AMD EPYC 7551P vs Intel Core i3-8100 Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8100 and AMD EPYC 7551P represent opposite ends of the computing spectrum, yet both occupy the same 64th percentile among all CPUs in the benchmark database. The i3-8100 is a 4-core, 4-thread desktop part built on Coffee Lake, while the EPYC 7551P is a 32-core, 64-thread server processor from the Naples generation. Their average benchmark scores are close — 8123 for the Intel part versus 7952 for the AMD part — but that aggregate number hides a complete divergence in workload characteristics. The data shows a 7-to-1 split in head-to-head benchmark wins, with the EPYC dominating multi-threaded and rendering workloads while the i3 takes a single decisive victory in Geekbench single-core testing. This analysis examines where each processor wins, what the architectural differences mean, and how the benchmark numbers break down.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core i3-8100 compare to the AMD EPYC 7551P in multi-threaded performance?

A: The EPYC 7551P wins every Cinebench multi-core test by a wide margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC scores 32500 against the i3-8100's 3769, a delta of -88.4% from the AMD part's perspective. The Geekbench multi-core result is closer but still favors AMD: 6296 versus 3458, a 45.1% difference.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core i3-8100 beat the AMD EPYC 7551P?

A: The i3-8100 wins a single head-to-head test: Geekbench single-core. It scores 1214 against the EPYC's 919, giving Intel a 32.1% advantage. This is the only one of eight head-to-head benchmarks where Intel comes out ahead.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100 has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The AMD EPYC 7551P has 32 cores and 64 threads, offering eight times the core count and sixteen times the thread count.

Q: What memory configurations do these processors support?

A: Both support DDR4 memory and ECC. The i3-8100 uses a dual-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the EPYC 7551P uses an eight-channel memory bus with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth — more than four times the theoretical memory bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100 runs at 3.60 GHz base clock with no boost clock listed. The AMD EPYC 7551P has a 2000.00 MHz base clock (2.00 GHz) and a 3.00 GHz boost clock. The i3's base clock is 80% higher than the EPYC's base clock.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100 is end-of-life, while the AMD EPYC 7551P is still active in production. Both were released in 2017, with the EPYC launching on 2017-06-28 and the i3 on 2017-10-04.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7551P is the clear winner in any workload that scales with core count or memory bandwidth. Across all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23), the EPYC delivers multi-core scores that are roughly 8.6 to 8.7 times higher than the i3-8100. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC's 32500 score dwarfs the i3's 3769. The Geekbench multi-core test shows a smaller but still significant gap, with the EPYC at 6296 versus 3458 for Intel. This pattern reflects the EPYC's 32 cores and 64 threads, which allow it to process far more parallel work simultaneously. For rendering, scientific computing, or any server-side batch workload, the EPYC 7551P is the only viable option between these two.

The Intel Core i3-8100 wins in exactly one scenario: single-threaded Geekbench performance. Its score of 1214 is 32.1% higher than the EPYC's 919. This advantage comes from the i3's 3.60 GHz base clock, which is substantially higher than the EPYC's 2.00 GHz base clock. For lightly threaded applications that depend on raw clock speed — legacy software, certain database queries, or interactive desktop tasks — the i3-8100 provides better responsiveness. However, this single win does not extend to Cinebench single-core tests, where the EPYC actually scores higher: 4588 versus 532 in R23 single-core, an 88.4% difference in AMD's favor. The Geekbench single-core result appears to be an outlier in the broader single-threaded picture.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-8100 uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 126 mm². The AMD EPYC 7551P uses the Zen architecture (codename Naples) also on a 14 nm process, but fabricated by GlobalFoundries, with a larger die size of 213 mm² and 4,800 million transistors. Both processors share the same process node, but the EPYC packs far more silicon area and transistor count to enable its 32-core design.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i3-8100 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The EPYC 7551P has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The EPYC's L3 cache is over ten times larger, which helps feed its many cores with data. The L1 and L2 per-core caches are also larger on the EPYC, giving each core more local data storage.

Memory architecture is another major split. The i3-8100 supports dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC 7551P supports eight-channel DDR4 with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth. This 4.4x bandwidth advantage is critical for the EPYC's server role, where many cores need concurrent memory access. The i3 also lacks a boost clock, running at a fixed 3.60 GHz, while the EPYC can boost from 2.00 GHz to 3.00 GHz. Additionally, the EPYC has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, whereas the i3-8100's multiplier is locked.

The i3-8100 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the EPYC 7551P has no integrated graphics. The i3 uses Intel Socket 1151, and the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3. Both support PCIe Gen 3, but the i3's CPU provides 16 lanes while the EPYC's PCIe configuration is listed simply as Gen 3 without a lane count. The EPYC is a server/workstation part with an active production status, while the i3 is a desktop part that is end-of-life.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-8100 | AMD EPYC 7551P |

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

| Cores | 4 | 32 |

| Threads | 4 | 64 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2000.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 180 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 213 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 4,800 million |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 64 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 170.6 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR3N5 | PS755PBDVIHAF |

The TDP difference is substantial: 65 W for the i3-8100 versus 180 W for the EPYC 7551P. The EPYC's higher power draw is a direct consequence of its 32 cores and eight-channel memory controller. The i3's launch MSRP was $117, while the EPYC has no launch MSRP listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a lopsided contest. The AMD EPYC 7551P wins seven of eight benchmarks, with the Intel Core i3-8100 taking one. The most dramatic margins appear in Cinebench multi-core tests, where the EPYC's score advantage is consistently around 88.4% over the i3. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 3276 against 379 for the i3. In R20 multi-core, the scores are 13650 versus 1582. In R23 multi-core, the EPYC reaches 32500 versus 3769. Every one of these results shows the same -88.4% delta from the AMD side, indicating a near-constant performance ratio.

Cinebench single-core tests also favor the EPYC, though this is less expected given the i3's higher base clock. In R15 single-core, the EPYC scores 462 against 53 for the i3. In R20 single-core, the EPYC scores 1926 against 223. In R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 4588 against 532. All three show the same -88.4% delta. The i3's 3.60 GHz clock does not translate into a single-core win in Cinebench, suggesting the EPYC's Zen architecture delivers better per-clock performance in this workload.

The Geekbench results tell a different story. In Geekbench multi-core, the EPYC wins with 6296 versus 3458, but the delta is only -45.1% — far smaller than the Cinebench margins. This suggests Geekbench's multi-core workload does not scale as well with the EPYC's 32 cores. In Geekbench single-core, the i3-8100 wins with 1214 versus 919, a 32.1% advantage for Intel. This is the only benchmark where the i3 comes out ahead, and it stands in contrast to the Cinebench single-core results where the EPYC dominates.

Looking at the nearest rivals for context, the i3-8100's average benchmark score of 8123 places it within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon Platinum 8180M (8110) and 0.2% below the AMD EPYC 7302 (8139). The EPYC 7551P's average score of 7952 is 0.1% below the Intel Core i7-13700E (7957) and 0.5% above the Intel Core i9-10980XE (7910). Both processors sit in the same performance tier by average score, despite their wildly different core counts and market positions. The data shows that aggregate scores can be misleading — the i3-8100 and EPYC 7551P achieve similar averages through completely different means, with the i3 relying on higher clock speed and the EPYC on massive parallelism.