AMD EPYC 7742 vs Intel Core i7-1260P Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1260P and AMD EPYC 7742 represent two opposite ends of the computing spectrum: a 28-watt mobile processor designed for thin-and-light laptops, and a 225-watt server behemoth built for datacenter workloads. Despite their radically different designs, the benchmark database shows they land within 0.1% of each other in average score, with the Intel part at 17007 and the AMD part at 16998. This numerical near-equality, however, masks a complete divergence in performance character, as the head-to-head results show the EPYC 7742 winning all six shared Cinebench tests by margins ranging from 70.9% to 83.5%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite paints a stark picture of the performance gap between these two processors. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC 7742 scores 58769 against the i7-1260P's 9711, a delta of -83.5% for the Intel part. This is the largest margin in the entire comparison, reflecting the AMD chip's 64 cores and 128 threads against the Intel's 12 cores and 16 threads. The single-core R23 test shows a similar story, though less extreme: the EPYC 7742 posts 8296 while the i7-1260P manages 1737.5, a -79.1% delta.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The EPYC 7742's multi-core score of 24682 dwarfs the i7-1260P's 5874, representing a -76.2% delta. The single-core R20 results match that exact percentage: 3484 for the AMD versus 829 for the Intel. In Cinebench R15, the deltas are slightly smaller but still decisive: -72.5% in multi-core (5923 vs 1626) and -70.9% in single-core (836 vs 243). Notably, the single-core R15 delta is the smallest margin in the entire head-to-head set, yet it still leaves the EPYC 7742 ahead by a factor of roughly 3.4.

The benchmark data shows a consistent trend: the EPYC 7742 wins every shared test, with the smallest advantage being 70.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core. The largest advantage comes in R23 multi-core, where the AMD processor is over six times faster. The i7-1260P, despite its higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz compared to the EPYC's 3.40 GHz, cannot overcome the massive core-count and thread-count disparity. The Intel part's 28-watt TDP and mobile design simply cannot match the throughput of a 225-watt server chip with 256 MB of shared L3 cache.

Where Each One Wins

The data indicates that the EPYC 7742 wins in every benchmark category that was tested head-to-head. All six Cinebench tests — spanning three versions and both single-core and multi-core workloads — go to the AMD processor. The EPYC 7742's wins are not narrow; they range from a 70.9% advantage in R15 single-core to an 83.5% advantage in R23 multi-core. This makes the AMD chip the clear choice for any compute-intensive workload that can leverage its 128 threads, such as rendering, scientific simulation, or database processing.

The i7-1260P, however, has its own domain of strength that is not captured in the head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel part includes integrated Iris Xe 96EU graphics, whereas the EPYC 7742 has no integrated graphics at all. While the database does not list graphics benchmarks for either chip, the presence of an iGPU means the i7-1260P can run a system without a discrete graphics card. The EPYC 7742 requires a separate GPU for any display output. Additionally, the i7-1260P's 28-watt TDP and mobile socket (Intel BGA 1744) make it suitable for portable devices, while the EPYC 7742's 225-watt TDP and Socket SP3 are strictly for server chassis.

Looking at the broader benchmark set beyond the head-to-head, the i7-1260P shows competitive scores in specific workloads. Its PassMark multi-thread score is 16775, and it achieves 62316 in integer math and 42417 in floating-point math. The EPYC 7742 does not have corresponding PassMark entries in the data, so a direct comparison is unavailable. The i7-1260P also demonstrates strong single-thread performance in PassMark with a score of 3250, which aligns with its 4.70 GHz boost clock. For tasks that are lightly threaded and latency-sensitive, such as general desktop responsiveness or legacy single-threaded applications, the i7-1260P's high clock speed and modern Alder Lake architecture would be advantageous.

The Verdict

The data directs a clear split: the AMD EPYC 7742 is the overwhelming choice for server and workstation workloads that demand maximum parallel throughput. Its 64 cores, 128 threads, and 256 MB of shared L3 cache produce Cinebench R23 multi-core scores that are 6.05 times higher than the i7-1260P. Every available head-to-head benchmark confirms this advantage. The EPYC 7742 also offers eight-channel memory with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support, making it suitable for memory-intensive and reliability-critical server environments.

