CPU Comparison

AMD EPYC 7601 and Intel Core i5-8265U occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, and their benchmark averages reflect this: the EPYC 7601 posts an average score of 8619 against the i5-8265U's 8568, a razor-thin 0.6% gap that masks wildly different performance profiles. Across every Cinebench test in the head-to-head data, the EPYC 7601 wins decisively, with margins ranging from 564.9% to 571.4%, making this less a contest and more a demonstration of architectural purpose. The EPYC 7601 is a 32-core, 64-thread server processor built for throughput, while the i5-8265U is a 4-core, 8-thread mobile chip designed for efficiency, and the data shows exactly where each belongs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7601 has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Core i5-8265U has 4 cores and 8 threads. This 8x core advantage is the primary driver of the EPYC's massive multi-threaded lead.

Q: How do their single-core Cinebench R23 scores compare?

A: The EPYC 7601 scores 4207 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 565.7% higher than the i5-8265U's 632. Despite being a server part, the EPYC wins single-threaded tests by a wide margin in this data set.

Q: What are their TDP ratings?

A: The EPYC 7601 has a TDP of 180 watts, while the i5-8265U has a TDP of 15 watts. This 12x difference in power envelope explains why the i5-8265U is suited for mobile devices and the EPYC for server racks.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD EPYC 7601 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-8265U does not. This makes the EPYC suitable for error-sensitive server workloads.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-8265U has integrated graphics, featuring UHD Graphics 620. The AMD EPYC 7601 has no integrated graphics, which is typical for server processors that rely on discrete GPUs or run headless.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The AMD EPYC 7601 is listed as "Active" production, while the Intel Core i5-8265U is marked "End-of-life." The i5-8265U did have a launch MSRP of $297, but no pricing data is available for the EPYC 7601.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7601 wins in every benchmark category where both are tested, but its wins are concentrated in multi-threaded and single-threaded compute workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 3003 against the i5-8265U's 451, a 565.9% advantage. This pattern holds across R20 (12516 vs 1882, 565% delta) and R23 (29800 vs 4482, 564.9% delta). The EPYC also wins single-core tests by similar margins: Cinebench R15 single-core shows 423 vs 63 (571.4% delta), R20 shows 1766 vs 265 (566.4% delta), and R23 shows 4207 vs 632 (565.7% delta). The data shows no test where the i5-8265U wins; the EPYC's 6 out of 6 win record is absolute.

The Intel Core i5-8265U does not win any head-to-head benchmarks, but its value lies in a different domain. It has a TDP of 15 watts, making it viable in fanless or low-power mobile designs, and it includes integrated UHD Graphics 620, which the EPYC lacks entirely. The i5-8265U also supports dual-channel memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, which is sufficient for its mobile segment, whereas the EPYC's eight-channel memory at 170.6 GB/s is overkill for laptops but essential for servers. The i5-8265U's PassMark results (e.g., 5838 multi-thread, 2030 single-thread) show it can handle everyday tasks, but those numbers are dwarfed by the EPYC's Cinebench scores.

Architecture Differences

The EPYC 7601 uses AMD's Zen architecture, codenamed Naples, built on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,800 million transistors into a 213 mm² die and is part of the EPYC 7001 series, released on 2017-06-28. The i5-8265U uses Intel's Whiskey Lake architecture (Whiskey Lake-U), also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by Intel, and belongs to the Core i5 generation, released on 2018-09-30. Both use 14 nm nodes, but the design philosophies diverge sharply.

Cache configurations highlight the difference in scale. The EPYC 7601 has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 64 MB shared L3, while the i5-8265U has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and only 6 MB shared L3. The EPYC's 64 MB L3 is over 10x larger than the i5's 6 MB, which supports its higher core count and server workloads. The EPYC also features eight-channel DDR4 memory with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth, versus the i5's dual-channel 38.4 GB/s. ECC memory support is exclusive to the EPYC, reinforcing its server role, while the i5-8265U is the only one with integrated graphics.

