AMD EPYC 7601 vs Intel Core i5-7500 Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7601 and the Intel Core i5-7500 represent two fundamentally different approaches to computing, targeting entirely separate market segments. The data in our database shows a stark contrast in their capabilities, driven by a massive disparity in core counts and architectural priorities. This analysis breaks down their benchmark performance, use-case scenarios, and key specifications based solely on recorded measurements.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unequivocal in their outcome. Across all six recorded Cinebench tests, the AMD EPYC 7601 secures a decisive victory, with no wins registered for the Intel Core i5-7500. The margin of victory is consistently enormous, hovering around the 480% to 481% range in every single test.

In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the AMD EPYC 7601 scores 3003, while the Intel Core i5-7500 manages just 517. This represents a delta of 480.9% in favor of the AMD processor. The single-core variant of the same test shows a similar pattern, with the EPYC 7601 scoring 423 against the Core i5-7500's 72, a 487.5% difference. The fact that the EPYC wins the single-core test by an even larger percentage than the multicore test is particularly notable, as it indicates that AMD's Zen architecture is competitive on a per-thread basis, not just through raw core count.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the results scale predictably with the newer benchmark's workload. The EPYC 7601 achieves a multicore score of 12516, dwarfing the Core i5-7500's 2155. This is a delta of 480.8%. The single-core R20 result mirrors this, with scores of 1766 for the EPYC and 304 for the i5-7500, a 480.9% advantage for AMD. The consistency of the deltas across R15 and R20 suggests that the performance gap is structural, rooted in the fundamental hardware differences rather than benchmark-specific quirks.

The most recent Cinebench R23 results reinforce this narrative. The EPYC 7601 posts a multicore score of 29800, while the Core i5-7500 trails far behind at 5133. This is a 480.6% difference. In the single-core R23 test, the EPYC 7601 scores 4207 versus the i5-7500's 724, a delta of 481.1%. Across the board, the data indicates that the EPYC 7601 is roughly 4.8 times faster than the Core i5-7500 in these rendering workloads. This is not a marginal improvement; it is a generational and categorical leap in processing power.

The average benchmark score further illustrates the chasm between these two processors. The AMD EPYC 7601 has an average score of 8619, placing it in the 65th percentile of all CPUs in our database. The Intel Core i5-7500, despite having a lower average score of 8208, finds itself in the 64th percentile. This seemingly small percentile difference is misleading; it simply reflects that the i5-7500 is competing in a different pool of processors, one dominated by desktop and mobile chips with far fewer cores.

Where Each One Wins

Given the benchmark data, the use-case split is stark and unambiguous. The AMD EPYC 7601 is the clear winner in every recorded workload category, but the nature of these workloads reveals where each processor is intended to live.

The AMD EPYC 7601 is designed for server and workstation environments. Its 32 cores and 64 threads are built to handle massively parallel tasks such as 3D rendering, scientific simulations, virtualization, and database management. The Cinebench scores, which are heavily multithreaded, confirm this. A score of 29800 in R23 multicore is indicative of a processor that can chew through complex, multi-frame renders or host dozens of virtual machines without breaking a sweat. The fact that it also wins single-core tests, albeit by a slightly larger margin, shows that it does not sacrifice per-thread performance for its core count, making it a versatile, albeit power-hungry, workhorse.

The Intel Core i5-7500, on the other hand, is a desktop part. With 4 cores and 4 threads, it is suited for mainstream tasks like gaming, office productivity, and light content creation. Its higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz are typical of a desktop processor that prioritizes latency and responsiveness over throughput. However, the recorded data shows that even in single-threaded workloads, it is decisively outpaced by the EPYC 7601. The i5-7500's integrated graphics (HD 630) and lack of ECC memory support further cement its position as a consumer-oriented chip. For a user building a budget gaming PC or a general-purpose desktop, the i5-7500 is sufficient. For a data center or a professional workstation, its 5133 R23 multicore score would be a severe bottleneck.

The data also shows that the i5-7500 has a wider range of recorded benchmarks, including PassMark tests for data compression, encryption, and integer math. In these, it scores 83250, 1817, and 15768 respectively. While the EPYC 7601 does not have recorded scores for these specific tests, the Cinebench deltas strongly suggest it would dominate these as well, given that they are also parallelizable workloads. In essence, the i5-7500 wins in no recorded category; the EPYC 7601 wins in all of them, making the choice between them a matter of platform and budget rather than performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7601 is significantly faster. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 29800 versus the Intel Core i5-7500's 5133, a delta of 480.6%. The EPYC 7601 also leads in R15 and R20 multicore tests by similar margins.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-7500 better for single-core tasks?

