AMD EPYC 7502 vs Intel Core i7-1250U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the AMD EPYC 7502 across all six shared benchmark tests. The Intel Core i7-1250U does not win a single head-to-head comparison, with the EPYC 7502 taking every Cinebench iteration in both single-core and multi-core workloads.

The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the EPYC 7502 scores 43,940 against the i7-1250U's 7,069. That is a delta of -83.9% from the Intel chip's perspective, meaning the EPYC delivers roughly 5.2 times the multi-threaded performance in that specific test. The multi-core deficit is consistent across all three Cinebench versions: R15 shows a -73.5% delta (4,428 vs 1,172.94), R20 shows -78.4% (18,454 vs 3,983), and R23 shows -83.9% as noted.

Single-core results are also decisively in favor of the EPYC 7502, though the margins are smaller in percentage terms. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the EPYC scores 625 against the i7-1250U's 226, a -63.8% delta. R20 single-core shows 2,605 vs 562, a -78.4% delta. R23 single-core shows 6,203 vs 1,574, a -74.6% delta. The pattern is clear: the EPYC 7502 holds a commanding lead in every rendering workload tested, whether the task uses one core or all available cores.

Looking at the broader database context, the i7-1250U sits at the 68th percentile among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 13,351. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-7700K (0.5% ahead), the Intel Core i5-9500 (-0.7%), the Intel Core 3 N355 (-1%), and the Intel Core i3-12100F (-1.1%). The EPYC 7502 sits at the 67th percentile with an average score of 12,709, placing it near the Intel Xeon Gold 6348 (-0.3%), the Intel Core i5-8400 (-0.4%), the Intel Core i3-10105F (0.5% behind), and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X (-0.6%). Despite the EPYC's overwhelming head-to-head wins, the two processors occupy nearly identical percentile tiers in the overall database, indicating that the average score metric smooths out the dramatic differences seen in Cinebench alone.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-1250U is built on Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-U codename, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node. It belongs to the Core i7 generation for mobile devices and targets the Mobile market segment. The AMD EPYC 7502 uses Zen 2 architecture under the Rome codename, fabricated on TSMC's 7 nm process node, and targets the Server/Workstation segment as part of the EPYC 7002 series.

Core counts differ substantially: the i7-1250U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the EPYC 7502 has 32 cores and 64 threads. The EPYC offers 3.2 times the cores and 5.3 times the threads. Base and boost clocks also favor the EPYC: it runs at 2.50 GHz base and 3.35 GHz boost, compared to the i7's 1.10 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. The Intel chip has a higher boost clock by 1.35 GHz, but starts from a much lower base frequency.

Cache hierarchies diverge significantly. The i7-1250U has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7502 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 128 MB of shared L3. That means the EPYC has 10.7 times the L3 cache, though its per-core L2 is smaller. The EPYC also lists 3,800 million transistors and a 74 mm² die size, while the i7 does not have transistor or die size figures recorded in the database.

Power and platform requirements are equally divergent. The i7-1250U has a TDP of 9 watts, while the EPYC 7502 has a TDP of 180 watts, a 20-fold difference. The Intel chip uses the BGA 1781 socket, while the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3. Memory support differs as well: the i7 supports DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration with no ECC support, while the EPYC supports DDR4 in eight-channel configuration with ECC support and a recorded memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. Both support PCIe Gen 4. The i7 includes integrated Iris Xe 96EU graphics; the EPYC has no integrated graphics.

Release dates show the EPYC arrived first, launching on 2019-08-06, while the i7-1250U launched later on 2022-02-22. Both are marked as Active in production status. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP, and both have locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The data paints a one-sided picture in the shared Cinebench suite, but the broader benchmark records from the database reveal where each processor has strengths. The i7-1250U has a much richer set of recorded benchmarks, including PassMark tests that the EPYC lacks. The i7 scores 11,329 in PassMark multithread, 2,703 in PassMark single thread, 40,328 in integer math, 26,625 in floating point math, 119,280 in data compression, 7,642 in data encryption, 6,497 in extended instructions, 13,593 in random string sorting, 881 in physics, and 58 in find prime numbers. It also records Geekbench scores of 5,777 multi-core and 1,661 single-core.