Socket differences are fundamental: the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3, a server platform, while the i5-8265U uses Intel BGA 1528, a soldered mobile package. The EPYC has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the i5-8265U is locked. The EPYC's PCIe is listed as Gen 3 without lane specifics, while the i5-8265U specifies Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The EPYC's market segment is Server/Workstation, and the i5-8265U's is Mobile, which explains every architectural choice.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. Cores: 32 (EPYC) vs 4 (i5-8265U). Threads: 64 vs 8. Base clock: 2.20 GHz (EPYC) vs 1600.00 MHz (i5-8265U). Boost clock: 3.20 GHz vs 3.90 GHz, the i5 actually boosts higher, but with far fewer cores. TDP: 180 watts vs 15 watts. Socket: AMD Socket SP3 vs Intel BGA 1528. Architecture: Zen (Naples) vs Whiskey Lake. Codename: Naples vs Whiskey Lake-U. Generation: EPYC (Zen (Naples)) vs Core i5 (Whiskey Lake). Foundry: GlobalFoundries vs Intel.

Process node is identical at 14 nm for both, but transistor count and die size are only listed for the EPYC (4,800 million transistors, 213 mm²), with no data for the i5-8265U. Cache: L1 is 96 KB/core vs 64 KB/core, L2 is 512 KB/core vs 256 KB/core, L3 is 64 MB shared vs 6 MB shared. Memory bus: eight-channel vs dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 170.6 GB/s vs 38.4 GB/s. ECC: true vs false. PCIe: Gen 3 vs Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics: none vs UHD Graphics 620. Market segment: Server/Workstation vs Mobile. Production status: Active vs End-of-life. Release date: 2017-06-28 vs 2018-09-30. Launch MSRP: none vs $297 (stated once as launch MSRP). Multiplier unlocked: true vs false.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent, overwhelming pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7601 scores 3003 versus the i5-8265U's 451, a 565.9% delta. The R15 single-core test shows 423 vs 63, a 571.4% delta, the largest margin in the entire data set. Moving to Cinebench R20, the EPYC scores 12516 multi-core against 1882, a 565% delta, and 1766 single-core against 265, a 566.4% delta. In Cinebench R23, the EPYC hits 29800 multi-core versus 4482, a 564.9% delta, and 4207 single-core versus 632, a 565.7% delta.

These deltas are remarkably consistent, hovering around 565% regardless of the test version. The EPYC's advantage stems from its 8x core count and 64 MB L3 cache, which allow it to sustain massive parallel workloads. The i5-8265U's higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz (versus the EPYC's 3.20 GHz) does not translate into a single-core win; the EPYC's Zen architecture and larger cache win out in every test. The i5-8265U's best result is its PassMark single-thread score of 2030, but no comparable EPYC PassMark data exists in the pack, so direct comparison is limited to Cinebench, where the EPYC wins all 6 tests.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: choose the AMD EPYC 7601 for any workload that demands raw compute throughput. Its 32 cores, 64 threads, and 64 MB L3 cache deliver a 564.9% to 571.4% advantage over the i5-8265U across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests. The EPYC's 170.6 GB/s eight-channel memory bandwidth and ECC support make it the only viable option for server or workstation environments where data integrity and memory throughput are critical. Its 180-watt TDP is a non-issue in a server chassis, and its Active production status means it remains available for deployment.

Choose the Intel Core i5-8265U for mobile applications where power consumption is the primary constraint. Its 15-watt TDP is 12x lower than the EPYC's, and its integrated UHD Graphics 620 eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. The i5-8265U's dual-channel memory at 38.4 GB/s is adequate for its segment, and its BGA 1528 socket indicates a soldered, low-profile design suitable for laptops. However, the i5-8265U is End-of-life, so new designs should account for its discontinuation. The i5-8265U's launch MSRP was $297, but its benchmark data shows it cannot compete with the EPYC on any compute metric, its value lies solely in efficiency and integration, not performance. The verdict is simple: the EPYC 7601 is a compute monster, and the i5-8265U is an efficiency-focused mobile part; they serve different markets, and the benchmark data reflects that chasm.