AMD EPYC 7643 vs Intel Core i7-8700 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database presents an unambiguous picture: the AMD EPYC 7643 wins every single recorded head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Core i7-8700, with six wins out of six. The data shows a massive performance gap, with the EPYC 7643 leading by margins between 496.9% and 500.7% across all Cinebench tests. This is not a close contest by any metric.

For whom does the data point? The EPYC 7643 is the clear choice for workloads that scale with core count and memory bandwidth. Its 48 cores, 96 threads, and eight-channel memory interface make it suited for server and workstation tasks where parallel processing dominates. The Intel Core i7-8700, with 6 cores and 12 threads, is a desktop part from an earlier era. Based on the recorded results, the i7-8700 cannot compete in any multi-threaded scenario, and even in single-core tests, it trails by roughly 500%.

The verdict is straightforward: if the workload is heavily parallel, the EPYC 7643 is the only rational selection from this data. If the workload is light, single-threaded, or constrained by desktop platform requirements, the i7-8700 exists as a lower-power alternative, but the benchmark results offer no scenario where it outperforms the EPYC chip. The i7-8700’s only advantage lies in its lower TDP of 65 watts versus 225 watts, but no performance metric in the database rewards that difference.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows no benchmark wins for the Intel Core i7-8700. Across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the AMD EPYC 7643 wins outright. The EPYC’s dominance extends across both multi-core and single-core tests, which is notable because single-core performance is often considered a desktop strength.

In multi-core workloads, the EPYC 7643’s advantage is enormous. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 64,642 versus 10,829 for the i7-8700, a delta of 496.9%. This reflects the 48-core versus 6-core configuration. The EPYC also leads in Cinebench R20 multi-core with 27,149 versus 4,548, and in Cinebench R15 multi-core with 6,515 versus 1,091.

Surprisingly, the EPYC also wins single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 9,126 versus 1,528, a 497.3% lead. In R20 single-core, 3,832 versus 641. In R15 single-core, 919 versus 153. The i7-8700 has a higher boost clock (4.60 GHz versus 3.60 GHz), but the EPYC’s Zen 3 architecture and newer process node clearly compensate. The data implies that core architecture matters more than raw clock speed for these workloads.

So where does the i7-8700 “win”? Nowhere in the recorded benchmarks. Its only distinguishing features are its integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), which the EPYC lacks, and its lower TDP. For a desktop user who needs integrated graphics and modest power draw, the i7-8700 has a platform role. But for pure CPU performance, the EPYC wins every test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The AMD EPYC 7643 uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan, built on a 7 nm process by TSMC. It packs 33,200 million transistors across eight chiplets, each 81 mm² in size. The Intel Core i7-8700 uses the Coffee Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 14 nm process with a monolithic die of 154 mm². The process node difference is stark: 7 nm versus 14 nm.

Core counts differ by a factor of eight. The EPYC has 48 cores and 96 threads; the i7-8700 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Cache structures also diverge. The EPYC offers 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 256 MB shared L3. The i7-8700 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and only 12 MB shared L3. The EPYC’s L3 cache is over 21 times larger.

Memory architecture is another major divide. The EPYC supports DDR4 with an eight-channel memory bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-8700 also supports DDR4 but with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. That is roughly five times less memory bandwidth for the Intel part. ECC memory is supported on the EPYC but not on the i7-8700.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The EPYC provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-8700 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The EPYC targets server sockets (AMD Socket SP3), while the i7-8700 uses Intel Socket 1151 for desktops. The i7-8700 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630); the EPYC has no integrated graphics. Production status also differs: the EPYC is active, while the i7-8700 is end-of-life.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD EPYC 7643 dominates. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 64,642 versus 10,829 for the Intel Core i7-8700, a lead of 496.9%. The same pattern holds in R20 (27,149 versus 4,548) and R15 (6,515 versus 1,091).

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-8700 win any single-core tests?

A: No. Despite a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, the i7-8700 loses all three single-core Cinebench tests. The EPYC 7643 scores 9,126 versus 1,528 in R23 single-core, a 497.3% lead.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The EPYC 7643 has an eight-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-8700 has a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s. This is approximately five times more bandwidth for the EPYC, which matters for memory-intensive server workloads.

Q: Does the i7-8700 have any features the EPYC lacks?

A: Yes, the i7-8700 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630). The EPYC 7643 has no integrated graphics. The i7-8700 also has a much lower TDP of 65 watts versus 225 watts for the EPYC.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7643 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-8700 does not. This makes the EPYC more suitable for error-sensitive server and workstation environments.

