32 cores and 64 threads for the EPYC versus 14 cores and 28 threads for the Xeon. Clock speeds also differ, with the EPYC at 2.00 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost, while the Xeon runs at 2.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. TDP is lower on the Xeon at 140 watts, compared to 170 watts for the EPYC.

Socket and platform differ completely: the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2066. The EPYC’s architecture is Zen with the Naples codename, while the Xeon uses Skylake with the Skylake-W codename. Both are built on a 14 nm process, but the foundry differs: GlobalFoundries for AMD, Intel for the Xeon. The EPYC has 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die; the Xeon’s transistor count is not listed, but its die size is 484 mm².

Cache configurations are distinct. The EPYC provides 96 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core, with 64 MB shared L3. The Xeon provides 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core, with 19.25 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the EPYC uses an eight-channel bus with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon uses quad-channel with 85.3 GB/s. The EPYC has an unlocked multiplier; the Xeon’s is locked. The EPYC’s part number is PS7501BEVIHAF, and the Xeon’s is SR3W3. The EPYC released on 2017-06-28, and the Xeon on 2017-12-20. Neither processor has integrated graphics or a listed launch MSRP. The EPYC’s production status is Active, while the Xeon is End-of-life.