AMD EPYC 7502 vs Intel Core i7-6700K Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7502 has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Core i7-6700K has 4 cores and 8 threads. The EPYC offers eight times the core count and eight times the thread count.

Q: What are the architectural differences between these two CPUs?

A: The AMD EPYC 7502 uses the Zen 2 architecture (codename Rome) on a 7 nm TSMC process, while the Intel Core i7-6700K uses Skylake on Intel's 14 nm process. The EPYC is a server/workstation part on Socket SP3, whereas the i7 is a desktop chip on Socket 1151.

Q: Which CPU has higher clock speeds?

A: The Intel Core i7-6700K has a higher base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The AMD EPYC 7502 operates at a 2.50 GHz base and 3.35 GHz boost. Despite lower clocks, the EPYC wins all single-thread benchmarks in the database.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The EPYC 7502 supports eight-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The i7-6700K is dual-channel with 34.1 GB/s. The EPYC's bandwidth is roughly six times higher.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7502 supports ECC memory, a standard feature for server platforms. The Intel Core i7-6700K does not support ECC.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD EPYC 7502 is listed as Active in production. The Intel Core i7-6700K is End-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7502 and Intel Core i7-6700K represent two fundamentally different design philosophies and market targets. The EPYC is built on TSMC's 7 nm process with 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. The i7-6700K is fabricated on Intel's 14 nm node with a 122 mm² die size. The EPYC's smaller die with more transistors reflects the density advantage of the newer process node.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The EPYC 7502 provides 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with a massive 128 MB shared L3 cache. The i7-6700K offers 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with only 8 MB shared L3. The EPYC's L3 cache is 16 times larger, which directly benefits multi-threaded server workloads with large working sets.

Memory architecture is another major divergence. The EPYC uses an eight-channel DDR4 memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-6700K is limited to dual-channel DDR3 or DDR4 (depending on motherboard) with 34.1 GB/s. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, while the i7 does not.

PCIe support differs: the EPYC implements PCIe Gen 4, while the i7-6700K uses Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The EPYC targets server platforms with high I/O requirements, whereas the i7 is a desktop part with integrated HD Graphics 530. The i7 has an unlocked multiplier, while the EPYC's multiplier is locked.

The process node gap is significant: 7 nm versus 14 nm. Combined with the EPYC's larger transistor count (3,800 million versus no listed figure for the i7), the architectural intent is clear. The EPYC leverages many smaller, efficient cores for parallel throughput, while the i7 relies on higher clocks from a mature desktop design.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7502 dominates every recorded benchmark in the database. Across all six Cinebench tests, the EPYC outperforms the i7-6700K by roughly 478% in every case. This includes both multi-core and single-core tests, which is notable given the i7's higher clock speeds.

The EPYC's wins are most pronounced in multi-core workloads, where its 32 cores and 64 threads provide massive parallel throughput. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a score of 43,940 for the EPYC versus 7,594 for the i7. The single-core results are also one-sided: the EPYC scores 6,203 in R23 single-core versus 1,072 for the i7, a 478.6% advantage.

The Intel Core i7-6700K has no benchmark wins in the head-to-head data. Its higher base and boost clocks do not translate into superior performance in any recorded test. However, the i7's platform advantages include integrated graphics (HD Graphics 530), an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and a desktop form factor with lower power requirements (91 W TDP versus 180 W).

For use cases, the EPYC 7502 is suited for server virtualization, database workloads, scientific computing, and any multi-threaded server application. The i7-6700K, despite losing all head-to-head tests, remains a desktop processor with integrated graphics and a mature ecosystem for consumer workloads. The i7 also supports DDR3 memory, which can be an advantage on older motherboards.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. Core count: 32 versus 4. Threads: 64 versus 8. Base clock: 2.50 GHz versus 4.00 GHz. Boost clock: 3.35 GHz versus 4.20 GHz. TDP: 180 W versus 91 W.

Socket and platform: AMD Socket SP3 versus Intel Socket 1151. Architecture: Zen 2 (Rome) versus Skylake. Process node: 7 nm (TSMC) versus 14 nm (Intel). Foundry: TSMC versus Intel. Die size: 74 mm² versus 122 mm². Transistor count: 3,800 million versus not listed.

Cache: L1 per core is 96 KB versus 64 KB; L2 per core is 512 KB versus 256 KB; L3 shared is 128 MB versus 8 MB. Memory support: DDR4 (eight-channel) versus DDR3/DDR4 (dual-channel, motherboard dependent). Memory bandwidth: 204.8 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s. ECC: supported versus not supported.

PCIe: Gen 4 versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics: none versus HD Graphics 530. Market segment: Server/Workstation versus Desktop. Production status: Active versus End-of-life. Release date: 2019-08-06 versus 2015-08-04. Multiplier: locked versus unlocked. Part number: 100-000000054 versus SR2L0SR2BR.

The launch MSRP for the i7-6700K is $339. The EPYC 7502 has no launch MSRP listed in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are completely one-sided. The AMD EPYC 7502 wins all six recorded Cinebench tests, with the Intel Core i7-6700K failing to secure a single victory. The win count stands at 6 for the EPYC and 0 for the i7.

Cinebench R15 multi-core: EPYC scores 4,428 versus i7's 765, a 478.8% advantage. This is the first and largest delta in the multi-core sequence. The R15 single-core test shows 625 versus 108, a 478.7% gap.

Cinebench R20 multi-core: EPYC 18,454 versus i7 3,189, a 478.7% delta. R20 single-core: 2,605 versus 450, a 478.9% delta, the largest percentage difference in the entire set.

Cinebench R23 multi-core: EPYC 43,940 versus i7 7,594, a 478.6% advantage. R23 single-core: 6,203 versus 1,072, also a 478.6% delta.

The consistency of the deltas (all between 478.6% and 478.9%) indicates that the performance ratio is stable across different Cinebench versions and workload types. The EPYC's advantage is not workload-specific; it is a fundamental throughput difference.

The average benchmark score reflects this gap: the EPYC averages 12,709 across all recorded benchmarks, while the i7-6700K averages 12,237. Both CPUs sit at the 67th percentile versus all CPUs in the database. The EPYC's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Gold 6348 (delta -0.3%), Intel Core i5-8400 (delta -0.4%), Intel Core i3-10105F (delta 0.5%), and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X (delta -0.6%). The i7's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-10105 (delta -0.6%), Intel Core i3-12100 (delta 1.5%), Intel Xeon Gold 6314U (delta 1.8%), and Intel Xeon Bronze 3408U (delta 1.8%).

The delta percentages in the head-to-head tests are remarkably uniform, suggesting that the EPYC's architectural advantages (more cores, more cache, higher memory bandwidth) translate into a consistent performance multiplier regardless of the specific Cinebench version. The i7's higher clock speeds do not compensate for its lower core count and smaller cache in any recorded test.