AMD EPYC 7742 vs Intel Core 7 150U Comparison

# Intel Core 7 150U vs AMD EPYC 7742: Mobile Efficiency Meets Server-Scale Throughput

The Intel Core 7 150U and AMD EPYC 7742 occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum. The Core 7 150U is a 10-core, 12-thread mobile processor built on Intel's Raptor Lake-U architecture, designed for thin-and-light laptops. The EPYC 7742 is a 64-core, 128-thread server chip built on AMD's Zen 2 (Rome) architecture, designed for heavy multi-threaded server workloads.

Benchmark results confirm this split. The EPYC 7742 wins 6 out of 6 head-to-head comparisons, with decisive margins in multi-core tests. Yet, the Core 7 150U remains competitive in single-threaded tests, where its Raptor Lake architecture shows strength. The data suggests two distinct purchasing decisions: one for all-core throughput, the other for single-core responsiveness.

Where Each One Wins: Use-Case Split

A head-to-head analysis of all 12 benchmark entries shows a clean split. The AMD EPYC 7742 dominates every multi-threaded workload, while the Intel Core 7 150U does not win a single test. However, the Intel part's wins are not zero in every category. The EPYC's wins are not just narrow margins; they range from 74.6% to 84.9% in multi-core tasks. These are massive advantages, not situational ones.

The EPYC 7742 is the undisputed multi-core performance leader. In the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the EPYC scores 58,769 points, which is 84.9% higher than the Intel Core 7 150U's 8,883 points. This is an enormous lead. The EPYC's 128 threads and 64 Zen 2 cores provide extreme parallel throughput. The Intel chip's 12 threads and 10 cores cannot compete in this arena.

The Intel Core 7 150U does not win any benchmark, but its performance profile is not a failure for its own segment. Its single-thread scores, such as 1,875.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core, demonstrate a solid mobile architecture. The EPYC 7742's 8,296 points in this test is 77.4% higher, but that's not the point; the point is that the Intel chip is designed for a different workload. The data shows the Intel chip is a versatile mobile processor, and its closest rivals (the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE) are within 0.6% of its average score. The Intel chip's performance is competitive within its mobile segment.

Architecture Differences: Node, Cores, Cache

The Intel Core 7 150U is a mobile processor based on the Raptor Lake-U architecture. It has 10 cores (12 threads), uses a 10 nm process. Base clock is 1.80 GHz, boost clock is 5.40 GHz. It has a cache hierarchy of 80 KB L1, 1.25 MB L2, and 12 MB L3. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus. It has a PCIe Gen 4 interface with 8 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are Iris Xe Graphics 96EU.

The AMD EPYC 7742 is a server processor. It is built on the Zen 2 (Rome) architecture and manufactured on a 7nm node by TSMC. It has 64 cores (128 threads), a base clock of 2.25 GHz, and a boost of 3.40 GHz. Each core has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2, and a 256 MB shared L3 cache. The socket is AMD Socket SP3 and it supports DDR4 memory with an eight-channel memory bus. The memory bandwidth is 204.8 GB/s. It supports ECC memory. PCIe is Gen 4.

These are very different chips. The Intel is a small, power-efficient mobile unit with integrated graphics. The EPYC is a monolithic server behemoth optimized for parallel computation, with a massive 256 MB L3 cache and a huge 204.8 GB/s memory fabric.

FAQ

Q: How many cores and threads does the Intel Core 7 150U have?

A: It has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the EPYC 7742's process node and foundry?

A: It is a 7nm chip, manufactured by TSMC.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. The EPYC 7742 supports DDR4, but uses an eight-channel bus.

Q: What is the EPYC 7742's L3 cache size?

A: 256 MB, which is shared across all 64 cores.

Q: Does the Intel part have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it has an Iris Xe Graphics 96EU integrated GPU. The EPYC is a server CPU without integrated graphics.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core 7 150U | AMD EPYC 7742 |

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

| Cores / Threads | 10 cores / 12 threads | 64 cores / 128 threads |

| Base / Boost Clock | 1.80 / 5.40 GHz | 2.25 / 3.40 GHz |

| Process Node | 10 nm (Intel) | 7 nm (TSMC) |

| Cache (L1 / L2 / L3) | 80 KB / 1.25 MB / 12 MB | 96 KB / 512 KB / 256 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

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

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4 |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 96EU | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

The table shows two very different targets. The Intel chip is a mobile processor with integrated graphics and low-power design. The AMD EPYC is a server CPU with an enormous core count, large cache, and huge memory bandwidth.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unequivocal: the AMD EPYC 7742 dominates in multi-threaded performance. All six head-to-head benchmarks were won by the EPYC 7742.

The biggest single-core Cinebench R23 difference: the EPYC scores 8,296, which is 77.4% higher than the Intel's 1,875.5. This is a massive gap, but in multi-core tests the gap is even bigger. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC 7742 scores 58,769 versus the Intel's 8,883, a 84.9% advantage. This is a direct representation of 64 cores vs 10 cores and 128 threads vs 12 threads.

The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows the same story: EPYC 24,682 vs Intel 5,248, a 78.7% lead. The EPYC's 64 physical cores and 128 threads offer 5x the multi-threaded throughput of the Intel.

Even in Cinebench R15 multi-core, EPYC 5,923 vs Intel 1,505.5, a 74.6% lead. This test shows the biggest gap between the two chips.

The single-core tests are closer, but the EPYC still wins. In the Cinebench R15 single-core, the EPYC scores 836 to Intel's 254, a 69.6% win. In the Cinebench R20 single-core, the EPYC 3,484 vs Intel's 740, a 78.8% win. In Cinebench R23 single, the EPYC 8,296 vs Intel's 1,875.5, a 77.4% win.

The EPYC 7742 is a multi-threaded monster. Its 64-core, 128-thread design gives it a massive advantage in every multi-core test. The Intel Core 7 150U is not a multi-core competitor. Its 10 cores and 12 threads are for mobile use, where power and heat are important, not multi-threaded performance.

The Verdict

The data is clear. For multi-threaded, server-oriented workloads, the AMD EPYC 7742 is the definitive choice. It wins all six benchmark comparisons, with margins of 69.6% to 84.9% in multi-core tests. The 64-core, 128-thread, 256 MB L3, and 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth in the EPYC are an avalanche of parallelism.

For the Intel Core 7 150U, it is a mobile processor. Its performance is not as high as EPYC's, but its 10-core and 12-thread architecture with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz is designed for responsiveness in a low-power context. It has integrated graphics, which makes it a complete package for thin-and-light laptops.

The data answers the question so: If you are building a server or running multi-threaded workloads, the AMD EPYC 7742 is the clear pick. If you need a mobile processor with integrated graphics, low power, and single-core performance, the Intel Core 7 150U fits that role.