AMD EPYC 7643 vs Intel Core i7-10700 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a stark and unidirectional picture. Across every recorded Cinebench test, the AMD EPYC 7643 decisively outperforms the Intel Core i7-10700. The database records six head-to-head comparisons, and the AMD EPYC 7643 wins all six. There are no benchmark wins recorded for the Intel part in this comparison set.

The most dramatic differences appear in the multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC 7643 scores 64,642, while the Core i7-10700 manages 10,910. That is a delta of -83.1% from the perspective of the Intel chip, meaning the AMD processor delivers a score roughly six times higher. Similarly, in Cinebench R20 multi-core, the EPYC 7643 posts 27,149 against the Intel's 4,582, again a -83.1% delta. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the same pattern: 6,515 for the EPYC 7643 versus 1,099 for the Core i7-10700.

Single-core results follow the same trend, though the raw gaps are smaller in absolute terms. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC 7643 scores 9,126, compared to the Core i7-10700's 1,540. The Cinebench R20 single-core test shows 3,832 for the AMD chip and 646 for the Intel chip. Cinebench R15 single-core records 919 for the EPYC 7643 and 155 for the Core i7-10700. In each single-core test, the delta is again -83.1%, indicating that the AMD processor's advantage is proportionally consistent across both lightly threaded and heavily threaded workloads.

A word on the broader context: both processors sit at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores are close, 19,145 for the Intel part and 18,697 for the AMD part. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core 3 201E (0.5% ahead), the Intel Core i7-8700K (0.5% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (0.5% behind). The EPYC 7643's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-12400 (0.1% ahead) and the Intel Core i7-1355U (0.2% behind). These figures show that when averaged across all benchmark types in the database, the two processors land in a similar performance class. But the head-to-head Cinebench data tells a very different story, one defined by the EPYC 7643's overwhelming lead in rendering workloads.

The Verdict

The data directs a clear verdict. For anyone running Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the AMD EPYC 7643 is in a different performance tier. Its multi-core scores are roughly five to six times higher than the Intel Core i7-10700's, and its single-core scores are also dramatically higher, around five to six times better. If the workload is heavily threaded and rendering-bound, the EPYC 7643 is the obvious choice from these measurements.

The Intel Core i7-10700, however, should not be dismissed solely on this benchmark set. Its average benchmark score across the entire database is actually slightly higher than the EPYC 7643's, at 19,145 versus 18,697. This suggests that in other workload categories not covered in the head-to-head section, the Intel chip holds its own or even leads. The Core i7-10700 also carries a 65-watt TDP and integrated UHD Graphics 630, features that the EPYC 7643 lacks entirely. For a desktop system where power draw and integrated graphics matter, and where Cinebench rendering is not the primary task, the Intel part remains viable.

But for raw compute throughput in the tested benchmarks, the EPYC 7643 wins outright. The verdict is conditional: pick the EPYC 7643 for server or workstation rendering tasks, pick the Core i7-10700 for a desktop build where its lower TDP and integrated graphics are assets.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-10700 uses the Comet Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The AMD EPYC 7643 uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan, built on TSMC's 7 nm process. It contains 48 cores and 96 threads, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz.

The cache hierarchies reflect the core count disparity. Both processors allocate 64 KB of L1 cache per core. The Intel part has 256 KB of L2 per core and 16 MB of shared L3. The AMD part doubles the L2 to 512 KB per core and provides 256 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7643's L3 cache is 16 times larger in total.

Memory support differs substantially. Both support DDR4, but the Intel chip runs dual-channel with a memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s and no ECC support. The AMD chip runs eight-channel with a memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s and supports ECC memory. That is a 4.4 times bandwidth advantage for the EPYC 7643, consistent with its server-class positioning.

PCIe connectivity also diverges. The Intel part offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD part offers PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU. The EPYC 7643 also has no integrated graphics, while the Intel chip includes UHD Graphics 630. The EPYC 7643 is a server/workstation part on AMD Socket SP3; the Intel chip is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1200.

The transistor count and die size figures are only available for the AMD part: 33,200 million transistors across 8 dies of 81 mm² each. No comparable figures are listed for the Intel chip.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7643 has 48 cores and 96 threads. The Intel Core i7-10700 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How much faster is the AMD EPYC 7643 in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The EPYC 7643 scores 64,642 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, versus 10,910 for the Core i7-10700. That is an 83.1% lower score for the Intel chip, meaning the AMD part is roughly six times faster in this test.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-10700 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD Graphics 630. The AMD EPYC 7643 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7643 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-10700 does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The EPYC 7643 provides 204.8 GB/s over an eight-channel memory bus. The Core i7-10700 provides 46.9 GB/s over a dual-channel bus.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-10700 has an average benchmark score of 19,145, and the AMD EPYC 7643 has an average score of 18,697. Both sit at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7643 wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark in this comparison. All six Cinebench tests, both single-core and multi-core variants, go to the AMD part. The margins are consistent at -83.1% in every test. This makes the EPYC 7643 the clear choice for Cinebench rendering, which is a proxy for 3D rendering and content creation workloads that scale with core count and thread count.

The Intel Core i7-10700 does not win any of the six head-to-head tests, but it does have a higher average benchmark score across the full database, 19,145 versus 18,697. This implies that in benchmark categories outside of Cinebench, the Intel chip performs competitively or better. The database does not specify which those categories are, but the overall average suggests a balanced desktop performer.

The EPYC 7643's advantages extend beyond raw compute. Its eight-channel memory bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, combined with 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, position it for memory-intensive and I/O-heavy server workloads. The Core i7-10700's 65-watt TDP and integrated graphics make it suited to a conventional desktop where power efficiency and basic display output are priorities. For workloads that fit the EPYC 7643's profile, it wins decisively. For general desktop tasks, the Intel part's lower power draw and integrated GPU give it a practical edge, even if the head-to-head rendering scores favor AMD.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. Here is a side-by-side look at the fields where they diverge:

| Specification | Intel Core i7-10700 | AMD EPYC 7643 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 48 |

| Threads | 16 | 96 |

| Base clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.80 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 225 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Zen 3 (Milan) |

| Process node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| L2 cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 16 MB (shared) | 256 MB (shared) |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 lanes | Gen 4, 128 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | None |

| Market segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Release date | 2020-04-29 | 2021-03-14 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $4995 |

The EPYC 7643 has a launch MSRP of $4995, while no launch MSRP is listed for the Core i7-10700. The Intel part has a higher boost clock, 4.80 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, but the AMD part has a much larger core count and cache. The EPYC 7643 also has more transistors, 33,200 million, spread across 8 dies of 81 mm² each, figures not provided for the Intel chip. Both processors are currently marked as Active in production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.