AMD EPYC 7C13 vs Intel Xeon 6741P Comparison

The benchmark data splits these two server processors into clear, distinct roles. The Intel Xeon 6741P is the overwhelming performance leader, winning 15 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, often by massive margins. The AMD EPYC 7C13, despite having 64 cores to Intel's 48, cedes ground in nearly every compute-heavy task but reclaims two specific workloads where its architecture excels. This is not a close contest; it is a decisive victory for Intel in raw throughput, with AMD holding only narrow, specialized advantages.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 6741P dominates the broad spectrum of productivity and compute benchmarks. It wins every Cinebench test—single-core and multi-core alike—with a consistent 31.9% advantage across R15, R20, and R23. This sweep indicates a fundamental per-thread performance edge that scales perfectly into multi-threaded workloads. The data shows Intel also wins in PassMark's multithread test by the same 31.9% margin, confirming that its architectural efficiency, not just core count, drives the results. In floating-point math, Intel leads by 34.3%, and in random string sorting, it is 35% ahead. The most extreme Intel victory comes in PassMark physics, where it scores 13,890 versus AMD's 4,904—a staggering 183.2% lead. Extended instruction workloads also favor Intel heavily, with a 67.8% delta. Even data compression, a common server task, goes to Intel by 16.3%.

The AMD EPYC 7C13 wins exactly two benchmarks, and both are revealing. Its most significant victory is in data encryption, where it scores 114,769 against Intel's 89,746, a 21.8% advantage. This suggests AMD's Zen 3 architecture has a dedicated strength in cryptographic workloads, likely due to hardware acceleration features that Intel's Granite Rapids does not match in this test. The second AMD win is in integer math, where it scores 492,554 versus Intel's 458,058, a 7% edge. This is a narrower victory but points to a different computational strength: raw integer throughput per core, which can matter in database and transaction processing. Outside these two specific areas, the AMD processor is consistently behind, often by double-digit percentages.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is generational and foundational. The Intel Xeon 6741P is built on Granite Rapids architecture using a 5 nm process from Intel's own foundry, while the AMD EPYC 7C13 uses the older Zen 3 architecture on a 7 nm process from TSMC. This process advantage alone explains much of Intel's performance lead, as the smaller node allows for higher clock speeds and better power efficiency per transistor. The die size difference is stark: Intel uses a 2x 598 mm² configuration, while AMD uses 8x 81 mm² chiplets. This reflects fundamentally different design philosophies—Intel's monolithic-ish approach versus AMD's chiplet-based design.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. Intel provides 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a massive 288 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD counters with 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 256 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger L2 cache per core (2 MB vs 512 KB) is particularly notable, as it reduces latency for frequently accessed data. The transistor count tells the story of complexity: AMD lists 33,200 million transistors across its chiplets, while Intel does not provide a figure in the data. Memory support diverges completely—Intel uses DDR5 with eight-channel memory and 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, while AMD uses DDR4 with eight-channel memory and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. This is a 2x bandwidth advantage for Intel, which directly impacts memory-intensive server workloads.

PCIe connectivity also favors Intel, which offers Gen 5 with 136 lanes, while AMD provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes. The socket platforms are incompatible: Intel uses Socket 4710, AMD uses Socket SP3. Both processors support ECC memory, and both are server/workstation segments with active production status. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $4421, while AMD's launch MSRP is not listed in the data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are remarkably uniform. Across all six tests—R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core variants—Intel wins by exactly 31.9%. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 85,561 versus AMD's 64,873. In single-core R23, Intel scores 12,079 versus AMD's 9,158. This consistency suggests the performance gap is architectural and not workload-dependent within rendering tasks. The PassMark multithread test confirms this with the same 31.9% delta, showing Intel at 100,660 versus AMD's 76,322.

The biggest single margin is in PassMark physics, where Intel leads by 183.2%. Intel's score of 13,890 dwarfs AMD's 4,904, indicating a massive advantage in physics simulation workloads. This is likely due to Intel's superior floating-point and SIMD capabilities. Extended instructions show a 67.8% lead for Intel, with scores of 142,682 versus 85,034. Prime number finding also heavily favors Intel, with a 130.4% delta (1,242 versus 539), suggesting better integer and branch prediction performance in certain algorithmic patterns.

AMD's two wins are more modest. Data encryption shows AMD ahead by 21.8%, scoring 114,769 versus 89,746. Integer math is closer, with AMD's 492,554 beating Intel's 458,058 by 7%. These are the only two areas where AMD's architecture provides a tangible benefit. In floating-point math, Intel leads by 34.3% (358,423 versus 266,846), and in random string sorting, Intel leads by 35% (177,322 versus 131,361). Data compression is the closest Intel victory, at 16.3% (1,816,408 versus 1,562,251), still a comfortable margin.

The Verdict

The data unequivocally favors the Intel Xeon 6741P for almost any server workload. It wins 15 of 17 benchmarks, often by margins exceeding 30%, and its advantages span rendering, physics, floating-point math, compression, and extended instructions. The 31.9% lead across all Cinebench and multithread tests indicates that Intel's 5 nm process, higher clock speeds (2.50 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost versus AMD's 2.00 GHz base and 3.68 GHz boost), and larger caches translate directly into superior performance. The Intel part also offers double the memory bandwidth (409.6 GB/s versus 204.8 GB/s) and newer PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, making it the more future-proof platform. Its percentile rank of 99 versus AMD's 98 confirms it sits at the very top of the CPU hierarchy.

The AMD EPYC 7C13 is only the right choice for two specific scenarios. First, if data encryption is a primary workload, AMD's 21.8% lead in that benchmark makes it the better option. Second, if integer math performance is critical, AMD's 7% edge could justify its use. However, these narrow wins come with significant trade-offs: AMD is behind by 31.9% in multithreaded tasks, has half the memory bandwidth, and uses older DDR4 memory. For general-purpose server deployment, virtualization, database serving, or any compute-heavy task, the Intel Xeon 6741P is the clear winner based on benchmark results. The data does not support choosing AMD for any workload outside its two benchmark victories.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD EPYC 7C13 has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the Intel Xeon 6741P has 48 cores and 96 threads.

Q: How much faster is Intel in multi-core rendering?

A: Intel wins all Cinebench multi-core tests by 31.9%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 85,561 versus AMD's 64,873.

Q: Does AMD win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, AMD wins data encryption by 21.8% (114,769 versus 89,746) and integer math by 7% (492,554 versus 458,058).

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: Intel supports DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, while AMD supports DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s. This is a 2x advantage for Intel.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: Intel has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while AMD has a boost clock of 3.68 GHz. Intel also has a higher base clock at 2.50 GHz versus AMD's 2.00 GHz.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: Intel uses a 5 nm process from its own foundry, while AMD uses a 7 nm process from TSMC.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon 6741P | AMD EPYC 7C13 |

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

| Cores | 48 | 64 |

| Threads | 96 | 128 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.68 GHz |

| TDP | 300 W | 225 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 4710 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Architecture | Granite Rapids | Zen 3 |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 2x 598 mm² | 8x 81 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 112 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 288 MB (shared) | 256 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 409.6 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 136 Lanes | Gen 4, 128 Lanes |

| Launch MSRP | $4421 | Not listed |