AMD EPYC 7513 vs Intel Xeon w7-3555 Comparison

The Intel Xeon w7-3555 and AMD EPYC 7513 are both high-end server/workstation processors, but the benchmark data reveals a clear split in their strengths. The Intel part wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD chip takes 3. The most dramatic Intel victory comes in PassMark single-thread performance, where the Xeon w7-3555 scores 3549 against the EPYC 7513’s 2479, a 43.2% lead. This is not a small margin; it suggests a fundamental advantage in per-core efficiency that carries across nearly every test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a remarkably consistent pattern. Across all six Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests — both single-core and multi-core — the Intel Xeon w7-3555 wins by exactly 14.2%. For instance, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 57590 versus AMD’s 50431. In single-core R23, the gap is identical in percentage terms: 8130 against 7119. This uniformity across rendering workloads indicates that the Intel chip’s advantage is not workload-specific but rather a general throughput edge.

The PassMark results tell a more nuanced story. The Xeon w7-3555 dominates in extended instructions, scoring 77619 versus 56451, a 37.5% margin. Floating-point math also favors Intel heavily: 190917 against 151713, a 25.8% difference. Even in prime number finding, Intel wins 398 to 380, a modest 4.7% edge. The multi-thread PassMark score follows the Cinebench trend, with Intel ahead 67754 to 59331, again a 14.2% margin.

However, the AMD EPYC 7513 has its own victories. The most striking is data encryption, where AMD scores 63628 against Intel’s 48007 — a 24.6% lead for AMD. This is the largest single delta in either direction, and it suggests AMD’s Zen 3 architecture has a significant cryptographic acceleration advantage. AMD also wins integer math, 272145 to 244642, a 10.1% margin. Random string sorting goes to AMD as well, 104660 versus 96112, an 8.2% edge. These three wins cluster around data manipulation and security tasks, hinting at a specific architectural strength rather than a general one.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this mixed picture. The Xeon w7-3555 has an average score of 106192, placing it at the 97th percentile of all CPUs. The EPYC 7513 averages 102244, also at the 97th percentile. The Intel chip’s nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX at 106413, a delta of only -0.2%, meaning the Xeon is essentially tied with that part. The EPYC 7513’s closest competitor is the AMD EPYC 8324P at 103329, a 1.1% gap. These percentile rankings put both chips in elite company, but the head-to-head deltas show Intel with a clear overall performance edge.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon w7-3555 uses Sapphire Rapids, built on a 10 nm process at Intel’s own foundry. It has 28 cores and 56 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Its die is composed of four separate 477 mm² chiplets, totaling a massive physical footprint. The AMD EPYC 7513, in contrast, uses Zen 3 architecture under the Milan codename, fabricated on a 7 nm process by TSMC. It packs 32 cores and 64 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.65 GHz. AMD’s design uses eight 81 mm² chiplets, each much smaller than Intel’s, and it contains 33,200 million transistors.

Cache hierarchies diverge sharply. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, with a 75 MB L3 pool. AMD gives each core 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2, but shares a much larger 128 MB L3 cache across all cores. This larger L3 could explain AMD’s wins in encryption and integer math, where data reuse patterns benefit from a bigger shared cache. Intel’s smaller L3 but higher clocks likely drive its single-thread and rendering wins.

Memory support differs by generation. The Xeon w7-3555 uses DDR5 with an eight-channel bus, delivering 307.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The EPYC 7513 uses DDR4, also eight-channel, but bandwidth drops to 204.8 GB/s. That 102.4 GB/s difference could be decisive in memory-bandwidth-bound workloads. PCIe connectivity also favors Intel in speed but AMD in lane count: Intel offers Gen 5 with 112 lanes, while AMD provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes. Both support ECC memory, and neither has integrated graphics. The Intel part’s TDP is 325 W, while the AMD chip runs at 200 W, a notable power disparity.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Xeon w7-3555 wins decisively. In PassMark single-thread, Intel scores 3549 versus AMD’s 2479, a 43.2% lead. The Cinebench R23 single-core test confirms this with Intel at 8130 against AMD’s 7119.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7513 beat Intel in any benchmark?

A: Yes, in three PassMark tests. AMD wins data encryption by 24.6% (63628 vs 48007), integer math by 10.1% (272145 vs 244642), and random string sorting by 8.2% (104660 vs 96112).

Q: How do their core counts compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7513 has more cores: 32 cores and 64 threads versus Intel’s 28 cores and 56 threads. Despite this AMD advantage in core count, Intel wins the multi-threaded Cinebench tests by 14.2%.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Xeon w7-3555 supports DDR5 with 307.2 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD EPYC 7513 uses DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s. This gives Intel a 102.4 GB/s bandwidth advantage.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both sit at the 97th percentile of all CPUs. However, Intel’s average benchmark score is 106192, while AMD’s is 102244.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon w7-3555 boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 7513 boosts to 3.65 GHz. Intel’s boost clock is 1.15 GHz higher.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Xeon w7-3555 as the stronger overall performer. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, including all six Cinebench tests and the PassMark multi-thread score. The 43.2% single-thread advantage is particularly stark, and the 25.8% floating-point lead shows Intel’s strength in scientific and rendering workloads. The Intel chip also has higher memory bandwidth (307.2 GB/s vs 204.8 GB/s) and a newer PCIe generation (Gen 5 vs Gen 4). Its average benchmark score of 106192 exceeds AMD’s 102244.

However, the AMD EPYC 7513 is not without merit. Its 24.6% encryption win and 10.1% integer math victory suggest it handles security and data-processing tasks more efficiently. The larger 128 MB L3 cache and 32 cores give it a raw core-count advantage. For workloads that depend on integer operations or cryptographic functions, the EPYC 7513 could be the better choice. The AMD chip also runs at a lower TDP of 200 W versus Intel’s 325 W, which may matter in dense server environments.

For general workstation use, rendering, and single-threaded applications, the Intel Xeon w7-3555 is the clear pick. For specialized encryption-heavy or integer-heavy workloads, the AMD EPYC 7513 offers a targeted advantage. The Intel part’s launch MSRP is $2339, while the EPYC 7513’s is $2840.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon w7-3555 | AMD EPYC 7513 |

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

| Cores | 28 | 32 |

| Threads | 56 | 64 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 3.65 GHz |

| TDP | 325 W | 200 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 4677 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 4x 477 mm² | 8x 81 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 75 MB | 128 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 307.2 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 112 Lanes | Gen 4, 128 Lanes |

| Release Date | 2024-08-23 | 2021-03-14 |

| Launch MSRP | $2339 | $2840 |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon w7-3555 wins in all rendering and simulation workloads, as shown by the 14.2% edge across every Cinebench test. Its 37.5% lead in extended instructions and 25.8% lead in floating-point math make it ideal for scientific computing, video encoding, and 3D modeling. The 43.2% single-thread advantage means it excels in lightly-threaded applications like legacy software, database queries, and general office productivity. The higher memory bandwidth of 307.2 GB/s benefits memory-intensive tasks like large dataset analysis.

The AMD EPYC 7513 wins in encryption, integer math, and random string sorting. Its 24.6% encryption lead makes it suitable for VPNs, secure communications, and cryptographic key generation. The 10.1% integer math advantage helps in financial modeling, data compression algorithms, and logistics optimization. The 8.2% random string sorting win applies to database indexing and text processing. The larger 128 MB L3 cache likely helps in workloads with high data reuse, such as virtual machine hosting and container orchestration, where multiple guests share cached data.

The choice ultimately depends on the workload mix. Intel dominates the broad middle ground of computing tasks, while AMD carves out a niche in security and integer-heavy operations.