AMD EPYC 7551 vs Intel Xeon W-2170B Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a clear picture: the AMD EPYC 7551 wins every single recorded test against the Intel Xeon W-2170B. This is not a close contest with split victories; it is a consistent sweep across all six Cinebench workloads, both single-core and multi-core.

Starting with multi-core performance, the EPYC 7551 leads in Cinebench R15 with a score of 2227 against the Xeon's 2085, a 6.4% advantage. The margin holds steady in Cinebench R20, where the EPYC posts 9280 versus 8691, again a 6.3% gap. In the heavier Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the EPYC scores 22096 while the Xeon manages 20693, a 6.3% difference. The consistency of this delta across all three multi-core tests is notable: the EPYC maintains roughly the same lead whether the workload is short or sustained.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the EPYC scores 314 against the Xeon's 294, a 6.4% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1309 versus 1226, a 6.3% gap. The R23 single-core test records 3119 for the EPYC and 2921 for the Xeon, again a 6.3% difference. The fact that the single-core margins match the multi-core margins so closely suggests the EPYC's advantage is not simply a matter of having more cores; its per-thread performance is also ahead.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces this. The EPYC 7551 averages 6391 across the database's benchmark suite, while the Xeon W-2170B averages 5985. That is a 406-point gap, approximately 6.8% higher for the AMD part. The percentile rankings are close, however: the EPYC sits at the 62nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Xeon sits at the 61st. Despite winning every head-to-head test, the EPYC's percentile is only one point higher, which indicates that both processors occupy a similar tier in the broader CPU landscape.

Looking at the nearest rivals for context, the Xeon W-2170B sits between the AMD EPYC 7451 and the AMD EPYC 7501. It trails the EPYC 7501 by 2.3% in average score and the Intel Core i9-7940X by 2.6%. It edges out the Core i9-9920X by 1.1% and the EPYC 7451 by 1.2%. The EPYC 7551, meanwhile, sits between the Intel Core i9-10920X and the Intel Core i7-12800HE. It leads the i9-10920X by 0.7% but trails the i7-12800HE by 1.2% and the Intel Xeon D-2796TE by 1.8%. The Xeon W-2191B is 2.1% ahead of the EPYC 7551 in average score. These rival comparisons show that both CPUs are competitive within their respective peer groups, but the EPYC holds a clear edge in the direct matchup.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon W-2170B uses the Skylake-W architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It has 14 cores and 28 threads. The AMD EPYC 7551 uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Naples, also built on a 14 nm process but at GlobalFoundries. It has 32 cores and 64 threads, more than double the core and thread count of the Intel part.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Xeon W-2170B has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache. The EPYC 7551 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a much larger 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The EPYC's larger L3 cache is over three times the size of the Xeon's, which helps with data-heavy workloads. The Xeon's larger per-core L2 cache, 1 MB versus 512 KB, is a point in its favor for certain access patterns, but the aggregate cache capacity is dominated by the EPYC.

Memory architecture is another major divide. The Xeon W-2170B supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The EPYC 7551 supports eight-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, exactly double the Xeon's memory bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. The EPYC's eight-channel memory controller gives it a substantial advantage in memory-bound workloads, and that bandwidth difference is likely a contributing factor to its consistent benchmark wins.

The sockets are incompatible. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 2066, while the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3. This means platform choice is locked in from the start; there is no upgrade path between the two. The Xeon has 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the EPYC also supports PCIe Gen 3, though the lane count is not specified in the recorded data. The EPYC has an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon does not. The EPYC is a 180 W TDP part versus the Xeon's 140 W TDP, and the EPYC's die size is 213 mm² versus the Xeon's 484 mm², even though the EPYC has more cores and transistors. The EPYC uses 4,800 million transistors according to the database.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in multi-core rendering?

A: The AMD EPYC 7551 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 2227 in R15, 9280 in R20, and 22096 in R23, versus the Intel Xeon W-2170B's 2085, 8691, and 20693 respectively. The lead is approximately 6.3% to 6.4% in each test.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon W-2170B win any benchmark in the database?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head results show zero wins for the Intel Xeon W-2170B. The AMD EPYC 7551 wins all six Cinebench tests, both single-core and multi-core.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The EPYC 7551 leads in every single-core test as well. In Cinebench R15 single-core it scores 314 versus 294, in R20 it scores 1309 versus 1226, and in R23 it scores 3119 versus 2921. The margin is consistently around 6.3% to 6.4%.

Q: What is the core and thread difference?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2170B has 14 cores and 28 threads. The AMD EPYC 7551 has 32 cores and 64 threads, more than double the core count and thread count.

Q: Which CPU has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD EPYC 7551 has 170.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth over an eight-channel DDR4 bus. The Intel Xeon W-2170B has 85.3 GB/s over a quad-channel DDR4 bus, exactly half the bandwidth.

