CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4790 and AMD EPYC 7D12 occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, yet their aggregate benchmark scores are nearly identical. The Core i7-4790 posts an average benchmark score of 10556, while the EPYC 7D12 sits at 10547, a difference of just 0.1%. This surface-level parity, however, masks a fundamental split: the i7-4790 is a legacy desktop quad-core from the Haswell era, while the EPYC 7D12 is a modern 32-core server processor built on Zen 2. The data shows that each chip wins decisively in its own domain, and the choice between them comes down entirely to workload type rather than raw aggregate performance.

FAQ

Q: How does the overall average benchmark score compare between the two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i7-4790 has an average benchmark score of 10556, and the AMD EPYC 7D12 scores 10547. The EPYC 7D12 is 0.1% behind in this metric, making them statistically tied in overall aggregate performance.

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7D12 wins every single-core benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 5148 versus the i7-4790's 871, a delta of -83.1% for the Intel part.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-4790 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD EPYC 7D12 has 32 cores and 64 threads, which is an 8x and 8x difference respectively.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-4790 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i7-4790 includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The AMD EPYC 7D12 has no integrated graphics at all, as indicated by a null value for that field.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7D12 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-4790 does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the manufacturing process node for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i7-4790 is built on a 22 nm process at Intel's foundry. The AMD EPYC 7D12 is fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is generational and structural. The Intel Core i7-4790 uses the Haswell architecture, a 22 nm design from Intel with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. Its cache layout is modest by modern standards: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory subsystem is dual-channel DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth, and it provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU. The i7-4790 also includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, a feature absent from the EPYC.

The AMD EPYC 7D12 is a fundamentally different beast. Built on the Zen 2 architecture (codename Rome), it uses a 7 nm process from TSMC with 15,200 million transistors spread across a 4x 74 mm² die configuration. It has 32 cores and 64 threads, with a base clock of 1100.00 MHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. The cache hierarchy is vastly larger: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 per die, totaling 128 MB of L3 across the chip. Memory support jumps to eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth, and the PCIe interface expands to 128 Gen 4 lanes. ECC memory is supported, and the production status is active, versus the i7-4790's end-of-life status.

The transistor count difference is staggering: the EPYC 7D12 packs over 10 times more transistors than the i7-4790. This is partly due to the process node advantage (7 nm versus 22 nm) and partly due to the sheer scale of the design, which targets server and workstation workloads rather than desktop use.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results are unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7D12 wins all six tested comparisons, with the Intel Core i7-4790 trailing by roughly 83% in every single test. This consistent delta of -83.1% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core variants, indicates a massive performance gulf.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7D12 scores 3675 against the i7-4790's 621. That is a 3054-point gap, or a 491% advantage for the AMD part. The single-core R15 test shows 518 versus 87, a 495% lead for the EPYC. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 15315 for the EPYC versus 2591 for the i7-4790, a 491% difference. The single-core R20 score is 2162 against 365, again a 492% lead.

Cinebench R23 reinforces the pattern. The EPYC 7D12 scores 36465 in multi-core, compared to 6171 for the i7-4790, a 491% advantage. In single-core, the EPYC scores 5148 versus 871, a 491% lead. Every single benchmark shows the same relative gap of approximately 83% when expressed as a delta from the i7-4790's perspective, meaning the Intel chip delivers only about 17% of the EPYC's performance in these tests.

The aggregate benchmark scores tell a different story because they include additional tests beyond Cinebench. The i7-4790 has a broader benchmark suite, including PassMark tests for data compression (109623), integer math (26129), and floating point math (13104), which are not present in the EPYC 7D12's data set. This is why the average scores are nearly equal despite the Cinebench domination.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-4790 | AMD EPYC 7D12 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 32 |

| Threads | 8 | 64 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 1100.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 84 W | 85 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 15,200 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 4x 74 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 32 MB (per die), 128 MB total |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 128 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2014-04-30 | 2020-04-13 |

| Launch MSRP | $312 | N/A |

The TDP difference is negligible (84 W versus 85 W), which is remarkable given the EPYC's 8x core count. This is a direct result of the 7 nm process and the EPYC's low base clock of 1100.00 MHz. The i7-4790 compensates with a much higher base clock of 3.60 GHz, but the core count deficit is insurmountable in multi-threaded workloads.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split. For desktop users running legacy software, the Intel Core i7-4790 offers a familiar 4-core, 8-thread configuration with integrated graphics, a $312 launch MSRP, and a 66th percentile ranking against all CPUs. It is end-of-life, but its single-thread performance at 4.00 GHz boost is respectable for its era.

For server and workstation workloads, the AMD EPYC 7D12 is the only sensible choice. It delivers 32 cores and 64 threads with 128 MB of L3 cache, eight-channel DDR4 memory, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. It is active in production, supports ECC memory, and crushes the i7-4790 in every Cinebench test by a factor of nearly 6x. The 85 W TDP is identical to the Intel part, making it an efficiency marvel given the core count.

The verdict is straightforward: if you need multi-threaded throughput, the EPYC 7D12 is the winner by a landslide. If you are constrained to a legacy desktop platform with integrated graphics, the i7-4790 is the only option. There is no scenario where the i7-4790 wins a head-to-head benchmark against the EPYC 7D12.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7D12 wins everywhere in the head-to-head data. It takes all six Cinebench comparisons, spanning R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core modes. The smallest margin is in R15 single-core, where the EPYC scores 518 versus 87, a 495% lead. The largest is in R23 multi-core, with 36465 versus 6171, a 491% lead. Multi-core workloads benefit the most from the EPYC's 32 cores and 64 threads, but even single-core tests show the Zen 2 architecture's superiority per clock.

The Intel Core i7-4790 does not win a single head-to-head benchmark. However, its aggregate average score of 10556 is 0.1% higher than the EPYC's 10547, which suggests it holds its own in the broader PassMark suite. The i7-4790 also wins on integrated graphics, which the EPYC lacks, and on a lower base clock requirement for desktop use. For legacy desktop applications or systems where a discrete GPU is absent, the i7-4790's Intel HD 4600 is a practical advantage.

In terms of use cases, the EPYC 7D12 is the pick for virtualization, database workloads, scientific computing, or any task that scales across cores. The i7-4790 is suited for basic desktop productivity, older operating systems, or as a drop-in replacement for Socket 1150 boards. The EPYC's 128 MB of L3 and 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth make it ideal for large in-memory datasets, while the i7-4790's 25.6 GB/s bandwidth is a bottleneck for anything beyond light multitasking. The choice is not about which is better overall; it is about which fits the workload.