A: No. The recorded data shows the AMD EPYC 7601 wins all single-core tests as well. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC 7601 scores 4207 against the i5-7500's 724, a 481.1% advantage. The i5-7500 does not win any single-core test in our database.

Q: What is the average performance score for each CPU?

A: The AMD EPYC 7601 has an average benchmark score of 8619, placing it in the 65th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i5-7500 has an average score of 8208, placing it in the 64th percentile.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-7500 support ECC memory?

A: No. The database indicates that ECC memory is not supported on the Intel Core i5-7500. The AMD EPYC 7601, in contrast, does support ECC memory, which is a critical feature for server reliability.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-7500 has a higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 7601 has a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. However, the EPYC 7601 compensates with far more cores and threads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD EPYC 7601 supports eight-channel memory, providing a bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-7500 supports dual-channel memory, providing a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification, reflecting their separate target markets. The AMD EPYC 7601 is built on a massive scale, while the Intel Core i5-7500 is a compact desktop chip.

The core and thread counts are the most obvious divergence. The EPYC 7601 has 32 cores and 64 threads, compared to the Core i5-7500's 4 cores and 4 threads. This is an 8x difference in core count and a 16x difference in thread count. Clock speeds also differ, with the EPYC 7601 running at a base of 2.20 GHz and a boost of 3.20 GHz, while the i5-7500 runs at a base of 3.40 GHz and a boost of 3.80 GHz. The i5-7500 has higher peak clocks, but this does not translate into competitive performance.

The thermal design power (TDP) is another major differentiator. The EPYC 7601 has a TDP of 180 watts, reflecting its 32 cores, while the i5-7500 has a TDP of just 65 watts. This makes the i5-7500 far more power-efficient, but it also underscores the EPYC's server-grade power requirements. Their sockets are incompatible: the AMD EPYC 7601 uses the AMD Socket SP3, while the Intel Core i5-7500 uses the Intel Socket 1151.

Cache configurations are also vastly different. The EPYC 7601 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a massive 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-7500 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and only 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support shows a similar split: the EPYC 7601 uses an eight-channel memory bus with 170.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while the i5-7500 uses a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s.

Furthermore, the EPYC 7601 supports ECC memory, while the i5-7500 does not. The i5-7500 also features integrated graphics (HD 630), whereas the EPYC 7601 has none. The market segments are clear: the EPYC 7601 is a server/workstation processor, and the i5-7500 is a desktop processor. Finally, the multiplier is unlocked on the EPYC 7601, but locked on the i5-7500.

Architecture Differences

The architectural differences between these two CPUs are as pronounced as their specifications. The AMD EPYC 7601 is based on the Zen architecture, codenamed Naples, and is part of the EPYC 7001 series. The Intel Core i5-7500 is based on the Kaby Lake architecture, part of the Core i5 generation. Both are manufactured on a 14 nm process node, but by different foundries: GlobalFoundries for AMD and Intel for its own chips.

The transistor count is a key architectural differentiator. The EPYC 7601 is comprised of 4,800 million transistors on a die size of 213 mm². The i5-7500's transistor count and die size are not recorded in our database, but its smaller cache and core count indicate a significantly smaller die. The cache hierarchy reflects the target workloads: the EPYC 7601's 64 MB of L3 cache is designed for handling large datasets and many concurrent threads, while the i5-7500's 6 MB of L3 cache is suited for the lower thread counts of desktop applications.

Both CPUs support DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3, but with different lane configurations. The EPYC 7601 supports eight-channel memory, a bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, and has a PCIe Gen 3 interface without a specified lane count in our data. The i5-7500 supports dual-channel memory, has a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and offers 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU. The presence of integrated graphics on the i5-7500 (HD 630) is a feature absent from the EPYC 7601, which is designed to run with a discrete GPU or no GPU at all in a server environment.

The release dates are close, with the i5-7500 released in January 2017 and the EPYC 7601 in June 2017. However, the architectural goals are entirely different. Zen (Naples) is a scalable, multi-die design optimized for high core counts and memory bandwidth, while Kaby Lake is a monolithic, low-power design optimized for single-thread performance and cost. The benchmark data confirms that these differing philosophies lead to vastly different outcomes in rendering workloads, with the EPYC 7601 outperforming the i5-7500 by a factor of nearly five across the board.