AMD EPYC 7702 vs Intel Core i7-1260P Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1260P and AMD EPYC 7702 are both 70th-percentile performers, with average benchmark scores of 17007 and 16932 respectively, yet they are engineered for entirely different purposes. The data shows a massive divergence in workload capability: the EPYC 7702 wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, often by margins exceeding 70%, while the i7-1260P counters with a lower thermal envelope and integrated graphics. The verdict is clear: the EPYC 7702 is the choice for heavily threaded, server-class workloads, whereas the i7-1260P is a mobile processor that trades raw throughput for portability and efficiency.

The Verdict

Benchmark results indicate that the AMD EPYC 7702 is the superior processor for multi-threaded and even single-threaded performance in every measured test. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the EPYC 7702 scores 58539 against the i7-1260P's 9711, a delta of -83.4%. The single-core gap is similarly stark: the EPYC 7702 reaches 8264 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1737.5 for the Intel chip, a 79% deficit. The EPYC 7702 also wins in Cinebench R15 and R20, both multicore and single-core variants, with deltas ranging from -70.8% to -76.1%. Given this data, the EPYC 7702 is the only logical pick for any application that demands maximum computational throughput, such as virtualization, scientific computing, or database serving.

Conversely, the Intel Core i7-1260P should be selected by users who prioritize mobility and system integration. It is a mobile segment processor with a 28W TDP, whereas the EPYC 7702 is a server/workstation part with a 200W TDP. The i7-1260P includes Iris Xe 96EU integrated graphics, while the EPYC 7702 has no integrated graphics. The Intel chip also supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas the EPYC 7702 supports only DDR4. For a laptop or compact system where discrete graphics and high-core-count servers are impractical, the i7-1260P is the data-supported choice, despite losing every benchmark comparison.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two processors is fundamental. The Intel Core i7-1260P uses the Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-P codename, built on a 10 nm process node by Intel. It has 12 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. It supports dual-channel memory with DDR4 and DDR5, and provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The die size is 217 mm².

The AMD EPYC 7702 is based on the Zen 2 architecture with the codename Rome, fabricated on a 7 nm process node by TSMC. It features 64 cores and 128 threads, with a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 3.35 GHz. The cache structure is notably different: 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a massive 256 MB shared L3. It supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, and includes ECC memory support. The EPYC 7702 has 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. It uses the AMD Socket SP3 and has no integrated graphics. The production status for both is active, though the EPYC 7702 was released in August 2019, predating the i7-1260P's February 2022 release.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7702 has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the Intel Core i7-1260P has 12 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260P has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The AMD EPYC 7702 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 3.35 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7702 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-1260P does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: The AMD EPYC 7702 has a memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s via eight-channel DDR4. The Intel Core i7-1260P uses dual-channel memory but its bandwidth is not listed in the data.

Q: Does either processor have integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260P includes Iris Xe 96EU integrated graphics. The AMD EPYC 7702 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 7702 has 256 MB shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i7-1260P has 18 MB shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field. The Intel Core i7-1260P has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7702 has 64 cores and 128 threads. Clock speeds differ: the i7-1260P runs at 2.10 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost, while the EPYC 7702 runs at 2000.00 MHz base and 3.35 GHz boost. The TDP is 28W for the Intel part versus 200W for the AMD part. The socket is Intel BGA 1744 versus AMD Socket SP3. The architecture is Alder Lake versus Zen 2, with codenames Alder Lake-P and Rome respectively. Process nodes are 10 nm (Intel) versus 7 nm (TSMC). The die size is 217 mm² for Intel versus 74 mm² for AMD. Transistor count is not listed for Intel but is 3,800 million for AMD. Cache structures diverge: L1 is 80 KB per core (Intel) versus 96 KB per core (AMD), L2 is 1.25 MB per core versus 512 KB per core, and L3 is 18 MB shared versus 256 MB shared. Memory support is DDR4 and DDR5 for Intel versus DDR4 only for AMD. Memory bus is dual-channel versus eight-channel, with the AMD part having a specified bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. ECC memory is false for Intel and true for AMD. PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only) for Intel versus Gen 4 without lane count for AMD. Integrated graphics are present on the Intel chip (Iris Xe 96EU) and absent on AMD. Market segments are Mobile versus Server/Workstation. Release dates are February 2022 versus August 2019. Part numbers are SRLD6 versus 100-000000038.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a complete sweep for the AMD EPYC 7702 across all six Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC 7702 scores 5900 against the i7-1260P's 1626, a delta of -72.4%. The single-core R15 test shows 832 versus 243, a -70.8% difference. In Cinebench R20, the multicore scores are 24586 versus 5874 (-76.1%), and single-core scores are 3470 versus 829 (-76.1%). The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the EPYC 7702 reaches 58539 versus 9711, a -83.4% delta. The single-core R23 test shows 8264 versus 1737.5, a -79% difference. The winsA count is 0, and winsB is 6. The average benchmark scores are close — 17007 for Intel and 16932 for AMD — but this average masks the extreme divergence in workload-specific results. The EPYC 7702's nearest rival by average score is the Intel Core i7-1260P itself, with a delta of -0.4%, while the i7-1260P's nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 7742 at 0.1% delta.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7702 wins in all measured benchmark categories, making it the definitive choice for multi-threaded server workloads. Its 64 cores and 128 threads, combined with 256 MB L3 cache and 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth, deliver Cinebench R23 multicore scores of 58539, which is 83.4% ahead of the i7-1260P. The data also shows it wins in single-core tests, with a 79% lead in R23 single-core, indicating that its Zen 2 cores are faster per-thread than the Alder Lake cores in this comparison. For applications that can utilize all cores — such as rendering, compilation, or data analytics — the EPYC 7702 is the only viable option based on these numbers.

The Intel Core i7-1260P has no benchmark wins in this head-to-head data, but it wins in select non-performance categories. It has a 28W TDP versus 200W, making it suitable for thermally constrained mobile environments. It includes integrated Iris Xe 96EU graphics, eliminating the need for a separate GPU in basic systems. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, offering flexibility in system design. Its smaller core count and higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz suggest it is designed for bursty, single-threaded tasks on battery power, though the data shows the EPYC 7702 still wins single-core tests. The i7-1260P is the pick for portable systems where the EPYC 7702's socket, power, and cooling requirements are infeasible.