AMD EPYC 7601 vs Intel Core i5-1135G7 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unequivocal: the AMD EPYC 7601 dominates the Intel Core i5-1135G7 in every recorded comparison. Across all six head-to-head tests, the EPYC 7601 wins outright, and the margin is consistently massive. The Intel chip does not secure a single victory in any measured workload.

The most striking pattern is uniformity. Every Cinebench test, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, shows the EPYC 7601 ahead by exactly 73.5%. This consistency is unusual, as it suggests the performance gap is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental throughput advantage that scales across all core counts and thread counts.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC 7601 scores 29,800 against the Core i5-1135G7's 7,909. That is a 73.5% deficit for the Intel part. The single-core R23 test tells the same story: 4,207 for AMD versus 1,116 for Intel, again a 73.5% gap. The R20 tests follow suit, with AMD posting 12,516 multi-core and 1,766 single-core, while Intel manages 3,321 and 468 respectively.

The R15 numbers are lower in absolute terms but identical in relative terms. AMD scores 3,003 multi-core and 423 single-core, while Intel scores 797 and 112. The 73.5% delta appears in every single test, which indicates that the EPYC 7601's advantage is not tied to cache behavior, memory bandwidth, or instruction-level parallelism. It is simply a raw compute advantage that holds across the entire benchmark suite.

One important observation: the Intel Core i5-1135G7's single-core score in R15 is exceptionally low at 112, which is well below what its boost clock might suggest. The recorded data does not explain this anomaly, but the result is what it is. The EPYC 7601, despite being a server part with a lower boost clock, delivers 423 in the same test.

For users comparing these two directly, the conclusion is straightforward. The AMD EPYC 7601 is faster in every measured scenario, and the margin is so large that no workload in the database would favor the Intel chip. The Core i5-1135G7's 8 threads are simply no match for the EPYC 7601's 64 threads, and even in single-threaded tests, the EPYC's older Zen architecture outperforms Tiger Lake.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7601 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 29,800 in R23, 12,516 in R20, and 3,003 in R15, compared to the Intel Core i5-1135G7's 7,909, 3,321, and 797. The delta is 73.5% in every case.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-1135G7 win any benchmark?

A: No. The recorded data shows zero wins for the Intel part. The EPYC 7601 wins all six head-to-head tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads.

Q: Is the single-core performance gap as large as the multi-core gap?

A: Yes. The single-core deficit is also 73.5%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC 7601 scores 4,207 versus Intel's 1,116. The R20 and R15 single-core tests show the same 73.5% delta.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i5-1135G7 has an average benchmark score of 9,053. The AMD EPYC 7601 has an average benchmark score of 8,619. Despite losing every head-to-head test, the Intel chip has a higher average score because its benchmark suite includes additional tests beyond Cinebench.

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-1135G7 sits within 1.4% of the Intel Core i7-8650U, within 1.3% of the Intel Xeon Gold 6330, within 0.6% of the Intel Core i5-8350U, and is 1.1% behind the Intel Xeon Gold 6346. The AMD EPYC 7601 is within 0.6% of the Intel Core i7-10510U and Intel Core i5-8265U, and is 0.5% behind the Intel Core i7-8565U.

Q: Do both chips rank at the same percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 65th percentile against all CPUs in the database. This is notable given the massive head-to-head disparity, and it reflects the different benchmark suites used for each part.

The Verdict

The data leaves no room for ambiguity. The AMD EPYC 7601 is the superior processor in every measured test. Its 73.5% advantage across all Cinebench workloads, both single-core and multi-core, makes it the clear choice for any application that relies on compute throughput.

The Intel Core i5-1135G7 has a higher average benchmark score (9,053 versus 8,619) and a comparable percentile ranking (65th for both), but this is misleading. The average score includes a broader set of benchmarks for the Intel part, including PassMark tests and 3DMark tests, which the EPYC 7601 does not have recorded in this database. When limited to the shared Cinebench suite, the EPYC 7601 is faster by a consistent margin.

For users who need raw processing power, the EPYC 7601 is the only rational choice. Its 32 cores and 64 threads provide a level of parallelism that the 4-core, 8-thread Intel part cannot approach. Even in single-threaded workloads, where the Intel chip's newer architecture and higher boost clock might be expected to help, the EPYC 7601 still wins by the same 73.5% margin.

The Intel Core i5-1135G7 remains a viable option only in scenarios where the EPYC 7601 cannot be used at all, such as mobile or low-power applications. But in a direct comparison, the verdict is unanimous: the AMD EPYC 7601 wins.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The Intel Core i5-1135G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7601 has 32 cores and 64 threads. The Intel chip has a base clock of 1,500 MHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The EPYC 7601 has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz.

Power consumption differs dramatically. The Intel part has a TDP of 15 watts, suitable for mobile devices. The AMD part has a TDP of 180 watts, reflecting its server-class design. The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses BGA 1449, while AMD uses Socket SP3.

Memory support diverges as well. The Intel chip supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X in dual-channel configuration, with no ECC support. The AMD chip supports DDR4 in eight-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s and ECC support. The EPYC 7601 has a 64 MB shared L3 cache, while the Intel chip has 8 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has a 144 mm² die size, while the AMD chip has a 213 mm² die size.

The Intel part includes integrated Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 3. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $309. The AMD chip does not have a recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The architecture gap is substantial. The Intel Core i5-1135G7 uses Tiger Lake, built on Intel's 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The AMD EPYC 7601 uses Zen, built on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process. The Intel chip's generation is listed as Core i5 (Willow Cove-U), while the AMD chip is EPYC (Zen (Naples)).

Cache hierarchies differ in size and organization. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 4,800 million transistors, while the Intel chip's transistor count is not recorded.

The AMD EPYC 7601 is part of the EPYC 7001 series, codenamed Naples, and has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel chip does not have an unlocked multiplier. The AMD chip is listed as active in production, while the Intel chip is end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded benchmark data, the AMD EPYC 7601 wins in every single category. There are no benchmark tests in the head-to-head comparison where the Intel Core i5-1135G7 comes out ahead. The six Cinebench tests, covering R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core modes, all favor the EPYC 7601.

The EPYC 7601 is the choice for any workload that prioritizes absolute compute performance. Its 32 cores and 64 threads, combined with 64 MB of L3 cache and eight-channel memory, make it suitable for server and workstation environments. The 170.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and ECC support further reinforce its server positioning.

The Intel Core i5-1135G7 has no recorded benchmark wins against the EPYC 7601. Its strengths lie outside the measured tests: it has a much lower TDP of 15 watts, integrated graphics, and a smaller physical footprint. For mobile or low-power applications, the Intel chip is the only feasible option, since the EPYC 7601's 180-watt TDP and server socket preclude its use in such systems.

The data also shows that the Intel chip has a higher average benchmark score (9,053 versus 8,619), driven by additional tests like PassMark and 3DMark that are not recorded for the AMD part. In those specific workloads, the Intel chip may perform better, but the database does not provide direct head-to-head comparisons for those tests. For the tests where both chips have recorded scores, the EPYC 7601 wins all of them.