AMD EPYC 7551 vs Intel Xeon W-2191B Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7551 has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Xeon W-2191B has 18 cores and 36 threads.

Q: What are the top clock speeds for each CPU?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2191B boosts to 4.30 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 7551 boosts to 3.00 GHz. Base clocks are 2.30 GHz for Intel and 2.00 GHz for AMD.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2191B scores 23,887 versus 22,096 for the AMD EPYC 7551, a lead of 8.1% for Intel.

Q: Which chip has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD EPYC 7551 offers 170.6 GB/s via an eight-channel memory bus, compared to 85.3 GB/s on the Intel Xeon W-2191B's quad-channel bus.

Q: Are both processors on the same process node?

A: Yes, both are built on a 14 nm process, but Intel uses its own foundry while AMD uses GlobalFoundries.

Q: What is the production status of each part?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2191B is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD EPYC 7551 is listed as active production.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon W-2191B is a Skylake-W part built on a 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry, with a die size of 484 mm². The AMD EPYC 7551 uses the Zen architecture with the Naples codename, also on 14 nm but fabricated by GlobalFoundries, and its die is much smaller at 213 mm². AMD packs 4,800 million transistors into that smaller die, while Intel does not disclose a transistor count for its larger chip.

Core organization differs sharply. Intel provides 18 cores and 36 threads, with 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, plus a shared 24.75 MB L3 cache. AMD doubles the core count to 32 cores and 64 threads, but reduces per-core L2 to 512 KB while keeping L1 at 96 KB per core. AMD compensates with a much larger shared L3 pool of 64 MB. The cache hierarchy suggests AMD is designed for throughput across many threads, while Intel prioritizes lower latency per core.

Memory architecture is another major split. Intel uses a quad-channel DDR4 interface, delivering 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth. AMD uses an eight-channel interface, doubling theoretical bandwidth to 170.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, but the AMD part is clearly aimed at memory-heavy server workloads that can exploit the wider bus.

PCIe support also differs. Intel offers Gen 3 with 48 lanes from the CPU, while AMD lists only "Gen 3" without a specific lane count. The Intel part is unlocked? No, the multiplier is locked, whereas the AMD EPYC 7551 has an unlocked multiplier. Sockets are incompatible: Intel uses Socket 2066, AMD uses Socket SP3.

Release timing is close, with AMD launching on 2017-06-28 and Intel on 2017-12-20. The Intel chip is end-of-life, while AMD remains active. Market segments are the same, server and workstation, but the design priorities are clearly divergent.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent sweep across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with the Intel Xeon W-2191B winning every round. The deltas are remarkably uniform, hovering near 8% in each case.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel scores 2,407 against AMD's 2,227, an 8.1% advantage. The single-core test in R15 shows Intel at 339 versus AMD's 314, an 8% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, Intel posts 10,032 multicore points versus AMD's 9,280, again 8.1% ahead. Single-core R20 gives Intel 1,416 and AMD 1,309, a delta of 8.2%. Cinebench R23 multicore sees Intel at 23,887 and AMD at 22,096, an 8.1% gap, while R23 single-core shows 3,372 versus 3,119, also 8.1%.

The pattern is striking: the Intel chip holds an 8% or slightly higher edge in every single test, regardless of core count or workload type. This suggests the advantage comes from per-core efficiency and clock speed rather than core scaling. The AMD part has 14 more cores and 28 more threads, but cannot overcome Intel's higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz versus 3.00 GHz.

In Geekbench, the Intel Xeon W-2191B records 9,614 multicore and 1,182 single-core. No Geekbench scores are recorded for the AMD EPYC 7551, so the comparison rests entirely on the Cinebench suite. Averaging all benchmarks, Intel reaches 6,531 points while AMD sits at 6,391, a gap of about 2.1%. Both processors occupy the 62nd percentile among all CPUs tracked in the database.

