AMD EPYC 7773X vs Intel Core i5-12500 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7773X has 64 cores and 128 threads. The Intel Core i5-12500 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500 wins the Geekbench single-core test with a score of 1969 versus 1536 for the AMD EPYC 7773X, a 28.2% advantage. However, the EPYC wins every Cinebench single-core test, including a 10960 score in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 2366 for the Intel.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 7773X has 768 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-12500 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the difference in memory channel support?

A: The AMD EPYC 7773X supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-12500 supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD EPYC 7773X supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-12500 does not.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500 includes UHD Graphics 770. The AMD EPYC 7773X has no integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7773X is the overwhelming winner in multi-threaded and most single-threaded Cinebench workloads. Its 64-core, 128-thread configuration delivers scores that are roughly four to five times higher than the Intel part across all Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the EPYC scores 77639 against 16759 for the i5-12500, a 78.4% delta in favor of AMD. That same 78.4% delta repeats across every Cinebench test in the head-to-head set, including single-core runs, which is notable because the Intel chip has a higher boost clock (4.60 GHz versus 3.50 GHz) and a higher base clock (3.00 GHz versus 2.20 GHz).

The Intel Core i5-12500 has one clear win: Geekbench single-core. It scores 1969 against 1536 for the EPYC, a 28.2% advantage. This is the only head-to-head benchmark where Intel leads. In Geekbench multicore, the EPYC still wins with 15554 versus 9374, a 39.7% delta, but the margin is much smaller than in Cinebench, likely reflecting the test's scaling behavior with the EPYC's lower per-core clock speeds.

For desktop users, the i5-12500 is the more balanced choice: it has integrated graphics, a lower 65 W TDP, and a 2022 release date. For server or workstation workloads that can use 64 cores and 128 threads, the EPYC 7773X is in a different league entirely, especially in Cinebench rendering tests where the multi-threaded delta is consistent and massive.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-12500 is built on Alder Lake architecture (Alder Lake-S), manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process. It uses a monolithic die of 163 mm². The AMD EPYC 7773X uses Zen 3 architecture (Milan-X), built on TSMC's 7 nm process, and it is a chiplet design with 8 dies, each measuring 81 mm². The EPYC has 33,200 million transistors, while the Intel part has no transistor count listed in the database.

Cache organization differs substantially. The Intel i5-12500 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7773X has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 768 MB of shared L3 cache. That 768 MB L3 is a signature feature of the Milan-X generation, and it is 42 times larger than the Intel chip's entire L3 pool.

The memory architecture also diverges. The i5-12500 supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The EPYC 7773X supports eight-channel DDR4 with a measured memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on the EPYC but not on the Intel part.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Intel chip provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The EPYC provides PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). The EPYC's lane count is 6.4 times higher, which matters for server expansion.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1700 for the i5-12500, AMD Socket SP3 for the EPYC 7773X. The market segments are equally distinct: Desktop for Intel, Server/Workstation for AMD.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-12500 | AMD EPYC 7773X |

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

| Cores | 6 | 64 |

| Threads | 12 | 128 |

| Base clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 280 W |

| Process node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die size | 163 mm² | 8x 81 mm² |

| L1 cache | 80 KB per core | 64 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1.25 MB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 cache | 18 MB shared | 768 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | Not listed | 204.8 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 lanes | Gen 4, 128 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | None |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Launch MSRP | $212 | $8800 |

| Release date | 2022-01-03 | 2022-03-21 |

| Market segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

The transistor count is listed only for the EPYC (33,200 million). The i5-12500 has no recorded transistor count. The Intel chip's launch MSRP is $212; the EPYC's is $8800.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark set contains eight tests. The AMD EPYC 7773X wins seven of them; the Intel Core i5-12500 wins one.

The most lopsided results come from Cinebench. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC scores 7825 versus 1689 for the i5-12500, a 78.4% delta. The same 78.4% delta appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the EPYC scores 1104 against 238 for Intel. Cinebench R20 multicore: 32608 for EPYC versus 7038 for Intel, again 78.4%. Cinebench R20 single-core: 4603 versus 993, 78.4%. Cinebench R23 multicore: 77639 versus 16759, 78.4%. Cinebench R23 single-core: 10960 versus 2366, 78.4%. Every Cinebench test, regardless of version or thread count, produces the exact same percentage gap, which indicates a consistent scaling relationship between the two parts in that benchmark family.

Geekbench multicore shows a smaller but still decisive AMD win. The EPYC scores 15554, the i5-12500 scores 9374, a 39.7% delta. This is the narrowest EPYC victory in the set, and it suggests that Geekbench's multi-core workload does not scale as aggressively with 128 threads as Cinebench does.

The sole Intel win is Geekbench single-core. The i5-12500 scores 1969 against 1536 for the EPYC, a 28.2% delta. This result aligns with the Intel chip's higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus 3.50 GHz for the EPYC. The EPYC's single-core Cinebench wins, despite the clock disadvantage, highlight the impact of the 768 MB L3 cache in those specific workloads.

The overall picture is unambiguous. The EPYC 7773X dominates in rendering and multi-threaded compute, while the i5-12500 holds a single-core advantage in Geekbench. The two processors occupy entirely different performance tiers, with the EPYC's 64-core design and enormous cache built for server density and the i5-12500 aimed at mainstream desktop workloads.