The EPYC 7502 has only the six Cinebench results in its database entry, so direct comparisons beyond those are not possible. Within the available data, the EPYC wins every shared test. The i7's advantage lies in its integrated graphics and mobile form factor, which the EPYC cannot offer due to its server-class design with no iGPU. The i7 also has a much higher boost clock (4.70 vs 3.35 GHz), which could benefit lightly threaded workloads that rely on single-core burst performance, though the Cinebench single-core results do not reflect this advantage in practice.

For use-case analysis, the EPYC 7502 is clearly the choice for sustained multi-threaded rendering, compilation, or server workloads where 32 cores and 64 threads can be fully utilized. Its 128 MB L3 cache and eight-channel memory with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth support data-intensive server tasks. The i7-1250U, with its 9 W TDP and integrated graphics, suits thin-and-light mobile devices where power efficiency and battery life matter more than raw throughput. The i7's dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 support and lack of ECC align with consumer mobile use, while the EPYC's ECC and eight-channel memory align with enterprise reliability requirements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD EPYC 7502 scores 43,940 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i7-1250U scores 7,069. The EPYC leads by a -83.9% delta relative to the i7.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-1250U win any of the shared benchmarks?

A: No. The database records six head-to-head benchmark results, and the AMD EPYC 7502 wins all six. The i7-1250U has zero wins in the shared test suite.

Q: What is the core and thread difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-1250U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The AMD EPYC 7502 has 32 cores and 64 threads. The EPYC provides 3.2 times the cores and 5.3 times the threads.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory configuration?

A: No. The i7-1250U supports DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode without ECC. The EPYC 7502 supports DDR4 in eight-channel mode with ECC and has a recorded memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-1250U includes Iris Xe 96EU integrated graphics. The AMD EPYC 7502 has no integrated graphics, which is typical for server processors.

Q: How do these processors rank overall in the database?

A: The i7-1250U sits at the 68th percentile with an average benchmark score of 13,351. The EPYC 7502 sits at the 67th percentile with an average score of 12,709. Their nearest rivals differ accordingly.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-1250U | AMD EPYC 7502 |

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

| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |

| Cores | 10 | 32 |

| Threads | 12 | 64 |

| Base Clock | 1.10 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 3.35 GHz |

| TDP | 9 W | 180 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1781 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Alder Lake-U | Rome |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 3,800 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 74 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB per core | 96 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB shared | 128 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 204.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4 | Gen 4 |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe 96EU | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | 2022-02-22 | 2019-08-06 |

| Part Number | Not recorded | 100-000000054 |

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7502 outperforms the Intel Core i7-1250U in every shared test. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result alone shows a 43,940 to 7,069 score, a 5.2-fold advantage. Even in single-core tests, where the i7's higher boost clock might suggest competitiveness, the EPYC leads by at least -63.8% in R15, reaching -78.4% in R20.

The choice between these two comes down to platform and workload, not benchmark scores. The i7-1250U is a mobile processor with a 9 W TDP, integrated Iris Xe graphics, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5. It belongs in thin-and-light laptops where power efficiency is paramount. The EPYC 7502 is a server processor with a 180 W TDP, 32 cores, 64 threads, 128 MB of L3 cache, eight-channel ECC memory, and no integrated graphics. It belongs in servers and workstations that demand massive multi-threaded throughput.

Users seeking maximum rendering performance, virtualization density, or data-center compute should select the EPYC 7502 based on its Cinebench dominance. Users seeking a mobile platform with integrated graphics and low power consumption should select the i7-1250U, accepting its lower multi-core scores as a trade-off for portability and efficiency. The database shows no scenario in the shared tests where the i7 wins, so the decision rests entirely on form factor and power requirements rather than benchmark superiority.