The nearest rivals for Intel include the Intel Core i9-7960X at 6,533 (0% delta), the Intel Xeon D-2796TE at 6,510 (0.3% ahead of Intel), and the Intel Atom x7405C at 6,568 (0.6% behind Intel). For AMD, the nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-10920X at 6,347 (0.7% ahead of AMD), the Intel Core i7-12800HE at 6,467 (1.2% behind AMD), and the Intel Xeon D-2796TE at 6,510 (1.8% ahead of AMD). Notably, the Intel Xeon W-2191B appears as a rival to the AMD part with a delta of 2.1%, meaning Intel's chip scores about 2.1% higher on average.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for raw computing throughput: the Intel Xeon W-2191B. It wins all six recorded head-to-head tests with margins between 8.0% and 8.2%. The average benchmark score favors Intel at 6,531 versus 6,391, and the Intel chip even appears as the top rival for AMD in the database, with a 2.1% advantage.

However, the AMD EPYC 7551 is not without justification. It offers 32 cores versus 18, 64 threads versus 36, and double the memory bandwidth at 170.6 GB/s versus 85.3 GB/s. The eight-channel memory bus is a server-grade feature that Intel does not match. If the workload can use all those cores and that bandwidth, the AMD part may be the more appropriate choice despite the Cinebench deficit.

For single-threaded or lightly threaded tasks, the Intel chip is the clear pick, with a boost clock 1.30 GHz higher and consistent 8% leads across every Cinebench test. For heavily parallel workloads that saturate memory bandwidth, the AMD EPYC 7551's wider memory subsystem and higher core count could be decisive, even if the benchmark suite here does not show it. The Intel part is end-of-life, while AMD remains active, which may matter for long-term availability.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key fields. Core count: Intel has 18, AMD has 32. Thread count: Intel 36, AMD 64. Base clock: Intel 2.30 GHz, AMD 2.00 GHz. Boost clock: Intel 4.30 GHz, AMD 3.00 GHz. TDP: Intel 140 W, AMD 180 W. Socket: Intel Socket 2066, AMD Socket SP3. Architecture: Intel Skylake, AMD Zen. Codename: Intel Skylake-W, AMD Naples. Generation: Intel Xeon W (Skylake-W), AMD EPYC (Zen (Naples)). Process node: both 14 nm, but foundries differ (Intel vs GlobalFoundries). Die size: Intel 484 mm², AMD 213 mm². Transistors: AMD 4,800 million, Intel not listed. L1 cache: Intel 64 KB per core, AMD 96 KB per core. L2 cache: Intel 1 MB per core, AMD 512 KB per core. L3 cache: Intel 24.75 MB shared, AMD 64 MB shared. Memory bus: Intel quad-channel, AMD eight-channel. Memory bandwidth: Intel 85.3 GB/s, AMD 170.6 GB/s. PCIe: Intel Gen 3 with 48 lanes, AMD Gen 3 with no lane count listed. Production status: Intel end-of-life, AMD active. Release date: Intel 2017-12-20, AMD 2017-06-28. Multiplier: Intel locked, AMD unlocked. Part numbers: Intel SR3RW, AMD PS7551BDVIHAF.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Xeon W-2191B wins on: All recorded Cinebench tests, including R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multicore. The margins are consistent, between 8.0% and 8.2%, which indicates a per-core performance advantage. The higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz versus 3.00 GHz is the likely driver. The Intel chip also has a lower TDP at 140 W versus 180 W, which could be beneficial in power-constrained environments. The smaller L2 cache per core (1 MB versus 512 KB) does not appear to hurt in these tests. The Intel part wins in Geekbench as well, with scores of 9,614 multicore and 1,182 single-core, though no AMD Geekbench scores exist for direct comparison.

AMD EPYC 7551 wins on: Core count (32 versus 18), thread count (64 versus 36), memory bandwidth (170.6 GB/s versus 85.3 GB/s), and L3 cache size (64 MB versus 24.75 MB). The eight-channel memory bus is a fundamental architectural advantage for workloads that stream large datasets. The unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, though the TDP is higher at 180 W. The AMD part is still in active production, which may be critical for procurement. The larger L1 cache per core (96 KB versus 64 KB) could help in certain access patterns.

Use-case split: For software development, single-threaded applications, or workloads that rely on high clock speeds, the Intel Xeon W-2191B is the better fit based on the 8% lead in every Cinebench test. For virtualization, database serving, or other memory-bandwidth-bound tasks where the eight-channel bus of the AMD EPYC 7551 can be fully utilized, the AMD part may pull ahead even though the benchmark suite does not capture that scenario. The data shows Intel winning all recorded tests, but the architectural differences in memory and core count suggest AMD's strengths lie outside the tested workloads.