AMD EPYC 7773X vs Intel Core i7-10700 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-10700 and AMD EPYC 7773X occupy entirely different corners of the processor market, yet their benchmark scores reveal a surprisingly close overall average. The EPYC 7773X wins every single head-to-head benchmark in this comparison, but the i7-10700 holds its own in absolute terms due to its high clock speeds and efficient design. The data shows a massive performance disparity in multi-threaded workloads, where the EPYC's 64 cores and 128 threads simply overwhelm the i7's 8 cores and 16 threads. However, the single-threaded gap is much narrower, suggesting that the i7-10700 is far from obsolete for everyday tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD EPYC 7773X scores 77,639 versus the Intel Core i7-10700's 10,910. That is a delta of -85.9%, meaning the EPYC delivers roughly seven times the multi-threaded rendering performance. This is the largest absolute gap in the entire benchmark suite, and it reflects the fundamental difference in core count: 64 cores versus 8 cores. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test tells a similar story, with the EPYC scoring 32,608 against the i7's 4,582, again a -85.9% delta.

Single-core results are far closer but still favor the EPYC decisively. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 10,960 while the i7 manages 1,540, a -85.9% delta. The Geekbench single-core test shows the smallest gap of all: the EPYC scores 1,536 versus the i7's 1,275, a -17% delta. This indicates that while the EPYC's Zen 3 architecture is faster per clock, the i7's 4.80 GHz boost clock helps it stay within striking distance in lightly-threaded workloads. Still, the EPYC wins every single-core benchmark by a comfortable margin.

The Geekbench multi-core test reinforces the core-count advantage, with the EPYC scoring 15,554 against the i7's 5,092, a -67.3% delta. Interestingly, the average benchmark scores for both CPUs are remarkably similar: the i7-10700 averages 19,145 while the EPYC 7773X averages 18,979. This is because the i7 has additional benchmark results (like PassMark tests) that the EPYC lacks, and those scores pull its average up. The EPYC's percentile ranking is 73, identical to the i7's percentile, meaning both sit at the same position relative to all other CPUs in the database.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-10700 is built on Intel's 14 nm process node with the Comet Lake architecture, while the AMD EPYC 7773X uses TSMC's 7 nm process with the Zen 3 architecture under the Milan-X codename. This process advantage gives AMD a significant transistor density lead: the EPYC packs 33,200 million transistors across 8x 81 mm² dies, while the i7's transistor count is not listed. The EPYC's smaller process node contributes to its ability to house 64 cores in a single socket, whereas the i7 is limited to 8 cores.

Cache hierarchies differ dramatically between the two. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the i7 has 256 KB of L2 per core while the EPYC doubles that to 512 KB per core. The L3 cache is where the gap becomes enormous: the i7 has 16 MB shared L3, while the EPYC has 768 MB shared L3. This 48x difference in L3 cache is the defining architectural feature of the EPYC 7773X, and it directly contributes to its dominance in multi-threaded workloads that benefit from large data sets residing close to the cores.

Memory support also diverges. Both support DDR4, but the i7 uses a dual-channel memory bus with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the EPYC uses an eight-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. This 4.4x bandwidth advantage is critical for server workloads that stream large amounts of data. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, while the i7 does not, making the EPYC suitable for error-critical server environments. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the i7 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the EPYC offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes, providing 8x more lanes at double the transfer rate.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7773X wins in every benchmark category where both CPUs have data. Its multi-threaded wins are overwhelming, with deltas of -85.9% to -86% across all Cinebench versions. This makes it the clear choice for heavily parallel workloads like 3D rendering, video encoding, scientific simulations, and database processing. The Geekbench multi-core score of 15,554 versus 5,092 further confirms its dominance in multi-threaded applications. The EPYC's 128 threads and 768 MB L3 cache are tailor-made for virtualized environments and large-scale data processing.

The Intel Core i7-10700 wins by default in areas where the EPYC has no benchmark data. The i7 has extensive PassMark results, including a multi-thread score of 16,161, a single-thread score of 2,891, and specific tests like data compression (252,113), data encryption (5,379), floating point math (38,823), and integer math (62,988). These scores are not directly comparable to the EPYC since the EPYC lacks these benchmarks, but they indicate the i7 is a capable performer for desktop tasks. The i7 also has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630) while the EPYC has none, making the i7 self-sufficient for basic display output without a dedicated GPU.