Q: What are the production statuses of these chips?

A: The EPYC 7643 is marked as active in production. The i7-8700 is end-of-life, meaning it is no longer actively produced.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a consistent, almost uniform performance gap. Every benchmark shows the EPYC 7643 winning by roughly 500%. Let’s walk through the numbers.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 6,515 against the i7-8700’s 1,091. The delta is 497.2%. This test scales well with core count, and the 48-core EPYC obliterates the 6-core Intel part. In R15 single-core, the EPYC scores 919 versus 153, a 500.7% margin. This is the largest single-core delta in the dataset, suggesting the Zen 3 architecture’s IPC advantage is substantial even at lower clock speeds.

Cinebench R20 shows the same story. Multi-core: 27,149 versus 4,548, a 496.9% lead. Single-core: 3,832 versus 641, a 497.8% margin. The consistency of these deltas (all between 496.9% and 500.7%) is striking. It implies that the performance ratio is nearly constant across Cinebench versions and workload types.

Cinebench R23, the newest test in the dataset, confirms the trend. Multi-core: 64,642 versus 10,829, a 496.9% delta. Single-core: 9,126 versus 1,528, a 497.3% delta. The EPYC’s absolute scores are roughly six times higher than the i7-8700 in multi-core and single-core alike.

For context, the EPYC 7643’s average benchmark score is 18,697, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-12400 (average score 18,683, delta 0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-1355U (18,730, delta -0.2%). The i7-8700’s average score is 18,223, in the 72nd percentile, with nearest rivals like the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E (18,230, delta 0%) and the Intel Core i7-9700 (18,180, delta 0.2%). Notably, the two processors are only 474 points apart in average score (18,697 versus 18,223), yet their head-to-head deltas are enormous. This is because the average score includes many different tests, some of which may not be shared between the two chips. The i7-8700 has additional benchmarks (Geekbench, Passmark) that the EPYC lacks, which likely pulls its average up. But in the shared Cinebench tests, the EPYC is overwhelmingly faster.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. Here are the fields where they diverge:

• Cores: EPYC 7643 has 48 cores; i7-8700 has 6 cores.
• Threads: EPYC 7643 has 96 threads; i7-8700 has 12 threads.
• Base clock: EPYC 7643 runs at 2.30 GHz; i7-8700 at 3.20 GHz.
• Boost clock: EPYC 7643 boosts to 3.60 GHz; i7-8700 to 4.60 GHz.
• TDP: EPYC 7643 is rated at 225 watts; i7-8700 at 65 watts.
• Socket: EPYC 7643 uses AMD Socket SP3; i7-8700 uses Intel Socket 1151.
• Architecture: EPYC 7643 uses Zen 3; i7-8700 uses Coffee Lake.
• Codename: EPYC 7643 is Milan; i7-8700 is Coffee Lake.
• Process node: EPYC 7643 is 7 nm (TSMC); i7-8700 is 14 nm (Intel).
• Transistors: EPYC 7643 has 33,200 million; i7-8700 has no listed transistor count.
• Die size: EPYC 7643 uses 8x 81 mm² chiplets; i7-8700 uses a single 154 mm² die.
• L2 cache: EPYC 7643 has 512 KB per core; i7-8700 has 256 KB per core.
• L3 cache: EPYC 7643 has 256 MB shared; i7-8700 has 12 MB shared.
• Memory bus: EPYC 7643 is eight-channel; i7-8700 is dual-channel.
• Memory bandwidth: EPYC 7643 offers 204.8 GB/s; i7-8700 offers 42.7 GB/s.
• ECC memory: EPYC 7643 supports it; i7-8700 does not.
• PCIe: EPYC 7643 has Gen 4, 128 lanes; i7-8700 has Gen 3, 16 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: EPYC 7643 has none; i7-8700 has UHD Graphics 630.
• Market segment: EPYC 7643 is Server/Workstation; i7-8700 is Desktop.
• Production status: EPYC 7643 is Active; i7-8700 is End-of-life.
• Release date: EPYC 7643 launched in March 2021; i7-8700 launched in October 2017.
• Launch MSRP: EPYC 7643 was $4995; i7-8700 was $303.

The specification sheet tells the story of two entirely different product categories. The EPYC is a server monster designed for scale, while the i7-8700 is a desktop chip from a bygone era. The benchmark data simply confirms what the specifications imply: there is no contest in raw compute.