AMD EPYC 7773X vs Intel Core i7-10700F Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7773X has 64 cores and 128 threads. The Intel Core i7-10700F has 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

A: The Intel Core i7-10700F wins the Geekbench single-core test with a score of 1555 versus 1536 for the AMD EPYC 7773X, a lead of 1.2%. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 10960 versus 1932 for Intel, a gap of 82.4% in favor of AMD.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7773X supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-10700F does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD EPYC 7773X has a memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s over an eight-channel DDR4 bus. The Intel Core i7-10700F has 46.9 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR4 bus.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the AMD EPYC 7773X?

A: The launch MSRP is $8800. The Intel Core i7-10700F has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

Q: Which processor was released later?

A: The AMD EPYC 7773X was released on 2022-03-21. The Intel Core i7-10700F was released on 2020-04-29.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-10700F is built on Intel's Comet Lake architecture, using a 14 nm process node fabricated by Intel. It is a desktop part with 8 cores and 16 threads, base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Its cache layout consists of 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The chip uses a dual-channel DDR4 memory controller with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth and does not support ECC memory. It provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The TDP is 65 watts, and it uses Intel Socket 1200.

The AMD EPYC 7773X is a server and workstation processor based on Zen 3, specifically the Milan-X variant. It uses a 7 nm process node from TSMC and contains 64 cores and 128 threads. Base clock is 2.20 GHz, boost clock is 3.50 GHz. The cache structure is substantially different: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 768 MB of shared L3 cache. The transistor count is 33,200 million, and the die size is listed as 8x 81 mm². Memory support is eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC memory is supported. It provides PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU. TDP is 280 watts, and it uses AMD Socket SP3.

The differences in cache and memory architecture are decisive for workload behavior. The EPYC 7773X has 48 times more L3 cache than the Intel part, and its eight-channel memory bus offers over four times the bandwidth. The Intel part counters with a much higher boost clock and lower TDP, but the underlying platform capabilities are built for entirely different environments.

The Verdict

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on the workload class. The AMD EPYC 7773X dominates every multi-threaded benchmark in the database and most single-threaded Cinebench tests. Its 64 cores, 128 threads, and 768 MB L3 cache make it the only sensible option for heavily threaded rendering, virtualized server workloads, and scientific computing. The Intel Core i7-10700F is a lower-power desktop chip that wins exactly one recorded benchmark: Geekbench single-core, by 1.2%. For a desktop user running lightly threaded applications, the i7-10700F offers competitive single-thread performance at 65 watts, but it is not in the same class for throughput.

The data shows the EPYC 7773X is over five times faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core, with a score of 77639 versus 13689. It is also far ahead in Cinebench R20 multi-core, 32608 versus 5749. Any workload that scales across cores will favor the EPYC overwhelmingly. The Intel chip wins only the narrow single-thread Geekbench case, and even then by a tiny margin. The EPYC 7773X also carries a launch MSRP of $8800, while the i7-10700F has no recorded launch MSRP. Buyers should select based on whether the workload needs massive parallel throughput or lightweight desktop responsiveness.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field. The Intel Core i7-10700F has 8 cores and 16 threads; the AMD EPYC 7773X has 64 cores and 128 threads. Base clock is 2.90 GHz for Intel versus 2.20 GHz for AMD. Boost clock is 4.80 GHz for Intel versus 3.50 GHz for AMD. TDP is 65 watts for Intel versus 280 watts for AMD. Process node is 14 nm for Intel versus 7 nm for AMD. The foundry is Intel for the i7-10700F and TSMC for the EPYC 7773X.

Cache differs substantially: L1 is 64 KB per core for both, but L2 is 256 KB per core for Intel versus 512 KB per core for AMD. L3 is 16 MB shared for Intel versus 768 MB shared for AMD. Memory bus is dual-channel for Intel versus eight-channel for AMD. Memory bandwidth is 46.9 GB/s for Intel versus 204.8 GB/s for AMD. ECC memory is not supported on Intel but is supported on AMD. PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes for Intel versus Gen 4 with 128 lanes for AMD. Socket is Intel Socket 1200 versus AMD Socket SP3. Market segment is Desktop for Intel versus Server/Workstation for AMD. Release dates are 2020-04-29 for Intel and 2022-03-21 for AMD. The AMD part has a recorded transistor count of 33,200 million and die size of 8x 81 mm², while the Intel part has no recorded values for either.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are lopsided. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD EPYC 7773X scores 7825 versus 1379 for Intel, a delta of 82.4% in AMD's favor. The same 82.4% delta appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where AMD scores 1104 and Intel scores 194. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows AMD at 32608 versus Intel at 5749, again an 82.4% gap. Cinebench R20 single-core has AMD at 4603 versus Intel at 811. Cinebench R23 multi-core is AMD at 77639 versus Intel at 13689, and Cinebench R23 single-core is AMD at 10960 versus Intel at 1932. Every Cinebench test, single or multi-threaded, goes to AMD by the same 82.4% margin.

Geekbench results are closer. In Geekbench multi-core, AMD scores 15554 versus Intel at 7867, a 49.4% delta in AMD's favor. In Geekbench single-core, Intel wins with 1555 versus 1536 for AMD, a 1.2% delta. That is the only recorded head-to-head win for the Intel part. The overall win count is 1 for Intel and 7 for AMD.

The consistent 82.4% delta across all Cinebench versions suggests the performance gap is structural, tied to core count, cache, and memory bandwidth rather than a specific workload quirk. The Geekbench single-core result shows that Intel's higher boost clock can edge out AMD's lower-clocked Zen 3 cores in a narrowly defined test, but the margin is minimal.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7773X wins in every multi-threaded scenario recorded. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all show it at least 82.4% ahead. Geekbench multi-core shows a 49.4% lead. This makes it the clear choice for rendering, video encoding, compilation, virtualization, database workloads, and any other task that can use 64 cores and 128 threads. The 768 MB L3 cache and 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth also favor workloads with large working sets that benefit from cache hits and high memory throughput. The eight-channel memory bus and PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes further position it for server and workstation environments where I/O and memory capacity matter.

The Intel Core i7-10700F wins exactly one recorded benchmark: Geekbench single-core, with a 1.2% margin over the EPYC. Its higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz and lower TDP of 65 watts make it suitable for desktop builds where power draw and heat are constraints. For lightly threaded applications like web browsing, office productivity, and older games that rely on a single core, the i7-10700F is competitive. However, the data shows that even in single-threaded Cinebench tests, the EPYC 7773X is far ahead. The Intel chip's only clear advantage in the recorded data is the narrow Geekbench single-core result, plus its much lower power envelope.

For a system builder, the decision is straightforward. If the workload is multi-threaded or memory-bandwidth intensive, the EPYC 7773X is the only option that makes sense. If the workload is light, desktop-only, and power-sensitive, the i7-10700F can handle it with a fraction of the power draw, but it cannot scale to server-class throughput. The EPYC 7773X also supports ECC memory and uses PCIe Gen 4, both features absent from the Intel part. The Intel i7-10700F has no recorded launch MSRP, while the EPYC 7773X has a launch MSRP of $8800, which positions it as a premium server part rather than a desktop value option.