AMD EPYC 7643P vs Intel Xeon 6740P Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database records 16 head-to-head comparisons between the Intel Xeon 6740P and the AMD EPYC 7643P, with the Intel part taking 14 wins and the AMD part taking 2. The margins are not uniform, however, and the pattern of wins tells a clear story about each processor's strengths.

Starting with the Cinebench suite, the Intel Xeon 6740P leads in every single test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 7544 against 6623, a 13.9% advantage. Single-core R15 shows a 14% lead with 1065 versus 934. The R20 tests repeat the same 13.9% margin in both multi-core (31437 vs 27598) and single-core (4438 vs 3895). Cinebench R23 multi-core continues the trend: 74851 versus 65710, again 13.9% ahead. The consistency of that 13.9% delta across multiple Cinebench versions suggests a fundamental throughput advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

PassMark's multithread test shows the same 13.9% margin, with the Intel part scoring 88061 against 77307. The single-thread PassMark test gives the Intel Xeon a 12.1% lead (2975 vs 2655). Physics simulation in PassMark shows a larger gap: 9705 versus 8002, a 21.3% advantage for Intel.

The largest single delta in the entire comparison appears in PassMark extended instructions. Here the Intel Xeon 6740P scores 116992, which is 73.6% higher than the AMD EPYC's 67398. This is a decisive win for workloads that leverage extended instruction sets. Floating-point math also favors Intel heavily: 296102 versus 216592, a 36.7% lead. Prime number finding shows a 26.3% advantage (822 vs 651). Data compression gives Intel a 15.9% edge (1537129 vs 1326051), and random string sorting is 9.2% faster (175015 vs 160274).

The AMD EPYC 7643P claims two wins. The first is in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 95606 against Intel's 82028. That is a 14.2% advantage for AMD, a notable reversal given the Intel part's dominance elsewhere. The second AMD win is narrow: PassMark integer math shows 390775 versus 388500, a 0.6% margin. This is effectively a tie, but the recorded data lists AMD as the winner.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces the overall picture. The Intel Xeon 6740P posts an average of 176227, while the AMD EPYC 7643P averages 144824. The Intel part sits in the 98th percentile of all CPUs, and the AMD part also sits in the 98th percentile, so both are elite performers in absolute terms. The nearest rivals for the Intel Xeon 6740P include the AMD EPYC 7763 at 179916 (2.1% ahead) and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX at 182700 (3.5% ahead), while the AMD EPYC 7643P's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon w9-3575X at 144323 (0.3% behind) and the Intel Xeon 6732P at 143444 (1% ahead).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design generations. The Intel Xeon 6740P uses Granite Rapids architecture on an Intel 5 nm process, built by Intel's own foundry. The AMD EPYC 7643P uses Zen 3 architecture on a 7 nm process from TSMC. The die layout differs substantially: the Intel part uses 2x 598 mm² dies, while the AMD part uses 8x 81 mm² dies. The AMD EPYC's transistor count is recorded at 33,200 million.

Both parts have 48 cores and 96 threads, so thread count is identical. The cache hierarchy, however, is quite different. The Intel Xeon 6740P has 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 288 MB of shared L3. The AMD EPYC 7643P has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 256 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger per-core caches and 32 MB larger L3 pool give it more on-die data capacity.

Memory support splits them sharply. The Intel part supports DDR5 on an eight-channel bus with a recorded memory bandwidth of 409.6 GB/s. The AMD part supports DDR4 on an eight-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. That is exactly double the bandwidth for the Intel Xeon, which helps explain its multi-core and memory-sensitive benchmark leads. PCIe connectivity also differs: Intel provides Gen 5 with 88 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). AMD has more lanes, but Intel has the newer standard.

Clock speeds favor Intel in boost but AMD in base. The Intel Xeon 6740P runs a 2.10 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The AMD EPYC 7643P runs a 2.30 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. The higher boost clock on Intel likely contributes to its single-thread wins, while the higher base clock on AMD does not overcome the architectural advantages elsewhere.

The TDP figures differ: Intel is rated at 270 W and AMD at 225 W. Both require active cooling solutions appropriate for server platforms. The Intel part uses Socket 4710, while the AMD part uses Socket SP3. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option on either platform.

