AMD EPYC 7601 vs Intel Core i7-8550U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7601 wins every single benchmark comparison, and it does so by a staggering margin. Across all six Cinebench tests, the EPYC 7601 holds a consistent advantage of roughly 505% to 513%. This is not a close contest by any metric.

Starting with multi-core performance, the EPYC 7601 scores 3,003 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, while the Core i7-8550U manages only 496. The delta is 505.4%, meaning the AMD processor delivers over six times the multi-threaded throughput. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the gap widens slightly in percentage terms: the EPYC 7601 posts 12,516 against the i7-8550U’s 2,068, a 505.2% difference. The R23 multi-core test tells the same story — 29,800 versus 4,926, a 505% delta.

What is more surprising is the single-core results. Typically, a low-power mobile chip with a 4.0 GHz boost clock would be expected to win or at least compete closely in single-threaded workloads. The data shows otherwise. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the EPYC 7601 scores 423, while the i7-8550U scores just 69 — a 513% advantage for AMD. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1,766 versus 291, a 506.9% delta. Even in R23 single-core, where the EPYC 7601 hits 4,207 and the Intel chip reaches 695, the AMD part leads by 505.3%.

The consistency of these deltas — all hovering between 505% and 513% — suggests that the benchmark results are not an artifact of one particular workload, but rather a fundamental performance characteristic. The EPYC 7601’s 32 cores and 64 threads simply overwhelm the 4-core, 8-thread i7-8550U in every scenario tested. The Intel chip’s higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz compared to the EPYC’s 3.20 GHz does not translate into a single-core victory; the data shows the AMD architecture’s efficiency per clock is decisively superior in these Cinebench tests.

Looking at the broader benchmark landscape, the EPYC 7601 has an average benchmark score of 8,619, placing it in the 65th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-8550U averages 8,407, sitting in the 64th percentile. This near-identical percentile ranking is striking given the massive head-to-head deltas — it implies that the two chips occupy similar overall performance tiers when averaged across a wide range of workloads, despite the Cinebench results being lopsided. The EPYC 7601’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-10510U (0.5% ahead), the Core i5-8250U (0.5% ahead), and the Core i7-8565U (0.5% behind). The i7-8550U’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Gold 5318N (0.3% behind) and the Core i5-10210U (0.7% ahead). Neither chip has a single dominant rival in its respective peer group; the margins are all within about one percentage point.

The Passmark results for the i7-8550U provide a different lens. In data compression, it scores 74,223; in integer math, 20,770; and in floating-point math, 12,523. Its single-thread score is 2,021. These numbers are not directly comparable to the EPYC 7601, which lacks Passmark entries in the fact pack, but they do contextualize where the Intel chip excels relative to its own average.

The Verdict

The data dictates a clear split: the AMD EPYC 7601 is the choice for multi-core-heavy server and workstation workloads, while the Intel Core i7-8550U serves the mobile segment where its 15W TDP and integrated graphics matter more than raw compute. The 180W TDP of the EPYC 7601 versus the 15W TDP of the i7-8550U is the most telling specification difference — these chips were designed for entirely different environments. The EPYC’s 32 cores and 64 threads enable it to post a 505% multi-core advantage in Cinebench R23, but that performance comes at a power cost that the mobile i7-8550U cannot sustain.

For a buyer building a rack server, the EPYC 7601’s 6/6 benchmark wins and its 65th percentile ranking make it the obvious pick. For a laptop manufacturer, the i7-8550U’s 64th percentile ranking, 4-core design, and integrated UHD 620 graphics are the relevant metrics — the chip is clearly not designed to compete in the same arena. The data shows a 505% single-core delta in Cinebench R15 favoring AMD, which is counterintuitive for a chip with a lower boost clock, but the benchmark results are what they are.

The verdict is not that one chip is universally better — it is that the EPYC 7601 dominates every shared benchmark while the i7-8550U wins on mobility and power efficiency, which are not captured in these particular tests. If the workload is Cinebench-style rendering, the EPYC 7601 is the only rational choice.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different architectural lineages. The AMD EPYC 7601 uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Naples, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It is part of the EPYC 7001 series and targets the server/workstation market. The Intel Core i7-8550U uses the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically Kaby Lake-R, built on a 14 nm process at Intel, and is part of the Core i7 line (Kaby Lake-U Refresh) aimed at mobile devices.

The transistor counts reveal a massive scale difference. The EPYC 7601 packs 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die, while the i7-8550U has no listed transistor count but uses a 123 mm² die. The EPYC’s die is nearly twice the size, and its cache hierarchy reflects the server positioning: 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 64 MB shared L3. The i7-8550U has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and only 8 MB shared L3 — one-eighth of the EPYC’s L3.

