AMD EPYC 7601 vs Intel Xeon Gold 5320T Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7601 scores 29,800 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Xeon Gold 5320T scores 28,753. The AMD part leads by 3.6% in this test.

Q: What is the single-core performance gap between the two?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD EPYC 7601 posts 4,207 points versus 4,059 for the Intel Xeon Gold 5320T, a 3.6% advantage for AMD. The same 3.6%–3.7% delta appears across all single-core tests.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD EPYC 7601 has 32 cores and 64 threads. The Intel Xeon Gold 5320T has 20 cores and 40 threads. AMD provides 12 more cores and 24 more threads.

Q: Which chip has higher clock speeds?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 5320T has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The AMD EPYC 7601 runs at 2.20 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. Intel holds the clock advantage on paper, yet trails in every benchmark.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD EPYC 7601 and the Intel Xeon Gold 5320T support ECC memory. Both also use DDR4 memory with an eight-channel memory bus.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth figures for each?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 5320T has a memory bandwidth of 191.6 GB/s, while the AMD EPYC 7601 offers 170.6 GB/s. Intel leads by roughly 21 GB/s in this specification.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7601 belongs to the EPYC 7001 series, built on the Zen architecture with the codename Naples. It uses a 14 nm process node manufactured by GlobalFoundries, with 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. The Intel Xeon Gold 5320T is an Ice Lake-SP part, using Intel's 10 nm process, with the architecture simply listed as Ice Lake. Intel does not disclose transistor count or die size for this chip.

The core counts diverge sharply. AMD packs 32 cores and 64 threads, while Intel provides 20 cores and 40 threads. This 12-core, 24-thread difference is the largest architectural gap between the two. Cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD part has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, but only 30 MB of shared L3 — less than half of AMD's L3 allocation.

Clock behavior favors Intel on paper. The Xeon Gold 5320T runs at 2.30 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost, versus 2.20 GHz and 3.20 GHz for the EPYC 7601. Power consumption reverses that: AMD's TDP is 180 W, while Intel's is 150 W. The EPYC 7601 uses AMD Socket SP3; the Xeon Gold 5320T uses Intel Socket 4189.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation. AMD supports PCIe Gen 3, while Intel supports PCIe Gen 4 with 64 lanes available from the CPU alone. The Intel chip also has a locked multiplier, whereas the AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier. Both target the server/workstation market segment and remain in active production. The EPYC 7601 launched on 2017-06-28, while the Xeon Gold 5320T launched on 2021-04-05 — a gap of nearly four years.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7601 wins all six benchmark comparisons. The margin is consistent, ranging from 3.6% to 3.7% depending on the test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 3,003 against Intel's 2,898, a 3.6% lead. The single-core R15 result shows AMD at 423 versus 408, a 3.7% advantage — the largest relative margin in the entire comparison.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. AMD scores 12,516 in multi-core and 1,766 in single-core. Intel counters with 12,076 and 1,704 respectively. Both deltas sit at 3.6%. The most modern test, Cinebench R23, shows AMD at 29,800 multi-core and 4,207 single-core, while Intel manages 28,753 and 4,059. Again, a 3.6% gap in both disciplines.

The consistency of these margins is notable. Despite Intel's higher clock speeds — 2.30 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost versus AMD's 2.20 GHz and 3.20 GHz — the EPYC 7601 maintains a lead across every workload. The 32-core AMD part outperforms the 20-core Intel part by roughly 3.6% in multi-threaded tests, a modest margin given the 60% core-count advantage. This suggests that per-core throughput on the Intel chip is substantially higher, but not enough to overcome the numeric core deficit.

Single-core performance tells a similar story. The Intel chip's higher boost clock of 3.50 GHz does not translate into a win; AMD's 3.20 GHz boost clock delivers a 3.6%–3.7% single-core advantage. The average benchmark scores reflect this: AMD's average is 8,619, while Intel's is 8,316. AMD's percentile ranking stands at 65 versus Intel's 64.

The nearest-rival data adds context. The EPYC 7601's closest competitors are mobile Intel parts: the Core i7-10510U (8,580, delta 0.5%), Core i5-8250U (8,577, delta 0.5%), and Core i7-8565U (8,665, delta -0.5%). The Xeon Gold 5320T sits near the Xeon Platinum 8268 (8,315, delta 0%) and Xeon D-2799 (8,308, delta 0.1%). This places both chips in similar performance territory, with AMD marginally ahead.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear, if narrow, winner. The AMD EPYC 7601 outperforms the Intel Xeon Gold 5320T in every single benchmark recorded. The margins are consistent at 3.6%–3.7% across multi-core and single-core tests in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. AMD wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with zero wins for Intel.

For workloads that scale with core count, the EPYC 7601's 32 cores and 64 threads provide a structural advantage over the Xeon Gold 5320T's 20 cores and 40 threads. The 12-core difference translates into a 3.6% multi-core performance lead in Cinebench — a surprisingly small gap, which indicates that Intel's per-core efficiency is superior. However, the raw score is what matters in benchmark comparisons, and AMD holds the edge.

For single-threaded tasks, the story is similar. Despite a 300 MHz boost clock disadvantage, the EPYC 7601 leads by 3.6%–3.7% in single-core tests. This suggests architectural efficiency in the Zen design compensates for lower clock speeds.

The Intel chip does have advantages in specifications: PCIe Gen 4 support with 64 lanes, higher memory bandwidth at 191.6 GB/s, lower TDP at 150 W, and a smaller 10 nm process node. But these specification advantages do not translate into benchmark wins. The EPYC 7601 offers more L3 cache (64 MB versus 30 MB), an unlocked multiplier, and a longer production history.

Users prioritizing raw Cinebench scores should choose the AMD EPYC 7601. Users who need PCIe Gen 4 connectivity, higher memory bandwidth, or lower power draw might favor the Intel Xeon Gold 5320T — but they will sacrifice 3.6% benchmark performance. The data does not show any workload category where the Intel chip wins. The verdict is straightforward: AMD EPYC 7601 is the higher-performing processor in this comparison.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. Core count: AMD has 32 cores versus Intel's 20. Thread count: AMD has 64 threads versus Intel's 40. Base clock: Intel leads at 2.30 GHz versus AMD's 2.20 GHz. Boost clock: Intel leads at 3.50 GHz versus AMD's 3.20 GHz. TDP: AMD draws 180 W, Intel draws 150 W.

Process node differs by generation: AMD uses 14 nm from GlobalFoundries, Intel uses 10 nm from its own fabs. AMD lists 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die; Intel does not disclose these figures. Cache structures diverge: AMD has 96 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core, while Intel has 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core. L3 cache: AMD provides 64 MB shared, Intel provides 30 MB shared.

Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 191.6 GB/s versus AMD's 170.6 GB/s. Both support DDR4 with an eight-channel memory bus. PCIe support differs: AMD offers Gen 3, Intel offers Gen 4 with 64 lanes from the CPU. Sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket SP3, Intel uses Socket 4189.

The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip does not. AMD lists a part number (PS7601BDVIHAF); Intel does not. Release dates differ by nearly four years: AMD on 2017-06-28, Intel on 2021-04-05. Both support ECC memory, lack integrated graphics, and target the server/workstation segment. Neither has a launch MSRP listed. The average benchmark score favors AMD at 8,619 versus 8,316, with percentile ranks of 65 and 64 respectively.