For single-threaded performance, the EPYC still wins, but the margin is modest. The -17% delta in Geekbench single-core (1,536 vs 1,275) is the closest any benchmark gets between the two. This suggests that for tasks like web browsing, office applications, or light gaming, the i7-10700's high boost clock of 4.80 GHz makes it a viable option, even if the EPYC is strictly faster. The i7's 65 TDP also makes it far easier to cool and power, whereas the EPYC's 280 TDP requires serious server-grade cooling.

Specification Differences

The most obvious spec difference is core count: the i7-10700 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the EPYC 7773X has 64 cores and 128 threads. This 8x core advantage and 8x thread advantage is the primary driver of the multi-threaded benchmark gap. Clock speeds also differ, with the i7 boosting to 4.80 GHz versus the EPYC's 3.50 GHz, but the i7's base clock of 2.90 GHz is higher than the EPYC's 2.20 GHz. This clock speed advantage helps the i7 in single-threaded tasks, though not enough to overcome the EPYC's architectural efficiency.

Thermal design power is a stark contrast: the i7 is rated at 65 TDP, while the EPYC is rated at 280 TDP. This means the EPYC consumes over four times the power and requires significantly more robust cooling solutions. The sockets are incompatible: the i7 uses Intel Socket 1200, while the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3. The i7 is a desktop part with an active production status and a release date of 2020-04-29, while the EPYC is a server/workstation part released on 2022-03-21 with a launch MSRP of $8800.

Memory channels and PCIe lanes further differentiate them. The i7 supports dual-channel DDR4 with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the EPYC supports eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC's 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes dwarf the i7's 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The i7 has no ECC support, while the EPYC has ECC memory support. The EPYC also has a part number of 100-000000504 WOF100-000000504, while the i7's part number is SRH6Y. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7773X has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the Intel Core i7-10700 has 8 cores and 16 threads. This gives the EPYC an 8x advantage in both metrics.

Q: How much faster is the EPYC 7773X in multi-threaded Cinebench R23?

A: The EPYC scores 77,639 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the i7-10700 scores 10,910. This represents a -85.9% delta, meaning the EPYC is roughly seven times faster in this specific test.

Q: Is the i7-10700 competitive in single-threaded performance?

A: The i7-10700 scores 1,275 in Geekbench single-core versus the EPYC's 1,536, a -17% delta. While the EPYC still wins, the i7's 4.80 GHz boost clock keeps it within a modest margin.

Q: What is the L3 cache difference between the two CPUs?

A: The i7-10700 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the EPYC 7773X has 768 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a 48x difference in L3 cache capacity.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory configuration?

A: No. The i7-10700 supports dual-channel DDR4 with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the EPYC 7773X supports eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, while the i7 does not.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-10700 has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the EPYC 7773X has a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The i7's higher boost clock helps in single-threaded workloads.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7773X is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. With an 8-0 record in head-to-head tests, the EPYC dominates in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. Its 64 cores, 128 threads, and 768 MB L3 cache deliver Cinebench R23 multi-core scores of 77,639, which is over seven times the i7-10700's 10,910. For anyone running heavily parallel workloads like 3D rendering, scientific computing, or large-scale virtualization, the EPYC 7773X is the only rational choice, despite its 280 TDP and server-grade power requirements.

The Intel Core i7-10700 is not without merit, but its role is entirely different. Its 65 TDP, integrated graphics, and 4.80 GHz boost clock make it a practical desktop CPU for everyday computing, office work, and light content creation. The i7's PassMark results, including a multi-thread score of 16,161 and a single-thread score of 2,891, show it is a capable performer in its own right. The closest the EPYC comes to the i7 is in Geekbench single-core, where the -17% delta suggests the i7's high clock speed narrows the gap in lightly-threaded scenarios.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical (19,145 for the i7 versus 18,979 for the EPYC), and both CPUs share the same 73rd percentile ranking. However, this is misleading because the i7 has additional benchmark data that the EPYC lacks. In direct comparisons, the EPYC wins every time. The verdict is simple: pick the EPYC 7773X for server or workstation workloads where raw multi-threaded throughput is paramount, and pick the i7-10700 for a desktop build where power efficiency, integrated graphics, and lower platform costs matter more than extreme core counts. The i7-10700 is a solid mid-range desktop chip; the EPYC 7773X is a server powerhouse. They are not competitors in practice, only in benchmark databases.