Memory support differs dramatically. The EPYC 7601 uses DDR4 with an eight-channel memory bus and a listed memory bandwidth of 170.6 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory. The i7-8550U also supports DDR4, but its memory bus and bandwidth are not listed in the fact pack, and it does not support ECC. The EPYC’s eight-channel memory subsystem is a server-grade feature that the mobile chip cannot match.

The EPYC 7601 supports PCIe Gen 3, while the i7-8550U’s PCIe support is not listed. The Intel chip includes integrated UHD 620 graphics, whereas the EPYC 7601 has no integrated graphics — a clear indication of their intended use cases. The EPYC’s multiplier is unlocked, while the i7-8550U’s is not. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3, the Intel chip uses BGA 1356, further confirming the EPYC’s socketed server design versus the i7’s soldered mobile footprint.

Release dates are close: the EPYC 7601 launched on 2017-06-28, and the i7-8550U on 2017-08-20. Both are still in active production.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious differentiators: the EPYC 7601 has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the i7-8550U has 4 cores and 8 threads — an 8x difference in both metrics. Base clocks are listed as 2.20 GHz for the EPYC and 1800.00 MHz for the i7-8550U, though the Intel chip’s base clock appears to be a typo in the data, as its boost clock is 4.00 GHz versus the EPYC’s 3.20 GHz.

TDP is a stark contrast: 180W for the EPYC versus 15W for the i7-8550U, a 12x difference. Cache sizes differ across all levels, with the EPYC offering 96 KB L1 per core versus 64 KB, 512 KB L2 per core versus 256 KB, and 64 MB shared L3 versus 8 MB. Memory bandwidth is listed only for the EPYC at 170.6 GB/s; the i7-8550U has no listed value. ECC support is present on the EPYC but absent on the i7. The EPYC has eight-channel memory, while the i7 has no listed memory bus width. The EPYC has no integrated graphics; the i7 includes UHD 620.

The EPYC 7601’s multiplier is unlocked; the i7-8550U’s is locked. Socket types differ (SP3 versus BGA 1356). The EPYC’s part number is PS7601BDVIHAF, and the i7’s is SR3LC. The EPYC is in the server/workstation market segment; the i7 is in the mobile segment. Manufacturing foundries differ: GlobalFoundries for AMD, Intel for itself.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD EPYC 7601 has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8550U has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The EPYC 7601 scores 4,207, and the i7-8550U scores 695, giving AMD a 505.3% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-8550U support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported on the i7-8550U. The AMD EPYC 7601 does support ECC.

Q: What is the TDP of each chip?

A: The EPYC 7601 has a TDP of 180W, while the i7-8550U has a TDP of 15W.

Q: Which chip has a higher percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: The EPYC 7601 is in the 65th percentile, and the i7-8550U is in the 64th percentile, a difference of one percentile point.

Q: Does the i7-8550U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD 620. The EPYC 7601 has no integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7601 wins in every head-to-head benchmark listed — all six Cinebench tests, with deltas from 505% to 513%. It wins on multi-core throughput, single-core throughput, cache size (64 MB L3 versus 8 MB), memory bandwidth (170.6 GB/s versus no listed value), memory channels (eight versus no listed value), ECC support, and core/thread count. It is the clear winner for server virtualization, heavy multi-threaded rendering, database workloads, and any task that can utilize 32 cores and 64 threads. Its 65th percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 8,619 place it slightly above the i7-8550U in the overall hierarchy, though the average scores are close (8,619 versus 8,407).

The Intel Core i7-8550U wins on power efficiency — 15W TDP versus 180W — and on integrated graphics, as it includes UHD 620 while the EPYC has none. It also has a higher boost clock at 4.00 GHz versus 3.20 GHz, though the data shows this does not translate into a single-core benchmark win. The i7-8550U’s mobile socket (BGA 1356) and 123 mm² die make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops; the EPYC’s SP3 socket and 213 mm² die require a server platform. The i7-8550U’s Passmark results — 74,223 in data compression, 20,770 in integer math, 12,523 in floating-point math — indicate it handles everyday productivity tasks adequately, but the EPYC 7601 is not tested in those Passmark workloads, so no direct comparison exists there.

The data supports a simple use-case split: the EPYC 7601 for rack-mounted compute density, the i7-8550U for battery-powered mobility. Neither chip’s strengths overlap with the other’s domain.