AMD EPYC 7D12 vs Intel Core i5-1145G7 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data for this comparison is unambiguous. Across all six Cinebench tests in the database, the AMD EPYC 7D12 wins outright, with the Intel Core i5-1145G7 trailing by a consistent margin of approximately 78.7% in every workload. This uniformity is striking because it spans both multi-core and single-core tests, indicating that the performance gap is not merely a function of core count but reflects a fundamental throughput advantage.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD EPYC 7D12 scores 36,465, while the Intel Core i5-1145G7 scores 7,777. That is a 78.7% deficit for Intel, meaning the EPYC delivers roughly 4.7 times the multi-threaded rendering throughput. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar ratio: 15,315 for the EPYC versus 3,266 for the i5, again a 78.7% gap. The R15 multi-core test follows the same pattern, with 3,675 for the EPYC and 783 for the i5.

Single-core results tell a more nuanced story, though the winner remains the same. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 5,148 against the i5's 1,098, a 78.7% difference. The R20 single-core test shows 2,162 versus 461, and R15 single-core shows 518 versus 110. These deltas are identical in percentage terms, which suggests that the benchmark scaling between the two architectures is highly linear across test revisions. The EPYC's single-core advantage is not small; it is roughly 4.7 times faster in every Cinebench iteration recorded.

It is importantly the Intel part has additional benchmark data in the database beyond Cinebench: Geekbench scores of 4,066 multi-core and 1,463 single-core, plus a suite of Passmark tests including data compression (103,172), floating point math (19,233), integer math (32,087), and multithread (9,452). The AMD EPYC 7D12 does not have corresponding entries in these test categories, so a direct comparison on those workloads is not possible from the recorded data. However, for the six tests where both processors have scores, the outcome is entirely one-sided.

The average benchmark score for the Intel i5-1145G7 is 11,279, placing it in the 66th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The AMD EPYC 7D12 has an average score of 10,547, also in the 66th percentile. This near-identical percentile ranking is counterintuitive given the Cinebench dominance of the EPYC, but it reflects that the i5's broader benchmark portfolio, including its strong Passmark and Geekbench results, pulls its average upward. The nearest rivals for the i5 include the AMD EPYC 7452 at a 0% delta, the AMD EPYC 7402 at -0.3%, and the AMD EPYC 73F3 at -0.5%. For the EPYC 7D12, the nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-4790 at -0.1%, the AMD EPYC 7502P at +0.3%, and the Intel Xeon W-3175X at +1.7%. These rival comparisons show that both processors sit in a similar overall performance tier when averaging across all recorded tests, despite their divergent Cinebench results.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies entirely. The Intel Core i5-1145G7 is a mobile processor built on Intel's Tiger Lake architecture, specifically Tiger Lake-U, using Willow Cove cores. It is fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 144 mm². The AMD EPYC 7D12 is a server and workstation part based on Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome, and manufactured by TSMC on a 7 nm process. Its die configuration is notably different: four chiplets, each measuring 74 mm², for a combined die area of roughly 296 mm². The EPYC also lists 15,200 million transistors, a figure not provided for the Intel part.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The i5-1145G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The EPYC 7D12 has 32 cores and 64 threads, an 8x core advantage and 8x thread advantage. This alone explains much of the multi-core performance gap. Cache hierarchies also differ fundamentally. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 per die, with a total of 128 MB of L3 across the entire package. The EPYC's total L3 cache is 16 times larger than the i5's shared L3, which is a substantial difference for workloads that benefit from large working sets.

Memory support is another major architectural split. The i5-1145G7 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory over a dual-channel bus, with no ECC capability. The EPYC 7D12 supports DDR4 over an eight-channel memory bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory. The memory bandwidth figure is not available for the Intel part, but the eight-channel configuration versus dual-channel is a clear architectural distinction. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Intel part provides Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes, while the AMD part provides Gen 4 with 128 CPU lanes. This makes the EPYC far more suitable for systems with many high-bandwidth peripherals or accelerators.

Integrated graphics are present on the Intel part (Iris Xe Graphics G7 with 80 execution units) and absent on the AMD EPYC 7D12, which is expected for a server processor. The market segments reflect this: the i5 is a mobile part, while the EPYC targets server and workstation deployments. Production status also differs: the i5 is end-of-life, while the EPYC is active. The release dates are close, with the i5 launching in September 2020 and the EPYC in April 2020, but the EPYC remains in production.

