AMD EPYC 7551P vs Intel Xeon D-2799 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7551P wins every single head-to-head comparison in the Cinebench suite. Across six recorded tests, the EPYC 7551P holds a consistent advantage of approximately 11.6% to 11.7% over the Intel Xeon D-2799. This is a uniform margin, not a case of one chip winning some workloads and losing others.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC 7551P scores 3276 against the Xeon D-2799's 2895, a delta of -11.6% from the Intel part's perspective. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 462 for AMD versus 408 for Intel, a -11.7% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the EPYC 7551P posts 13650 multicore and 1926 single-core, while the Xeon D-2799 manages 12063 and 1703 respectively. The R23 results continue the trend, with AMD scoring 32500 multicore and 4588 single-core, against Intel's 28723 and 4055.

The consistency of the margin is notable. Every delta registers between -11.6% and -11.7%, which suggests the performance difference is structural rather than workload-dependent. The EPYC 7551P does not merely edge out the Xeon D-2799 in one specific test; it leads by nearly the same proportion across every rendering workload in the database. For users weighing these two server processors, the data indicates that the AMD part delivers a uniform, repeatable performance advantage in Cinebench.

The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story at the broader level. The Xeon D-2799 averages 8308 across its recorded benchmarks, while the EPYC 7551P averages 7952. This is an interesting divergence: the EPYC wins every head-to-head Cinebench test, yet its overall average is lower. The explanation lies in the benchmark sets themselves. The Xeon D-2799's average is computed only from its six Cinebench scores, whereas the EPYC 7551P's average includes two additional Geekbench results, 6296 multicore and 919 single-core, which pull its mean downward. The head-to-head matrix, however, is restricted to the six shared Cinebench tests, and there the AMD part wins all six.

Percentile rankings place both processors at the 64th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Despite the EPYC's head-to-head sweep, the two parts occupy the same overall performance tier when measured against the full field. The nearest rivals for the Xeon D-2799 include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8268 at an average score of 8315 (-0.1% delta), the Intel Xeon Gold 5320T at 8316 (-0.1%), the Intel Core i7-1065G7 at 8293 (+0.2%), and the Intel Core i5-10210U at 8344 (-0.4%). For the EPYC 7551P, nearby competitors include the Intel Core i7-13700E at 7957 (-0.1%), the Intel Core i9-10980XE at 7910 (+0.5%), the Intel Xeon Gold 6326 at 8071 (-1.5%), and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8180M at 8110 (-1.9%). In short, the Xeon D-2799 sits in slightly faster company by average score, but the direct comparison favors the EPYC by a decisive margin.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design generations and foundries. The Intel Xeon D-2799 is built on the Ice Lake architecture, specifically Ice Lake-D, using a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The AMD EPYC 7551P belongs to the EPYC 7001 series, using the original Zen architecture under the Naples codename, on a 14 nm node from GlobalFoundries. The node difference is significant, but the EPYC compensates with a larger, more heavily configured silicon.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The Xeon D-2799 provides 20 cores and 40 threads, while the EPYC 7551P doubles the core count to 32 cores and 64 threads. That extra parallelism is the most plausible explanation for the EPYC's multicore wins in Cinebench, where scaling across cores is a primary driver of score. The EPYC also has more L3 cache: 64 MB shared, versus 30 MB shared on the Xeon. Per-core cache, however, favors Intel in L2 capacity: the Xeon D-2799 has 1.25 MB per core, while the EPYC 7551P has 512 KB per core. L1 cache is 80 KB per core on the Intel part and 96 KB per core on the AMD part.

Memory architecture also diverges. The Xeon D-2799 uses a quad-channel DDR4 memory bus with a theoretical bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The EPYC 7551P uses an eight-channel DDR4 bus with 170.6 GB/s of bandwidth. Both support ECC memory, which is typical for server parts. PCIe capabilities differ as well: the Xeon D-2799 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 32 lanes (CPU only), while the EPYC 7551P is limited to PCIe Gen 3. The Intel part's newer PCIe generation gives it an interconnect advantage despite the AMD part's superior memory bandwidth.

The EPYC 7551P includes a fully unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon D-2799 does not. This means the AMD part can be overclocked, assuming motherboard and cooling support, whereas the Intel part is locked. The EPYC's TDP is 180 watts, higher than the Xeon's 129 watts. Socket types are incompatible: the Intel part uses BGA 2579, the AMD part uses Socket SP3.

The Xeon D-2799 is a newer release, launched on 2022-02-23, while the EPYC 7551P dates to 2017-06-28. The Intel part is manufactured with 10 nm technology and has a base clock of 2.40 GHz with a 3.40 GHz boost. The EPYC 7551P has a base clock of 2000 MHz (2.00 GHz) and a boost of 3.00 GHz. Despite the EPYC's lower clock speeds, its extra cores and larger L3 cache prove decisive in the Cinebench results.

Where Each One Wins

The EPYC 7551P wins everywhere the head-to-head benchmarks measure. All six Cinebench tests, both multicore and single-core, across R15, R20, and R23, go to the AMD part. For multicore workloads, the EPYC's 32 cores and 64 threads give it a clear structural edge over the Xeon's 20 cores and 40 threads. The 64 MB L3 cache also helps in rendering tasks that reuse data across threads. The single-core wins, however, are harder to attribute to core count. The EPYC's single-core scores are also higher, which indicates that its per-thread performance in this workload exceeds that of the Xeon D-2799 even though the Xeon has higher clock speeds (2.40 GHz base, 3.40 GHz boost versus 2.00 GHz base, 3.00 GHz boost).