Release dates place the Intel part later: the Xeon 6740P launched on 2025-02-23, while the EPYC 7643P launched on 2023-09-04. The Intel part is part of the Xeon 6 (Granite Rapids-SP) generation, while the AMD part belongs to the EPYC 7003 series.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous for most workloads. The Intel Xeon 6740P wins 14 of 16 head-to-head tests and holds a 21.7% higher average benchmark score (176227 vs 144824). Its leads are consistent across Cinebench multi-core and single-core, PassMark multithread, physics, floating-point math, data compression, prime numbers, random string sorting, and extended instructions. If the workload is general-purpose compute, rendering, scientific simulation, or data compression, the Intel part is the stronger choice in every recorded test.

The AMD EPYC 7643P is not without merit. It wins data encryption by 14.2%, which is a substantial margin and suggests a hardware advantage for encryption workloads. It also edges out Intel in integer math by 0.6%, though this is within noise and effectively a tie. For a database-driven decision, the AMD part should be selected when encryption performance is the priority, or when the 0.6% integer math edge matters in a narrow application.

The AMD part also draws less power (225 W vs 270 W) and supports more PCIe lanes (128 vs 88), though the Intel part has PCIe Gen 5 versus Gen 4. The memory bandwidth difference (409.6 GB/s vs 204.8 GB/s) is a major divider in favor of Intel. The release date difference (2025 vs 2023) means Intel's part is newer, but the database does not record any impact from that beyond the architecture itself.

Strictly from the recorded data, the Intel Xeon 6740P is the better all-around processor. The AMD EPYC 7643P is a specialist that wins in encryption and is competitive in integer math, but it loses the remaining 14 tests, many by double-digit margins.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon 6740P | AMD EPYC 7643P |

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

| Architecture | Granite Rapids | Zen 3 |

| Process node | 5 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Base clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 270 W | 225 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 4710 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| L1 cache | 112 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 288 MB (shared) | 256 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory bandwidth | 409.6 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 88 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 128 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Release date | 2025-02-23 | 2023-09-04 |

| Launch MSRP | $4650 | $2722 |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: Both have exactly 48 cores and 96 threads, so the core count is identical.

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Xeon 6740P wins the Cinebench R15 single-core test by 14% (1065 vs 934), the R20 single-core by 13.9% (4438 vs 3895), and the PassMark single-thread test by 12.1% (2975 vs 2655).

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7643P win any benchmarks?

A: Yes. It wins PassMark data encryption by 14.2% (95606 vs 82028) and PassMark integer math by 0.6% (390775 vs 388500).

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Xeon 6740P supports DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD EPYC 7643P supports DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s. Intel's bandwidth is exactly double.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark extended instructions, where the Intel Xeon 6740P scores 116992 versus 67398, a 73.6% advantage.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Xeon 6740P averages 176227, while the AMD EPYC 7643P averages 144824. Both are in the 98th percentile of all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 6740P wins in 14 of 16 recorded benchmarks. Its most decisive victories are in extended instructions (73.6% ahead), floating-point math (36.7% ahead), and prime number finding (26.3% ahead). It also leads in physics (21.3%), data compression (15.9%), and all Cinebench tests (13.9% in each). The single-thread and multithread PassMark tests both favor Intel by 12.1% and 13.9%, respectively. Random string sorting is closer but still Intel's, at 9.2%. For rendering, scientific computing, data compression, physics simulation, and any workload that uses extended instruction sets, the Intel part is the clear pick.

The AMD EPYC 7643P wins in two areas. The first is data encryption, where it leads by 14.2%. This is a meaningful margin and suggests that encryption-heavy workloads, such as secure data processing or VPN termination, would see a real benefit from the AMD part. The second win is integer math, though the 0.6% margin is negligible in practice. The AMD part also has a lower TDP (225 W vs 270 W), which may be relevant in power-constrained deployments, and more PCIe lanes (128 vs 88), which matters for systems with many expansion cards or storage devices.

The database does not record a winner for overall value, so no judgment is made here. The decision framework is simple: choose the Intel Xeon 6740P for the vast majority of compute tasks, and choose the AMD EPYC 7643P specifically when encryption performance or the integer math edge is the primary requirement, or when the lower TDP and higher PCIe lane count are decisive factors for the platform design.