Where Each One Wins

Given the benchmark data, the AMD EPYC 7D12 wins every recorded Cinebench workload, both single-core and multi-core. For rendering tasks that stress CPU throughput, such as Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC's 36,465 score versus the i5's 7,777 makes the choice obvious. The EPYC also wins single-core Cinebench tests, which is notable because single-core performance is often associated with higher clock speeds. The EPYC's boost clock is listed at 3.00 GHz, while the i5 boosts to 4.40 GHz, yet the EPYC still scores 5,148 in R23 single-core versus 1,098 for the i5. This suggests that architectural efficiency and memory bandwidth play a larger role than raw clock frequency in these tests.

The Intel Core i5-1145G7 does have wins in the broader database, but only in tests where the EPYC lacks recorded scores. For example, the i5's Passmark single-thread score is 2,713, its Geekbench single-core score is 1,463, and its data compression score is 103,172. These are competitive numbers for a mobile chip, but without EPYC scores in those same tests, no direct comparison can be made. The i5's percentile ranking of 66th overall, matching the EPYC's percentile, indicates that in aggregate benchmark performance, the two are not as far apart as the Cinebench results alone suggest. However, for any workload represented by Cinebench, the EPYC is the clear winner.

For a use-case split, the EPYC 7D12 is the appropriate choice for server workloads, multi-threaded rendering, virtualization, or any application that can utilize 32 cores and 64 threads. Its eight-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and 128 MB of L3 cache make it suited for memory-intensive and throughput-oriented tasks. The i5-1145G7, with its integrated Iris Xe graphics, dual-channel memory, and compact 28 W TDP, is suited for mobile or low-power systems where CPU performance is secondary to power efficiency and graphics capability. It also supports LPDDR4X memory, which is common in thin and light laptops.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field in the database. Core count: 4 versus 32. Thread count: 8 versus 64. Base clock: 2.60 GHz versus 1100.00 MHz (the EPYC's base clock is listed as 1100.00, likely a typo in the raw data, but it is the recorded value). Boost clock: 4.40 GHz versus 3.00 GHz. TDP: 28 W versus 85 W. Socket: Intel BGA 1449 versus AMD Socket SP3. Architecture: Tiger Lake versus Zen 2. Process node: 10 nm versus 7 nm. Foundry: Intel versus TSMC. Transistors: not listed versus 15,200 million. Die size: 144 mm² versus 4x 74 mm².

Cache specifications differ throughout: L1 per core is 80 KB for Intel versus 64 KB for AMD; L2 per core is 1.25 MB versus 512 KB; L3 is 8 MB shared versus 32 MB per die, with a total of 128 MB for the EPYC. Memory support: DDR4 and LPDDR4X versus DDR4 only. Memory bus: dual-channel versus eight-channel. Memory bandwidth: not listed versus 204.8 GB/s. ECC memory: false versus true. PCIe: Gen 4 with 4 lanes versus Gen 4 with 128 lanes. Integrated graphics: Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU versus none. Market segment: mobile versus server/workstation. Production status: end-of-life versus active. Release date: September 2020 versus April 2020. Launch MSRP: $309 for the Intel part, with no MSRP listed for the AMD part. Multiplier unlocked: false for both. Part numbers: SRK03 versus 100-000000044.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core Cinebench performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7D12 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. In R23 multi-core, it scores 36,465 versus the Intel Core i5-1145G7's 7,777, a 78.7% lead. In R20 multi-core, the scores are 15,315 versus 3,266, and in R15 multi-core, 3,675 versus 783.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-1145G7 win any single-core tests?

A: No. The AMD EPYC 7D12 wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. In R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 5,148 versus 1,098 for the i5. The R20 single-core test shows 2,162 versus 461, and R15 single-core shows 518 versus 110. The delta is 78.7% in every case.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-1145G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD EPYC 7D12 has 32 cores and 64 threads. The EPYC has 8 times the core count and 8 times the thread count.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD EPYC 7D12 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s over an eight-channel DDR4 bus. The Intel Core i5-1145G7 has a dual-channel bus supporting DDR4 and LPDDR4X, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded in the database for it.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7D12 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-1145G7 does not.

Q: Are there any benchmark tests where the Intel Core i5-1145G7 has a recorded score but the AMD EPYC 7D12 does not?

A: Yes. The i5 has Geekbench multi-core (4,066) and single-core (1,463) scores, plus multiple Passmark tests such as data compression (103,172), floating point math (19,233), integer math (32,087), and multithread (9,452). The EPYC has no recorded scores in those tests, so a direct comparison is not possible for them.