AMD EPYC 7713P vs Intel Core i7-9700K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9700K and the AMD EPYC 7713P occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum: one is a legacy desktop processor aimed at mainstream consumers, the other a current-generation server/workstation behemoth. The benchmark data shows a stark performance divide, with the EPYC 7713P dominating every single head-to-head test. While the i7-9700K holds its own in its respective weight class, the comparison is a clear illustration of how core count and architecture scale to produce vastly different performance profiles.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results are unambiguous, as the AMD EPYC 7713P wins all six tests, with a consistent delta of -82.3% relative to the Intel Core i7-9700K. This uniform percentage across all tests indicates a fundamental scaling advantage rather than a workload-specific edge.

In Cinebench R15, the EPYC 7713P scores 6,978 in the multi-core test, dwarfing the i7-9700K’s 1,233. The single-core result is similarly lopsided, with the EPYC scoring 984 versus 174 for the Intel part. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the EPYC’s 29,076 multi-core score is roughly 5.7 times the i7-9700K’s 5,139, and its 4,104 single-core score is over 5.6 times the Intel’s 725.

The most recent Cinebench R23 results tell the same story. The EPYC 7713P posts a massive 69,229 in the multi-core test, compared to 12,238 for the i7-9700K. Even in single-core R23, the EPYC’s 9,773 score more than quintuples the Intel’s 1,727. The data suggests that the EPYC’s architectural superiority is not confined to parallel workloads; its per-core performance is also significantly stronger, likely due to the newer Zen 3 architecture versus the older Coffee Lake design.

Notably, the i7-9700K has zero wins in the head-to-head comparison. The EPYC 7713P’s 64 cores and 128 threads provide a raw throughput advantage that no amount of clock speed optimization on the 8-core, 8-thread i7-9700K can overcome. The Intel part’s boost clock of 4.90 GHz is higher than the EPYC’s 3.68 GHz, yet the EPYC’s single-core scores are still far superior, indicating a massive instructions-per-clock (IPC) advantage for Zen 3.

Where Each One Wins

Given the head-to-head sweep, the EPYC 7713P is the clear winner across all benchmark categories. For multi-threaded rendering, scientific computing, or any heavily parallel server workload, the EPYC’s 29,076 score in Cinebench R20 multi-core is a class-leading figure. The 256 MB of shared L3 cache further enhances its performance in data-intensive tasks, and its 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes provide unmatched I/O bandwidth for enterprise storage and networking.

The i7-9700K, while losing every head-to-head matchup, still has a defined use case. Its strengths lie in its market segment: a desktop platform with integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), a lower 95 W TDP, and a more accessible price point. It also has an unlocked multiplier, which is absent on the EPYC, making it a candidate for overclocking enthusiasts. The i7-9700K’s PassMark single-thread score of 2,865 is respectable, and its average benchmark score of 20,271 is nearly identical to the EPYC’s 20,024, despite the EPYC’s far higher ceiling in multi-core tests.

For users with older software that is not optimized for massive parallelism, the i7-9700K’s 8 cores are still viable. However, the EPYC 7713P’s 128 threads are an advantage in any modern, heavily threaded application. The data shows that the EPYC is the definitive choice for server and workstation environments, while the i7-9700K serves the legacy desktop market where its competitive advantage has eroded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core benchmarks?

A: The AMD EPYC 7713P wins all single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 9,773 versus 1,727 for the Intel Core i7-9700K, a delta of -82.3% from the Intel part’s perspective.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: The EPYC 7713P is dramatically faster in multi-core workloads. For example, in Cinebench R20 multi-core, the EPYC scores 29,076 while the i7-9700K scores 5,139. The same -82.3% delta applies to all multi-core tests in the head-to-head data.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700K has an average benchmark score of 20,271, while the AMD EPYC 7713P has an average score of 20,024. This places them within 1% of each other on average, despite the EPYC’s dominance in the head-to-head tests.

Q: Does the i7-9700K have any advantages over the EPYC?

A: The i7-9700K has a higher boost clock (4.90 GHz vs 3.68 GHz), integrated graphics, a lower TDP (95 W vs 225 W), and an unlocked multiplier. It also has a smaller die size and a lower launch MSRP.

Q: What are the nearest rivals to each processor?

A: The i7-9700K’s nearest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U, with a delta of 0.1%. The EPYC 7713P’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-11800H, also with a delta of 0.1%.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 7713P has 256 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 12 MB for the Intel Core i7-9700K. The EPYC also has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, versus 256 KB per core for the Intel.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The Intel Core i7-9700K features 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7713P has 64 cores and 128 threads. Base clock speeds are 3.60 GHz for the Intel part and 2.00 GHz for the AMD, with boost clocks of 4.90 GHz and 3.68 GHz, respectively.

The TDP is another major divergence: the i7-9700K is rated at 95 W, while the EPYC 7713P is rated at 225 W. The Intel part uses the Intel Socket 1151, whereas the AMD EPYC uses the AMD Socket SP3. Memory support also differs, with the i7-9700K supporting dual-channel DDR4 and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the EPYC supports eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part does not support ECC memory, but the AMD does.

PCIe connectivity is starkly different: the i7-9700K offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the EPYC offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes. The Intel part includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the EPYC has none. The i7-9700K’s multiplier is unlocked, but the EPYC’s is not.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is as wide as the specification gap. The Intel Core i7-9700K is built on Intel’s 14 nm process, using the Coffee Lake architecture, with a die size of 180.3 mm². The AMD EPYC 7713P uses TSMC’s 7 nm process, featuring the Zen 3 (Milan) architecture, with a die size of 8x 81 mm² and 33,200 million transistors.

Cache hierarchies are fundamentally different. The i7-9700K has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 12 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7713P has 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus a massive 256 MB of shared L3. This larger cache is a key factor in the EPYC’s superior single-core performance, as it reduces memory latency.

The EPYC is part of the EPYC 7003 series, while the i7-9700K is from the Core i7 (Coffee Lake Refresh) generation. The Intel part was released in October 2018 and is now end-of-life, while the AMD part was released in March 2021 and remains active in production. The process node difference (14 nm vs 7 nm) explains much of the performance per watt and IPC advantage seen in the Zen 3 part, despite the EPYC’s higher overall TDP.