AMD EPYC 7543 vs Intel Core i5-11400H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The comparison between the Intel Core i5-11400H and the AMD EPYC 7543 is not a close contest in any measured benchmark. Across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the AMD EPYC 7543 wins decisively, with the Intel part failing to secure a single victory. The data shows a consistent performance gap of approximately 76 percent in favor of the EPYC 7543 across every test, whether single-core or multi-core.

Starting with multi-core performance, the EPYC 7543 scores 5,393 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, while the i5-11400H manages 1,296 — a delta of -76 percent. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the EPYC 7543 posts 22,473 versus 5,400 for the Intel chip, and in Cinebench R23, where the AMD part reaches 53,509 against 12,859. These are not marginal differences; the EPYC 7543 delivers roughly four times the multi-threaded throughput in every generation of the Cinebench test.

Single-core results tell a similar story, though the margin is less extreme in absolute terms. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the EPYC 7543 scores 761, compared to 182 for the i5-11400H. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 3,172 versus 762, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 7,554 versus 1,815. The delta remains a uniform -76 percent, indicating that the AMD architecture's advantage is not limited to core-count scaling but extends to per-thread performance as well.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The i5-11400H has an average benchmark score of 15,749, while the EPYC 7543 sits at 15,477. Interestingly, the EPYC 7543's nearest rival list includes the i5-11400H with a delta of -1.7 percent, meaning that when averaged across all benchmark types, the two chips are far closer than the Cinebench head-to-head suggests. This is because the Intel part has a broader benchmark suite in the data set, including 3DMark and PassMark tests that pull its average upward. The EPYC 7543's average is computed from only six Cinebench scores, which are uniformly high but do not include the other test categories.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is fundamental. The Intel Core i5-11400H is a mobile part built on Intel's 10 nm process, with a die size of 190 mm². It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The EPYC 7543, in contrast, is a server/workstation chip built on TSMC's 7 nm process, with a transistor count of 33,200 million spread across 8 dies of 81 mm² each. It offers 32 cores and 64 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz.

The cache hierarchy is dramatically different. The i5-11400H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 12 MB L3 cache. The EPYC 7543 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 256 MB shared L3 cache. That is over 21 times more L3 cache on the AMD part, which is critical for server workloads that repeatedly access large data sets.

Memory architecture also diverges sharply. The i5-11400H supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the EPYC 7543 supports eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth — exactly four times the throughput. The EPYC 7543 also supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not. PCIe connectivity is another differentiator: the EPYC 7543 provides 128 Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), versus 20 lanes on the i5-11400H.

The sockets and market segments reflect their intended uses. The Intel part uses BGA 1787, a soldered mobile socket, while the AMD part uses Socket SP3, a server platform. The EPYC 7543 has no integrated graphics, whereas the i5-11400H includes Intel UHD Graphics. Power envelopes are not directly comparable given the different segments, but the EPYC 7543 has a TDP of 225, while the i5-11400H is rated at 35.

Where Each One Wins

The data does not show any benchmark category where the Intel Core i5-11400H wins. The EPYC 7543 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across R15, R20, and R23. However, the i5-11400H does have strengths that are not captured in the head-to-head set. Its benchmark suite includes 3DMark tests (single-thread: 884, 2-thread: 1,688, 4-thread: 3,062, 8-thread: 4,423, 16-thread: 5,205, max-thread: 5,172) and PassMark tests (single-thread: 2,975, multithread: 15,346, integer math: 53,286, floating point math: 32,060). These scores contribute to an average benchmark score of 15,749, which is actually slightly higher than the EPYC 7543's 15,477.

The practical interpretation is that the i5-11400H is a capable mobile processor for tasks that rely on moderate thread counts and integrated graphics. Its 6-core/12-thread configuration with a 4.50 GHz boost clock suits lighter workloads where power efficiency and portability matter. The EPYC 7543, by contrast, is built for sustained multi-threaded server workloads where its 32 cores, 64 threads, 256 MB L3 cache, and eight-channel memory bandwidth can be fully utilized.

In terms of percentile ranking, both chips sit at the 69th percentile against all CPUs in the database, which is notable given their vastly different specifications. This suggests that the i5-11400H's performance is well-optimized for its class, while the EPYC 7543's raw power is expected but not exceptional relative to other server parts in the same tier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD EPYC 7543 scores 7,554 in Cinebench R23 single-core, compared to 1,815 for the Intel Core i5-11400H. The EPYC 7543 leads by 76 percent.

Q: How much faster is the EPYC 7543 in multi-core Cinebench R20?

A: The EPYC 7543 scores 22,473, while the i5-11400H scores 5,400. The EPYC 7543 is approximately four times faster, with a delta of -76 percent from the Intel part's perspective.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Both support DDR4 memory. However, the EPYC 7543 uses an eight-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-11400H uses a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s. The EPYC 7543 also supports ECC memory; the i5-11400H does not.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400H has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD EPYC 7543 has 32 cores and 64 threads — over five times the core count and thread count.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400H includes Intel UHD Graphics. The AMD EPYC 7543 has no integrated graphics, reflecting its server-focused design.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-11400H has an average benchmark score of 15,749, while the EPYC 7543 has an average of 15,477. The Intel part is 0.4 percent higher in this metric, despite losing every head-to-head Cinebench test.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7543 dominates the Intel Core i5-11400H in every directly compared benchmark. The EPYC 7543 wins all six Cinebench tests, with a consistent 76 percent margin in both single-core and multi-core workloads. For anyone evaluating raw compute performance in server or workstation applications, the EPYC 7543 is the clear choice based on these results.

However, the i5-11400H is not without merit in its own context. Its average benchmark score of 15,749 exceeds the EPYC 7543's 15,477, driven by a broader benchmark suite that includes 3DMark and PassMark tests. The Intel part offers integrated graphics, a 35 TDP rating, and a mobile form factor suited to laptops. It also has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, higher than the EPYC 7543's 3.70 GHz, which may benefit lightly threaded tasks that are not captured in the head-to-head tests.

The selection between these two processors should be guided by the workload. For multi-threaded server workloads, database processing, virtualization, or any task that can leverage 32 cores and 64 threads, the EPYC 7543 is overwhelmingly superior. For mobile computing, light productivity, or scenarios where integrated graphics and lower power draw are required, the i5-11400H is the only viable option of the two, given its mobile socket and form factor. The EPYC 7543 cannot be used in a laptop, and the i5-11400H cannot be mounted in a server socket. The benchmark data confirms that the EPYC 7543 is the performance leader, but the i5-11400H serves a fundamentally different market segment.