AMD EPYC 7551 vs Intel Xeon D-2796TE Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-2796TE and AMD EPYC 7551 are both server/workstation processors, yet they represent divergent design philosophies and eras. Benchmark data shows the Intel Xeon D-2796TE winning every single head-to-head Cinebench test, but the AMD EPYC 7551 counters with a significantly higher core count, larger shared cache, and a much wider memory bus. The data indicates a clear, though narrow, performance victory for Intel in the tested workloads, while the AMD part offers a structural advantage in memory bandwidth and core scalability that the benchmarks do not fully capture.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-2796TE wins outright in all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its margins are consistent, ranging from a 1.8% lead in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test to a 1.9% lead in the R15 single-core test, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core tests. The data shows a uniform performance advantage across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, indicating that the Intel part delivers a slightly higher level of per-core efficiency and overall throughput in these Cinebench rendering scenarios.

The AMD EPYC 7551 does not win any of the head-to-head benchmarks, but its architectural strengths point to where it would likely excel in other applications. Its memory subsystem is a major differentiator: the EPYC 7551 features an eight-channel memory bus with a peak bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, compared to the Xeon D-2796TE's quad-channel bus at 93.9 GB/s. This substantial bandwidth advantage, combined with 32 cores and 64 threads versus the Intel's 20 cores and 40 threads, suggests the AMD processor is better suited for memory-bandwidth-intensive tasks like large-scale virtualization, in-memory databases, or high-performance computing workloads that scale with core count and memory throughput, even if the Cinebench suite does not reflect that advantage.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is stark. The Intel Xeon D-2796TE is built on the Ice Lake-D architecture, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node, and released in February 2022. It features 20 cores and 40 threads, with a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a 30 MB shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory across a quad-channel bus and provides PCIe Gen 4 with 32 lanes. The processor is not multiplier unlocked and has a thermal design power (TDP) of 118 watts.

In contrast, the AMD EPYC 7551 is a first-generation Zen architecture part, codenamed Naples, manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process. It launched in June 2017, making it significantly older. It houses 32 cores and 64 threads, running at a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. The cache configuration is different: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a much larger 64 MB shared L3 cache. It also supports DDR4 memory, but over an eight-channel bus with a peak bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s. It uses PCIe Gen 3 and is multiplier unlocked. The EPYC 7551 has a TDP of 180 watts, which is 62 watts higher than the Intel part.

The process node difference is significant, with Intel's 10 nm process versus AMD's 14 nm process, but the AMD part compensates with a larger physical footprint, with a die size of 213 mm² and 4,800 million transistors, while the Intel die size and transistor count are not listed. The EPYC 7551 also has a higher base and boost clock profile relative to its core count, but the Xeon D-2796TE achieves higher clock speeds overall, boosting to 3.10 GHz versus 3.00 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are consistent and decisive in favor of the Intel Xeon D-2796TE, but the margins are narrow. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Intel scores 2268 against the AMD's 2227, a 1.8% difference. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: Intel at 320, AMD at 314, a 1.9% lead for Intel. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Intel part scores 9452 in multi-core versus 9280 for the AMD, again a 1.9% difference, and in single-core, 1334 versus 1309, also a 1.9% lead.

The Cinebench R23 results continue the trend. In multi-core, the Intel Xeon D-2796TE scores 22507, while the AMD EPYC 7551 scores 22096, a 1.9% advantage for Intel. In single-core, the Intel part scores 3177, and the AMD scores 3119, yet another 1.9% margin. The data shows that the Intel processor is consistently faster by nearly two percentage points across all tested workloads. This is a notable outcome given that the AMD part has 12 more cores and 24 more threads, which should theoretically give it a significant multi-core advantage. The fact that Intel wins multi-core tests despite a core deficit suggests that the Ice Lake-D architecture's per-core performance and memory latency characteristics are superior in these specific rendering tasks. The average benchmark score for the Intel processor is 6510, placing it in the 62nd percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD EPYC 7551 has an average score of 6391, also in the 62nd percentile. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W-2191B at 6531 and the Intel Core i9-7960X at 6533, with delta percentages of -0.3%, while the AMD EPYC 7551's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-10920X at 6347 and the Intel Core i7-12800HE at 6467.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Xeon D-2796TE is faster, scoring 22507 compared to the AMD EPYC 7551's 22096, a 1.9% difference.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7551 have more cores than the Intel Xeon D-2796TE?

A: Yes, the AMD EPYC 7551 has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Xeon D-2796TE has 20 cores and 40 threads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two processors?

A: The AMD EPYC 7551 has a peak memory bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s over an eight-channel bus, while the Intel Xeon D-2796TE has 93.9 GB/s over a quad-channel bus.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 7551 has a 64 MB shared L3 cache, whereas the Intel Xeon D-2796TE has a 30 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: Are both processors based on the same manufacturing process?

A: No, the Intel Xeon D-2796TE uses a 10 nm process, while the AMD EPYC 7551 uses a 14 nm process.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2796TE has a TDP of 118 watts, while the AMD EPYC 7551 has a TDP of 180 watts.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The Intel Xeon D-2796TE has 20 cores and 40 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7551 has 32 cores and 64 threads. The Intel part has a boost clock of 3.10 GHz, which is 0.10 GHz higher than the AMD's 3.00 GHz, though both share a base clock of 2000.00 MHz. The L1 cache is larger on the AMD part at 96 KB per core versus 80 KB per core on Intel, but the L2 cache is larger on the Intel part at 1.25 MB per core versus 512 KB per core on AMD. The L3 cache is significantly larger on AMD, at 64 MB shared versus 30 MB shared. The memory bus width differs, with Intel using quad-channel and AMD using eight-channel, resulting in a memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s for Intel and 170.6 GB/s for AMD. The PCIe generation differs, with Intel supporting Gen 4 with 32 lanes and AMD supporting Gen 3. The process node is 10 nm for Intel and 14 nm for AMD, and the TDP is 118 watts for Intel and 180 watts for AMD. The AMD part is multiplier unlocked, while the Intel part is not. The release dates are also distinct, with Intel launching in February 2022 and AMD in June 2017. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $2101, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The data supports the Intel Xeon D-2796TE for workloads that prioritize raw Cinebench rendering performance, both single-threaded and multi-threaded. It wins every benchmark test, and its lower TDP of 118 watts makes it a more power-efficient choice in these specific tasks. The consistent 1.9% performance lead across all tests indicates a well-rounded superiority in the tested software. From the benchmark data, there is no scenario where the AMD EPYC 7551 wins.

For the AMD EPYC 7551, the case rests on its architectural headroom rather than its benchmark scores. The 170.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, coupled with 32 cores and 64 threads, makes it a structurally more capable processor for memory-bound and heavily threaded server workloads that are not represented in the Cinebench suite. Its 64 MB L3 cache and eight-channel memory interface provide a platform that can scale better in enterprise environments. The choice is clear: the Intel Xeon D-2796TE is the winner in these head-to-head tests, but the AMD EPYC 7551 is the more powerful server processor on paper for non-Cinebench, memory-intensive applications.