AMD EPYC 7663 vs Intel Xeon 6745P Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7663 and Intel Xeon 6745P are both 98th-percentile server processors, but they achieve that status through very different strategies. The EPYC 7663, a 2021 Zen 3 part, leans on a massive 56-core/112-thread configuration, while the newer Xeon 6745P, from 2025, counters with far higher clock speeds on a 32-core/64-thread design. The benchmark data shows a clear split: Intel wins the majority of tests (11 of 16) by small margins in rendering and general compute, while AMD dominates in specific workloads like encryption and integer math by dramatic margins. This is not a one-sided affair; it is a question of which workload patterns your server will actually see.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most consistent pattern in the data is Intel’s narrow but repeated victory in Cinebench tests. Across all five Cinebench benchmarks (R15, R20, and R23, both single and multi-core), the Xeon 6745P wins by a deltaPct of -2.5% to -2.6%. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon scores 71,578 against the EPYC’s 69,773, and in single-core R23, it posts 4,244 versus 4,137. These are small but uniform margins, suggesting the Xeon’s higher base and boost clocks (3.10 GHz and 4.30 GHz vs. 2.00 GHz and 3.50 GHz) provide a steady advantage in lightly threaded and well-scaled rendering workloads alike.

The Xeon also takes the PassMark single-thread test decisively, scoring 3,450 against the EPYC’s 2,606, a 24.5% advantage. That single-thread gap is the largest in Intel’s favor, and it carries over to extended instructions, where the Xeon scores 108,326 versus 73,719, a 31.9% lead. Floating-point math also goes to Intel: 267,438 vs. 251,535, a 5.9% win. Even in prime number finding, the Xeon edges out a win, 681 vs. 676, though that 0.7% difference is effectively a tie. The overall PassMark multi-thread score also favors Intel, 84,210 vs. 82,087, a 2.5% margin that mirrors the Cinebench results.

AMD’s wins, however, are not close calls. The EPYC 7663 crushes the Xeon in data encryption, scoring 111,725 versus 66,665, a staggering 67.6% advantage. Integer math is similarly one-sided: 468,096 vs. 336,926, a 38.9% lead. Random string sorting also goes big to AMD, 184,367 vs. 133,528, a 38.1% win. Data compression favors AMD at 1,447,020 vs. 1,352,801, a 7% margin. Finally, the PassMark physics test shows AMD ahead at 8,020 vs. 6,144, a 30.5% gain. These numbers reveal that while Intel wins more tests, AMD’s victories are often by multiples of Intel’s margins.

Where Each One Wins

If your workload involves cryptography, data compression, or heavy integer arithmetic, the AMD EPYC 7663 is the clear choice from the data. The 67.6% encryption lead and 38.9% integer math advantage are not incremental—they are workload-defining. The 38.1% win in random string sorting also points to strength in data processing pipelines that manipulate large in-memory datasets. The physics score of 8,020 vs. 6,144 suggests better performance in simulation or scientific computing that relies on the EPYC’s 56 cores and 256 MB of shared L3 cache to keep threads fed.

Conversely, the Intel Xeon 6745P is the pick for general-purpose compute and single-threaded tasks. Its 24.5% single-thread lead and 31.9% extended instructions win indicate superior per-core performance, which matters for database queries, scripting, or any application that is not perfectly parallelized. The consistent 2.5% wins across all Cinebench versions show that even in multi-threaded rendering, the Xeon’s higher clocks can compensate for having 24 fewer cores. The 5.9% floating-point win also suggests an edge in scientific or financial modeling that relies on FPU throughput. For mixed workloads, Intel’s more balanced profile—winning multi-thread, single-thread, and FPU tests—makes it the safer default.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent different design philosophies and generations. The AMD EPYC 7663 uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan, built on a 7 nm TSMC process. It packs 56 cores and 112 threads into an eight-chiplet design, with each die measuring 81 mm² for a total of 33,200 million transistors. The cache hierarchy is 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a massive 256 MB shared L3. This is a high-core-count, chiplet-based approach designed to maximize parallel throughput.

The Intel Xeon 6745P, in contrast, uses the Granite Rapids architecture (Granite Rapids-SP) on Intel’s 5 nm process. It has 32 cores and 64 threads, laid out on two dies of 598 mm² each. The cache is larger per core: 112 KB L1 and 2 MB L2, with 336 MB of shared L3. The Xeon’s base clock of 3.10 GHz and boost of 4.30 GHz are significantly higher than the EPYC’s 2.00 GHz and 3.50 GHz. Memory support also differs: the Xeon uses DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, double the EPYC’s DDR4 at 204.8 GB/s. PCIe lanes go the other way: the EPYC has 128 Gen 4 lanes, while the Xeon has 88 Gen 5 lanes. Both support eight-channel memory and ECC, and both are locked multipliers with active production status. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, and the EPYC also lacks integrated graphics.

The Verdict

From the data, the Intel Xeon 6745P is the better all-rounder. It wins 11 of 16 head-to-head benchmarks, including all Cinebench tests, single-thread, floating-point, and multi-thread PassMark scores. Its 2.5% margins in rendering and multi-thread tests are small, but they are consistent, and its 24.5% single-thread lead is decisive for any workload that is not fully parallel. If you are building a server for mixed use—web serving, application hosting, or general compute—the Xeon’s higher clocks and DDR5 bandwidth make it the practical choice.

The AMD EPYC 7663 is the specialist. Its 67.6% encryption lead and 38.9% integer math win make it unbeatable for security appliances, data compression, or any workload that is integer-bound. The 30.5% physics win and 38.1% random string sorting advantage also point to scientific computing and data analytics. The 56 cores and 256 MB L3 will also help in heavily threaded, cache-sensitive tasks, even if the Cinebench results show a slight deficit. However, the EPYC’s lower single-thread score (2,606 vs. 3,450) and older DDR4 memory mean it will struggle in latency-sensitive or lightly threaded scenarios. Choose AMD only if your specific workload matches its strengths; otherwise, the Xeon 6745P is the safer bet for a general-purpose server.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-threaded tasks?

A: The Intel Xeon 6745P is significantly faster, scoring 3,450 in PassMark single-thread tests versus the AMD EPYC 7663’s 2,606, a 24.5% advantage.

Q: How do they compare in multi-threaded rendering?

A: The Xeon wins all Cinebench multi-core tests by 2.5%, including R23 at 71,578 vs. 69,773. The PassMark multi-thread score also favors Intel, 84,210 vs. 82,087.

Q: Which CPU has better encryption performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7663 dominates encryption, scoring 111,725 in PassMark data encryption versus the Xeon’s 66,665, a 67.6% lead.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD EPYC 7663 has 56 cores and 112 threads, while the Intel Xeon 6745P has 32 cores and 64 threads.

Q: Which CPU supports faster memory?

A: The Intel Xeon 6745P supports DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, double the AMD EPYC 7663’s DDR4 at 204.8 GB/s.

Q: What is the difference in cache size?

A: The AMD EPYC 7663 has 256 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Xeon 6745P has 336 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon also has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 7663 | Intel Xeon 6745P |

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

| Cores | 56 | 32 |

| Threads | 112 | 64 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 240 W | 300 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP3 | Intel Socket 4710 |

| Architecture | Zen 3 (Milan) | Granite Rapids |

| Process Node | 7 nm (TSMC) | 5 nm (Intel) |

| Die Size | 8x 81 mm² | 2x 598 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 256 MB (shared) | 336 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 204.8 GB/s | 409.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 128 Lanes | Gen 5, 88 Lanes |

| Launch MSRP | $6366 | $5250 |