AMD EPYC 7702 vs Intel Core i7-1260U Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7702 wins every single head-to-head test recorded in the database, taking all 6 available wins against the Intel Core i7-1260U. The margin is enormous across both multi-core and single-core workloads, making this a server-grade processor that simply overpowers a low-power mobile chip. The Intel Core i7-1260U is a 10-core, 12-thread mobile processor with a 9W TDP, designed for thin-and-light laptops. The AMD EPYC 7702 is a 64-core, 128-thread server processor with a 200W TDP, built for datacenter workloads. The data shows a performance gap of roughly 80% or more in every Cinebench test, which reflects the fundamental difference in design goals: the i7-1260U prioritizes efficiency and portability, while the EPYC 7702 prioritizes raw throughput. For anyone selecting between these two, the choice is dictated by the workload: the EPYC 7702 is for heavy parallel computing, the i7-1260U is for mobile computing. The i7-1260U has no benchmark victories to recommend it in this comparison, but its mobile nature is its only logical advantage, which is not captured in these tests. The EPYC 7702's closest rivals in the database include the AMD EPYC 7742 (0.4% higher average score) and the Intel Core i7-1260P (0.4% higher average score), showing it sits in a tight competitive cluster for its class. The i7-1260U's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H (0.1% higher average score) and the Intel Core i5-10600KF (0.6% lower average score), placing it in a much lower performance tier overall.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7702 wins in every recorded benchmark category. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 5900 against 1203 for the i7-1260U, a delta of 79.6%. In single-core R15, it scores 832 against 219.5, a delta of 73.6%. The pattern continues in R20: multi-core 24586 vs 4736 (80.7% delta), single-core 3470 vs 668 (80.7% delta). In R23, the EPYC 7702 scores 58539 multi-core versus 7912.5 (86.5% delta) and 8264 single-core versus 1601 (80.6% delta). These numbers show that the EPYC 7702 does not just win in heavily threaded workloads; it also wins decisively in single-threaded performance, which is unusual for a server chip with a lower boost clock. The EPYC 7702 has a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 3350 MHz, while the i7-1260U has a base clock of 1100 MHz and a boost clock of 4700 MHz. Despite the i7's higher boost frequency, the EPYC's Zen 2 architecture with a 7 nm process node and 256 MB of shared L3 cache delivers superior per-core results. The Intel chip's only potential wins are outside these benchmarks, in areas like integrated graphics (Iris Xe 96EU) and lower power consumption, but the database does not record any such wins. The i7-1260U is an active production part for mobile devices, while the EPYC 7702 is an active production part for servers and workstations. The data shows no scenario in these tests where the Intel part comes out ahead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-1260U uses the Alder Lake-U architecture, codenamed Alder Lake, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It has 10 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1100 MHz and a boost clock of 4700 MHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, has no ECC memory support, and uses PCIe Gen 4. It includes integrated graphics in the form of Iris Xe 96EU, and it is a mobile segment part that fits the Intel BGA 1781 socket. Its TDP is 9W, which is extraordinarily low, and it was released on February 22, 2022.

The AMD EPYC 7702 uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome, built on a 7 nm process node by TSMC. It has 64 cores and 128 threads, with a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 3350 MHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 256 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory only, in an eight-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. It supports ECC memory, uses PCIe Gen 4, and has no integrated graphics. It is a server and workstation segment part that fits the AMD Socket SP3, with a TDP of 200W. It was released on August 6, 2019. The transistor count is 3,800 million, and the die size is 74 mm². The Intel part has no recorded transistor count or die size in the database. The difference in process node (10 nm versus 7 nm) and core count (10 versus 64) explains the massive performance gap. The EPYC 7702 also has over 21 times the L3 cache (256 MB versus 12 MB) and a much wider memory interface (eight-channel versus dual-channel), which are critical for server workloads. The i7-1260U compensates with a higher boost clock, but that does not overcome the core and cache deficits.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD EPYC 7702 scores 8264 in Cinebench R23 single-core, compared to 1601 for the Intel Core i7-1260U, making the EPYC 80.6% faster in that test.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-1260U have integrated graphics?

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

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the AMD EPYC 7702?

A: The AMD EPYC 7702 has a memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, using DDR4 memory in an eight-channel configuration. The Intel Core i7-1260U uses dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5, with no recorded bandwidth figure.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

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

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The AMD EPYC 7702 has 64 cores and 128 threads.

Q: Which processor was released earlier?

A: The AMD EPYC 7702 was released on August 6, 2019, while the Intel Core i7-1260U was released on February 22, 2022.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six head-to-head Cinebench tests, and the AMD EPYC 7702 wins all of them. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7702 scores 5900 against 1203 for the i7-1260U, a delta of 79.6%. In R15 single-core, the EPYC scores 832 against 219.5, a delta of 73.6%. In R20 multi-core, the EPYC scores 24586 against 4736, a delta of 80.7%. In R20 single-core, the EPYC scores 3470 against 668, a delta of 80.7%. In R23 multi-core, the EPYC scores 58539 against 7912.5, a delta of 86.5%, which is the largest margin in any test. In R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 8264 against 1601, a delta of 80.6%. The deltas are remarkably consistent, hovering around 80% for most tests, with the multi-core R23 test showing an even larger gap. This indicates that the EPYC 7702's advantage is not merely a matter of core count scaling; it also has a significant per-core performance lead. The highest delta is 86.5% in R23 multi-core, and the lowest delta is 73.6% in R15 single-core. These results are consistent with a processor that has both more cores and better architecture efficiency per clock. The i7-1260U's boost clock of 4700 MHz is higher than the EPYC's 3350 MHz, but the EPYC's Zen 2 architecture and larger cache compensate completely. The data shows no test where the Intel part is competitive, let alone ahead.

Specification Differences

The most obvious differences are in core and thread counts: the Intel Core i7-1260U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7702 has 64 cores and 128 threads. The base clocks differ substantially: 1100 MHz for the Intel part versus 2000 MHz for the AMD part. The boost clocks are the reverse: 4700 MHz for Intel versus 3350 MHz for AMD. The TDP is a major differentiator: 9W for the i7-1260U versus 200W for the EPYC 7702. The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1781 versus AMD Socket SP3. The architecture differs: Alder Lake-U versus Zen 2 (Rome). The process node differs: 10 nm (Intel foundry) versus 7 nm (TSMC foundry). The cache hierarchies are very different: the Intel part has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3; the AMD part has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 256 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: the Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, while the AMD part supports DDR4 only in eight-channel mode, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the AMD part. Both use PCIe Gen 4. The Intel part has integrated graphics (Iris Xe 96EU); the AMD part has none. The market segments differ: mobile for Intel, server and workstation for AMD. The release dates differ: February 22, 2022 for Intel, August 6, 2019 for AMD. The EPYC 7702 has a recorded transistor count of 3,800 million and a die size of 74 mm², while the Intel part has no recorded figures for either. The EPYC 7702's part number is 100-000000038. Both processors are active production parts, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Both have a percentile rank of 70 against all CPUs in the database. The average benchmark score is 16320 for the Intel part and 16932 for the AMD part, a difference of 3.7% in the EPYC's favor, which understates the head-to-head gap because the Intel part has more recorded benchmarks (19 versus 6) that include lighter workloads.