The Intel Core i7-1260P, conversely, is the only option of the two for mobile computing. It fits in a BGA 1744 socket with a 28-watt TDP, enabling thin-and-light laptops. Its integrated Iris Xe 96EU graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU. While it loses every head-to-head benchmark to the EPYC 7742 by a wide margin, the i7-1260P still holds a 70th percentile ranking among all CPUs, meaning it outperforms most processors in the database. For a user who needs portability and adequate single-thread performance, the i7-1260P is the logical pick. For a user who needs raw computational power and has no power or space constraints, the EPYC 7742 is the only defensible choice.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260P has an average benchmark score of 17007, while the AMD EPYC 7742 has an average of 16998. The difference is 0.1%, which is within statistical noise.

Q: How much faster is the EPYC 7742 in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The EPYC 7742 scores 58769 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, compared to the i7-1260P's 9711. This represents an 83.5% advantage for the AMD processor.

Q: Does the i7-1260P win any head-to-head benchmarks against the EPYC 7742?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the EPYC 7742 winning all six Cinebench tests, with the i7-1260P recording zero wins.

Q: What is the smallest performance gap between the two CPUs?

A: The smallest gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the EPYC 7742 scores 836 against the i7-1260P's 243, a delta of -70.9%.

Q: Does the EPYC 7742 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the EPYC 7742 has ECC memory support, while the i7-1260P does not. The EPYC also uses eight-channel memory with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, versus dual-channel for the Intel part.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7742 has 128 threads, which is exactly eight times the 16 threads of the Intel Core i7-1260P.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-1260P uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. It features 12 cores and 16 threads, using a hybrid design that the data labels as "Alder Lake-P" with a die size of 217 mm². The cache hierarchy is split as 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-1260P supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration and includes integrated Iris Xe 96EU graphics. It has 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU.

The AMD EPYC 7742 is built on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome, using a 7 nm process node from TSMC. It packs 64 cores and 128 threads into a package with 3,800 million transistors. The die size is listed as 74 mm², and the cache configuration is 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 256 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is limited to DDR4, but over an eight-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported. The EPYC 7742 has no integrated graphics and uses PCIe Gen 4.

These architectural differences explain the performance split. The EPYC's 7 nm process and 256 MB L3 cache enable enormous parallel throughput, while the i7-1260P's smaller core count but higher boost clock (4.70 GHz vs 3.40 GHz) is optimized for single-thread responsiveness. The Intel part's integrated graphics and dual-channel memory are typical of a mobile processor, while the AMD part's eight-channel memory and ECC support are hallmarks of server design.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets diverge on nearly every key field. The Intel Core i7-1260P has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7742 has 64 cores and 128 threads. Base clocks are close (2.10 GHz vs 2.25 GHz), but boost clocks differ significantly: 4.70 GHz for the Intel versus 3.40 GHz for the AMD. TDP is the most dramatic difference: 28 watts for the i7-1260P versus 225 watts for the EPYC 7742. The Intel part uses the BGA 1744 socket, while the AMD uses Socket SP3. Process nodes differ: 10 nm for Intel versus 7 nm for AMD, with foundries being Intel and TSMC respectively.

Cache sizes show the EPYC's server pedigree: L1 cache is 80 KB per core for Intel versus 96 KB per core for AMD; L2 is 1.25 MB per core for Intel versus 512 KB per core for AMD; L3 is 18 MB shared for Intel versus 256 MB shared for AMD. Memory support is DDR4/DDR5 dual-channel for Intel, versus DDR4 eight-channel for AMD. The EPYC 7742 has ECC memory and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth; the i7-1260P has neither ECC nor a listed bandwidth figure. The Intel part has integrated Iris Xe 96EU graphics; the AMD part has none. The EPYC 7742 has 3,800 million transistors and a 74 mm² die, while the Intel die is 217 mm² with no transistor count listed. Release dates are February 2022 for the i7-1260P and August 2019 for the EPYC 7742.