AMD EPYC 7702P vs Intel Core i3-10320 Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7702P and Intel Core i3-10320 are not natural competitors. One is a 64-core server behemoth built for massive parallel workloads; the other is a 4-core desktop chip designed for everyday responsiveness. The benchmark data reflects this chasm, with the EPYC winning all six head-to-head comparisons, often by a factor of six. This analysis breaks down what each processor does best, the architectural reasons behind the gap, and which buyer should choose which, based strictly on the available data.

Where Each One Wins

The data paints a clear picture of two entirely different usage domains. The AMD EPYC 7702P wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head set, but the nature of those wins is what matters. In multi-core tests, the EPYC’s dominance is absolute. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 52,308 against the i3-10320’s 8,486 represents a 516.4% advantage. This is a processor for rendering farms, virtualization hosts, scientific computing, and any workload that can scale across 128 threads. The EPYC’s 69th percentile vs all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15,130, places it in the upper tier of all processors, though its nearest rivals (Intel Core i3-1315U at +0.7%, AMD EPYC 74F3 at +1.4%) show it is not the absolute top performer in its own class.

The Intel Core i3-10320, by contrast, wins no head-to-head benchmarks. Its strengths are not in raw performance but in its profile. It is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1200 with integrated UHD Graphics 630, a dual-channel memory bus, and a 91W TDP. The data shows it has its own benchmark scores in PassMark tests, like 31,071 in integer math and 19,483 in floating point math, but these are not compared directly to the EPYC in the head-to-head set. Its 69th percentile vs all CPUs, with an average score of 14,852, is remarkably close to the EPYC’s 15,130, despite the massive core count difference. This indicates the i3-10320 is a very efficient performer for its size, but it is not in the same performance class. The i3’s wins are in practicality: it is a low-power, low-complexity chip for basic desktop tasks, while the EPYC is a server workhorse. The data does not support any performance win for the i3, only a different use-case fit.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The AMD EPYC 7702P is built on TSMC’s 7 nm process node, packing 3,800 million transistors into a 74 mm² die. It uses the Zen 2 architecture (codename Rome) on AMD Socket SP3. It features 64 cores and 128 threads, with a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 3.35 GHz. Its cache hierarchy is massive: 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a shared 256 MB L3 cache. Memory support is DDR4 over an eight-channel bus, yielding 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth, and it supports ECC memory. It has Gen 4 PCIe.

The Intel Core i3-10320 is a 14 nm part from Intel, using the Comet Lake architecture on Intel Socket 1200. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its cache is much smaller: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and only 8 MB shared L3. Memory is dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, and it does not support ECC. It has integrated UHD Graphics 630, while the EPYC has none. The i3 uses Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes from the CPU. The EPYC’s 256 MB L3 cache is 32 times larger than the i3’s 8 MB, and its eight-channel memory bus is four times wider. The i3 compensates with much higher clock speeds (4.60 GHz boost vs 3.35 GHz), which helps in single-threaded tasks, though the data shows the EPYC still wins those here.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are lopsided. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 5,272 against the i3’s 855, a 516.6% delta. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story: 744 for the EPYC vs 120 for the i3, a 520% delta. This pattern repeats across every test. Cinebench R20 multi-core: 21,969 vs 3,564 (516.4% delta). R20 single-core: 3,101 vs 503 (516.5% delta). Cinebench R23 multi-core: 52,308 vs 8,486 (516.4% delta). R23 single-core: 7,384 vs 1,198 (516.4% delta).

The most striking result is that even in single-core tests, the EPYC wins by over 500%. This is counterintuitive given the i3’s much higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus the EPYC’s 3.35 GHz. The data suggests the EPYC’s Zen 2 architecture is vastly more efficient per clock in these Cinebench workloads, or that the benchmark methodology favors the server chip’s design. The EPYC’s single-core R23 score of 7,384 is nearly 6.2 times the i3’s 1,198. This is not a close contest. The only saving grace for the i3 is that it has additional PassMark benchmark data (like 140,255 in data compression and 2,841 in single-thread), but these are not head-to-head comparisons and cannot be used to claim a win. The data is unambiguous: the EPYC wins every comparison by a factor of roughly six.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD EPYC 7702P faster than the Intel Core i3-10320 in every benchmark?

A: Yes. The EPYC 7702P wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons (R15, R20, R23, both multi-core and single-core versions), with deltas ranging from 516.4% to 520%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-10320 have any advantage in clock speed?

A: Yes, the i3-10320 has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, which are both higher than the EPYC 7702P’s 2000.00 MHz base and 3.35 GHz boost. However, this does not translate into a benchmark win in the provided data.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The EPYC 7702P has an eight-channel memory bus delivering 204.8 GB/s, while the i3-10320 has a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s. The EPYC provides roughly five times the memory bandwidth.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD EPYC 7702P supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i3-10320 does not list ECC support in its specifications.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i3-10320 includes integrated UHD Graphics 630. The AMD EPYC 7702P has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The EPYC 7702P has an average benchmark score of 15,130, while the i3-10320 has an average of 14,852. They are within 1.9% of each other on average, despite the EPYC’s overwhelming win in the Cinebench head-to-head tests.

The Verdict

The verdict is straightforward based on the data. The AMD EPYC 7702P is the clear performance winner, dominating all six head-to-head benchmarks with deltas above 516%. It is the choice for anyone running heavily threaded workloads, with its 64 cores, 128 threads, 256 MB L3 cache, and 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth. Its 69th percentile ranking and average score of 15,130 place it in the same performance tier as the i3, but the i3’s comparable average is achieved through a completely different profile.

The Intel Core i3-10320 is the choice for a desktop user who needs a simple, low-power processor with integrated graphics. Its 91W TDP is less than half the EPYC’s 200W. It has a dual-channel memory bus, no ECC, and a small 8 MB L3 cache. The data does not support choosing it for performance, as it loses every head-to-head test. Its only advantages are its desktop socket (Intel Socket 1200), integrated graphics, and higher clock speeds, which are not reflected in the Cinebench results. If raw compute is the priority, the EPYC is the only option. If you need a basic desktop chip with graphics and low power, the i3 is the practical choice, but you must accept that it is over 500% slower in the tested workloads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 7702P | Intel Core i3-10320 |

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

| Process Node | 7 nm (TSMC) | 14 nm (Intel) |

| Transistors | 3,800 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 74 mm² | Not listed |

| Cores / Threads | 64 / 128 | 4 / 8 |

| Base Clock | 2000.00 MHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.35 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 256 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 204.8 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe Version | Gen 4 | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP3 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| TDP | 200 W | 91 W |

| Release Date | 2019-08-06 | 2020-04-29 |