AMD EPYC 7502 vs Intel Core i5-8500 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unambiguous picture: the AMD EPYC 7502 wins all six recorded head-to-head comparisons, with the Intel Core i5-8500 trailing by roughly 81% in every test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC 7502 scores 4428 against the i5-8500's 814, a delta of -81.6%. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 625 versus 114, for a delta of -81.8%. These are not marginal gaps; they represent a processor with more than five times the throughput in these workloads.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore result is 18454 for the EPYC 7502 versus 3393 for the i5-8500, again a -81.6% delta. The single-core R20 test records 2605 against 478, a -81.7% difference. In Cinebench R23, the EPYC 7502 reaches 43940 multicore while the i5-8500 manages 8079, and in single-core the scores are 6203 and 1140 respectively. Both R23 results carry a -81.6% delta.

The consistency of these deltas across all six tests is notable. Whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded, the EPYC 7502 maintains roughly the same proportional advantage. This suggests the performance gap is not merely a function of core count scaling, but also reflects a fundamental difference in per-core efficiency. The i5-8500, despite its higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz versus the EPYC's 3.35 GHz, cannot close the gap in any measured scenario.

The average benchmark scores corroborate this. The i5-8500 posts an average score of 13142, while the EPYC 7502 averages 12709. Interestingly, the EPYC's average is slightly lower despite winning every head-to-head test. This is explained by the fact that the i5-8500 has a much larger set of benchmark records, including PassMark tests where it scores well in single-threaded operations. The EPYC 7502's dataset is limited to Cinebench variants, which heavily favor its massive core count.

In terms of percentile ranking, the two processors are nearly tied. The i5-8500 sits at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, while the EPYC 7502 is at the 67th. This means that while the EPYC dominates in the specific Cinebench tests recorded, the i5-8500 holds its own against a broader field of processors. The nearest rival data for the i5-8500 includes the Intel Core i7-7700K with an average score of 13291, a -1.1% delta, and the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL at 13061, a +0.6% delta. For the EPYC 7502, the nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Gold 6348 at 12746 (-0.3%) and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X at 12786 (-0.6%). These close margins indicate that both chips sit within a dense cluster of comparable performers when averaged across all benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-8500 uses the Coffee Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process by Intel. It features 6 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The thermal design power is 65 watts, and it uses the Intel Socket 1151. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 9 MB L3 cache. The die size is 154 mm².

The AMD EPYC 7502 belongs to the EPYC 7002 series, based on the Zen 2 architecture (codename Rome), fabricated on a 7 nm process by TSMC. It packs 32 cores and 64 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.35 GHz. The thermal design power is 180 watts, and it uses the AMD Socket SP3. Its cache hierarchy is substantially larger: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 128 MB L3 cache. The die size is only 74 mm², despite holding more than five times the cores. The EPYC also has 3,800 million transistors, while the i5-8500's transistor count is not recorded.

Memory support differs markedly. The i5-8500 uses dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s and no ECC support. The EPYC 7502 uses eight-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s and supports ECC memory. The PCIe capabilities also diverge: the i5-8500 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the EPYC 7502 provides Gen 4 (lane count not specified in the data). The i5-8500 includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, whereas the EPYC 7502 has no integrated graphics.

The market segments reflect their intended uses. The i5-8500 is a desktop processor, released in February 2018, and is now end-of-life. The EPYC 7502 targets server and workstation workloads, released in August 2019, and remains active in production. The i5-8500's launch MSRP was $192; no launch price is recorded for the EPYC 7502. Both processors have locked multipliers, meaning they are not intended for overclocking.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7502 has 32 cores and 64 threads. The Intel Core i5-8500 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How do the boost clocks compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-8500 boosts to 4.10 GHz, which is higher than the AMD EPYC 7502's 3.35 GHz. Despite this, the EPYC wins all recorded single-core benchmarks.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD EPYC 7502 provides 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth over eight channels. The Intel Core i5-8500 provides 42.7 GB/s over dual channels.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7502 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-8500 does not.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 7502 has a shared 128 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-8500 has a shared 9 MB L3 cache.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i5-8500 is built on a 14 nm process at Intel. The AMD EPYC 7502 is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-8500 | AMD EPYC 7502 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 32 |

| Threads | 6 | 64 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 3.35 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 180 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Coffee Lake | Rome |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 3,800 million |

| Die Size | 154 mm² | 74 mm² |

| L1 Cache (per core) | 64 KB | 96 KB |

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

| L3 Cache (shared) | 9 MB | 128 MB |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 lanes | Gen 4 |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2018-02-13 | 2019-08-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $192 | Not recorded |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7502 wins every recorded benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. Its advantages are most pronounced in multi-threaded workloads, where the 32-core, 64-thread configuration delivers a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 43940, more than five times the i5-8500's 8079. The EPYC also leads in single-threaded tests, with a R23 single-core score of 6203 against 1140, a gap that cannot be attributed to core count alone. This suggests the Zen 2 architecture offers superior per-core instruction throughput in these specific Cinebench tasks.

The Intel Core i5-8500, however, shows strengths outside the head-to-head tests. Its PassMark single-thread score of 2441 and Geekbench single-core score of 1342 indicate that in other workloads, it can be competitive. The i5-8500 also has a higher boost clock (4.10 GHz versus 3.35 GHz) and a much lower TDP (65 W versus 180 W), making it suitable for systems where power draw and cooling are constraints. Its integrated UHD Graphics 630 eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic display scenarios, which the EPYC cannot offer.

For memory-sensitive applications, the EPYC 7502's eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth provides a substantial advantage over the i5-8500's dual-channel 42.7 GB/s. The EPYC's ECC support and larger L3 cache (128 MB versus 9 MB) further position it for server-class workloads that demand data integrity and large working sets. The i5-8500, with its 9 MB L3 and dual-channel memory, is better suited to consumer desktop tasks where those resources are sufficient.

The Verdict

The data clearly indicates that the AMD EPYC 7502 is the superior processor in all recorded benchmark comparisons. Its 32 cores and 64 threads, combined with a 128 MB L3 cache and 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth, make it the appropriate choice for server and workstation workloads that can leverage parallel processing. The EPYC wins every head-to-head test by approximately 81%, and its active production status suggests ongoing relevance in enterprise environments.

The Intel Core i5-8500, while losing all six head-to-head tests, remains a viable desktop processor for users who prioritize lower power consumption (65 W TDP), integrated graphics, and a higher boost clock (4.10 GHz). Its end-of-life status and smaller core count make it a less future-proof option, but for single-threaded desktop applications, it holds its own in the broader benchmark database, ranking at the 68th percentile of all CPUs.

Ultimately, the choice depends on workload. If the task requires massive multi-threading, ECC memory, or high memory bandwidth, the EPYC 7502 is the clear winner. If the task is a typical desktop workload with modest threading demands and a need for integrated graphics, the i5-8500 offers a lower-power alternative, though it cannot match the EPYC's raw performance in any measured test. The recorded data leaves no ambiguity: the EPYC 7502 is the dominant processor in direct comparison.