Q: Are these CPUs still in production?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2170B is end-of-life, while the AMD EPYC 7551 is listed as active in production. The EPYC was released earlier, on June 28, 2017, while the Xeon came later on December 20, 2017.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two CPUs according to the recorded data:

• Cores: Intel Xeon W-2170B has 14 cores; AMD EPYC 7551 has 32 cores.
• Threads: Intel has 28 threads; AMD has 64 threads.
• Base clock: Intel is 2.50 GHz; AMD is 2000.00 MHz.
• Boost clock: Intel is 4.30 GHz; AMD is 3.00 GHz.
• TDP: Intel is 140 W; AMD is 180 W.
• Socket: Intel uses Intel Socket 2066; AMD uses AMD Socket SP3.
• Architecture: Intel uses Skylake-W; AMD uses Zen (Naples).
• Foundry: Intel is manufactured by Intel; AMD by GlobalFoundries.
• Transistors: Intel has no recorded transistor count; AMD has 4,800 million.
• Die size: Intel is 484 mm²; AMD is 213 mm².
• L1 cache: Intel has 64 KB per core; AMD has 96 KB per core.
• L2 cache: Intel has 1 MB per core; AMD has 512 KB per core.
• L3 cache: Intel has 19.25 MB shared; AMD has 64 MB shared.
• Memory bus: Intel is quad-channel; AMD is eight-channel.
• Memory bandwidth: Intel is 85.3 GB/s; AMD is 170.6 GB/s.
• PCIe: Intel has Gen 3 with 48 lanes from the CPU; AMD has Gen 3 without a specified lane count.
• Multiplier unlocked: Intel is locked; AMD is unlocked.
• Production status: Intel is end-of-life; AMD is active.
• Release date: Intel released December 20, 2017; AMD released June 28, 2017.
• Part number: Intel is SR3W3; AMD is PS7551BDVIHAF.
• Average benchmark score: Intel is 5985; AMD is 6391.
• Percentile: Intel is 61st; AMD is 62nd.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD EPYC 7551 outperforms the Intel Xeon W-2170B in every recorded benchmark, with a consistent 6.3% to 6.4% margin across both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests. The EPYC also offers more than double the cores and threads, double the memory bandwidth, and a much larger L3 cache. Its average benchmark score of 6391 is roughly 6.8% higher than the Xeon's 5985.

The Xeon W-2170B does have advantages in the specification sheet: a higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz versus 3.00 GHz, a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz versus 2000.00 MHz, a lower TDP of 140 W versus 180 W, and a smaller die footprint at 213 mm² for the EPYC versus 484 mm² for the Xeon. The Xeon also has a larger per-core L2 cache at 1 MB versus 512 KB. However, none of these advantages translate into benchmark wins in the recorded data. The EPYC's higher clock speeds in practice, or its architectural efficiency, appear to overcome the Xeon's rated clock advantage.

For a builder choosing between these two platforms, the EPYC 7551 is the stronger performer in every measured workload. The Xeon W-2170B is end-of-life, while the EPYC remains active in production. The EPYC's unlocked multiplier also offers overclocking headroom that the Xeon lacks. The only reasons to choose the Xeon would be platform compatibility with Intel Socket 2066 or its lower 140 W TDP, but the performance data shows no scenario where the Xeon comes out ahead.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7551 wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. In multi-core workloads, it leads by 6.4% in Cinebench R15, 6.3% in R20, and 6.3% in R23. In single-core workloads, it leads by 6.4% in R15, 6.3% in R20, and 6.3% in R23. The EPYC also wins on overall average benchmark score with 6391 versus 5985.

The Intel Xeon W-2170B does not win any recorded benchmark. Its strengths are purely in the specification sheet: higher boost and base clocks, lower TDP, smaller die size, larger per-core L2 cache, and a lower part number in the percentile ranking at 61 versus the EPYC's 62. For workloads that are sensitive to rated clock speed rather than measured performance, the Xeon's 4.30 GHz boost clock looks attractive on paper, but the benchmark results show the EPYC's 3.00 GHz boost clock delivers better actual scores.

The EPYC 7551 is the clear choice for multi-threaded rendering, content creation, and server workloads that can use its 32 cores and 64 threads. Its 170.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth and 64 MB of L3 cache make it well suited for memory-intensive tasks. The Xeon W-2170B, with its 14 cores and 28 threads, 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, and 19.25 MB L3 cache, is a smaller-scale part. For a workstation or server build where the benchmark results matter, the EPYC 7551 is the superior option in every measured dimension. The Xeon's only practical advantage is its lower power draw of 140 W versus 180 W, which may matter in tightly power-constrained environments, but that is not reflected in any performance metric in the database.