The Xeon D-2799's advantages lie outside the Cinebench suite. Its PCIe Gen 4 support with 32 lanes is a generation ahead of the EPYC's PCIe Gen 3. For systems that depend on high-bandwidth I/O, such as NVMe storage arrays or accelerators, the Intel part offers a more modern interconnect. The Xeon also has a lower TDP at 129 watts versus 180 watts, which matters in power-constrained data center environments. The Intel part's 10 nm process node contributes to its efficiency advantage. Additionally, the Xeon D-2799's average benchmark score of 8308 is higher than the EPYC's 7952, and its nearest rivals include higher-scoring parts like the Intel Core i5-10210U (8344) and the Intel Xeon Gold 5320T (8316). The EPYC's nearest rivals, by contrast, include the Intel Core i9-10980XE at 7910 and the Intel Xeon Gold 6326 at 8071.

For users whose workloads are captured by Cinebench, the choice is clear: the EPYC 7551P is the faster processor. For users who prioritize memory bandwidth, the EPYC also wins, with 170.6 GB/s over an eight-channel bus versus 102.4 GB/s over quad-channel. The EPYC's 12-core advantage and doubled L3 cache make it the stronger candidate for heavily threaded rendering, simulation, or virtualization workloads. The Xeon D-2799 is the better fit for deployments that need PCIe Gen 4 connectivity, lower power draw, or a newer manufacturing process.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every major specification line. The Xeon D-2799 has 20 cores and 40 threads; the EPYC 7551P has 32 cores and 64 threads. Base clocks: 2.40 GHz for Intel, 2000 MHz (2.00 GHz) for AMD. Boost clocks: 3.40 GHz for Intel, 3.00 GHz for AMD. TDP: 129 watts versus 180 watts. Socket: Intel BGA 2579 versus AMD Socket SP3. Process node: 10 nm (Intel foundry) versus 14 nm (GlobalFoundries). The EPYC has 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die; the Xeon's transistor count and die size are not recorded.

Cache configurations differ. The Xeon D-2799 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3. The EPYC 7551P has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 64 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the bus width differs: quad-channel for Intel, eight-channel for AMD. Memory bandwidth: 102.4 GB/s versus 170.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe support: the Xeon D-2799 has PCIe Gen 4 with 32 lanes (CPU only); the EPYC 7551P has PCIe Gen 3, with lane count not specified in the database. The Xeon was released on 2022-02-23 with a launch MSRP of $1972; the EPYC was released on 2017-06-28 with no recorded launch MSRP. The EPYC 7551P has an unlocked multiplier; the Xeon D-2799 does not. The EPYC has a 64th percentile ranking, matching the Xeon's 64th percentile.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench multicore tests?

A: The AMD EPYC 7551P wins all three multicore tests: Cinebench R15 (3276 versus 2895), R20 (13650 versus 12063), and R23 (32500 versus 28723). The margin is approximately 11.6% in each case.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon D-2799 win any single-core benchmark?

A: No. The EPYC 7551P also wins every single-core Cinebench test: R15 (462 versus 408), R20 (1926 versus 1703), and R23 (4588 versus 4055), with deltas around -11.6% to -11.7%.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2799 has 20 cores and 40 threads. The AMD EPYC 7551P has 32 cores and 64 threads, a 12-core advantage.

Q: Which processor has more memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD EPYC 7551P has 170.6 GB/s over an eight-channel DDR4 bus. The Intel Xeon D-2799 has 102.4 GB/s over a quad-channel DDR4 bus.

Q: What is the difference in PCIe support?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2799 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 32 lanes (CPU only). The AMD EPYC 7551P supports PCIe Gen 3, with lane count not specified in the database.

Q: Do the two processors have the same overall performance percentile?

A: Yes. Both the Intel Xeon D-2799 and the AMD EPYC 7551P rank at the 64th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to one conclusion: for raw Cinebench performance, the AMD EPYC 7551P is the better processor. It wins every head-to-head test by a nearly identical margin, which indicates a consistent performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. Its 32 cores, 64 threads, 64 MB L3 cache, and eight-channel memory bus with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth provide a broad foundation for server workloads. Users who run rendering, simulation, or other heavily threaded applications should favor the EPYC 7551P based on the recorded results.

The Intel Xeon D-2799 is not without its merits, but they lie outside the Cinebench suite. It offers PCIe Gen 4 with 32 lanes, a newer 10 nm process, a lower 129 watt TDP, and a higher average benchmark score of 8308 compared to 7952. Its launch MSRP was $1972. For deployments that prioritize I/O generation, power efficiency, or a more recent manufacturing node, the Xeon D-2799 has a defensible position. However, in the specific measurements shared by both processors, the EPYC 7551P leads by roughly 11.6% across the board. The verdict follows the numbers: choose the EPYC 7551P for maximum Cinebench throughput, choose the Xeon D-2799 for PCIe Gen 4 connectivity and lower power consumption.