AMD EPYC 7773X vs Intel Core i3-13100 Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7773X and Intel Core i3-13100 occupy opposite ends of the processor spectrum, and the recorded benchmark data reflects that divide clearly. The EPYC 7773X is a 64-core server processor built for massive parallel workloads, while the Core i3-13100 is a 4-core desktop chip aimed at everyday computing. The head-to-head results show a complete sweep for the EPYC part, but the story is more nuanced when considering the intended use cases, power envelopes, and platform features of each.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six head-to-head comparisons, all from the Cinebench suite, and the AMD EPYC 7773X wins every single one. The margins are enormous, driven by the core count disparity. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC scores 7825 against the i3's 1208, a delta of 547.8%. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story: 1104 for the EPYC versus 170 for the i3, a 549.4% advantage. These are not close contests; the EPYC's 64 cores and 128 threads simply overwhelm the i3's 4 cores and 8 threads in every threaded workload.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The EPYC posts 32608 in multicore, while the i3 manages 5034, again a 547.8% delta. In R20 single-core, the EPYC scores 4603 against the i3's 710, a 548.3% lead. The R23 results are equally lopsided: 77639 for the EPYC versus 11986 for the i3 in multicore (547.7% delta), and 10960 versus 1692 in single-core (547.8% delta). The consistency of these deltas, all hovering near 548%, suggests the performance gap scales almost perfectly with the thread count difference.

It is worth remembering the i3's single-core scores in these Cinebench tests appear anomalously low relative to its boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The EPYC's single-core scores are also lower than expected for a 3.50 GHz boost clock. This is likely a quirk of the database's measurement methodology, but the relative ordering is unambiguous: the EPYC wins every recorded test. The i3 has no wins in the head-to-head set, with a final tally of 6 wins for the EPYC and 0 for the i3.

The Verdict

The data leaves no room for ambiguity in raw performance: the AMD EPYC 7773X is categorically faster than the Intel Core i3-13100 in every benchmark recorded. If the sole criterion is benchmark score, the EPYC is the clear choice. However, the verdict must also account for the platform context. The EPYC is a server/workstation part with a 280 W TDP, eight-channel DDR4 memory support, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The i3 is a desktop part with a 60 W TDP, dual-channel memory support, and 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. These are not interchangeable products.

For a user building a desktop for everyday tasks, the i3's lower power draw and integrated graphics make it a practical choice, despite its benchmark deficit. For a data center operator running heavily threaded workloads, the EPYC's massive core count and memory bandwidth are essential. The launch MSRP of the EPYC is $8800, while the i3's is $134, but the price difference reflects the entirely different market segments. The verdict from the data is simple: the EPYC wins on performance, but the i3 wins on efficiency and desktop suitability.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The EPYC 7773X uses AMD's Zen 3 architecture, specifically the Milan-X variant, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It has 64 cores and 128 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The i3-13100 uses Intel's Raptor Lake architecture, fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, with 4 cores and 8 threads, a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz.

Cache configurations differ sharply. The EPYC has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 768 MB of shared L3 cache, a hallmark of the Milan-X line with its 3D V-Cache technology. The i3 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The EPYC's L3 cache is 64 times larger, which is critical for certain server workloads that benefit from large on-die data storage.

Memory support also diverges. The EPYC supports DDR4 with an eight-channel memory bus and a recorded bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, along with ECC memory. The i3 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, but the database does not list a bandwidth figure, and it does not support ECC. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3, while the i3 uses Intel Socket 1700. The EPYC has no integrated graphics, while the i3 includes UHD Graphics 730. The EPYC offers 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the i3 offers 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7773X wins all multi-core benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 77639 versus the i3's 11986, a 547.7% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-13100 win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data records 6 wins for the EPYC and 0 for the i3 across all Cinebench tests.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The EPYC has a TDP of 280 W, while the i3 has a TDP of 60 W. The i3 draws significantly less power.

Q: Can the Intel Core i3-13100 support ECC memory?

A: No. The database lists ECC memory support as false for the i3, while the EPYC supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the cache size difference?

A: The EPYC has 768 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The EPYC's L3 is 64 times larger.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The EPYC has no integrated graphics, while the i3 includes UHD Graphics 730.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7773X wins in every recorded benchmark, but its strengths are most pronounced in multi-threaded, memory-intensive server workloads. The 64 cores and 128 threads, combined with 768 MB of L3 cache and 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth, make it suited for virtualization, large-scale database processing, scientific computing, and other tasks that scale with core count. The eight-channel DDR4 memory bus and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes further reinforce its server positioning. The EPYC's 73rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18979, places it in the upper tier of processors, though its nearest rivals are mainstream desktop chips like the Intel Core i5-12400F and AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, which achieve similar average scores with far fewer cores.

The Intel Core i3-13100 wins in efficiency and desktop practicality. Its 60 W TDP is less than a quarter of the EPYC's 280 W, making it far easier to cool and power. The integrated UHD Graphics 730 eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. The dual-channel memory support for both DDR4 and DDR5 offers flexibility for budget builds. The i3's 72nd percentile ranking, with an average benchmark score of 18380, is remarkably close to the EPYC's average score, despite the massive core count difference. This is because the i3's higher clock speeds and newer architecture allow it to compete in the average benchmark metric, even though it loses every head-to-head Cinebench test. The i3 is the choice for a desktop system where low power draw and integrated graphics matter more than raw multi-threaded throughput.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field. The EPYC has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the i3 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The EPYC's base clock is 2.20 GHz and boost clock is 3.50 GHz, while the i3's base clock is 3.40 GHz and boost clock is 4.50 GHz. The TDP is 280 W for the EPYC and 60 W for the i3. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3, while the i3 uses Intel Socket 1700. The process node is 7 nm for the EPYC and 10 nm for the i3. The EPYC has 33,200 million transistors across 8x 81 mm² dies, while the i3 has a single 163 mm² die with no transistor count listed.

Cache configurations differ: the EPYC has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 768 MB shared L3, while the i3 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 with an eight-channel bus for the EPYC, versus DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus for the i3. The EPYC has ECC memory support, the i3 does not. PCIe lanes are 128 Gen 4 for the EPYC and 16 Gen 5 for the i3. The EPYC has no integrated graphics, while the i3 has UHD Graphics 730. The market segments are Server/Workstation for the EPYC and Desktop for the i3. The release dates are March 2022 for the EPYC and January 2023 for the i3. The launch MSRP is $8800 for the EPYC and $134 for the i3.