AMD EPYC 7F52 vs Intel Core i5-1035G1 Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7F52 and Intel Core i5-1035G1 occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, yet both remain active production parts. The data shows a complete sweep in the head-to-head Cinebench suite, with the EPYC 7F52 winning all six tests by margins ranging from 479.4% to 480.2%. However, the benchmark averages tell a slightly different story: the EPYC 7F52 scores 10,159 on average (66th percentile), while the Core i5-1035G1 averages 9,684 (65th percentile), a difference of roughly 4.9%. This gap is much narrower than the Cinebench deltas suggest, indicating that the mobile chip’s PassMark results—which include data compression, encryption, and integer math—pull its overall score far closer to the server processor than any rendering workload would imply.

Where Each One Wins

The EPYC 7F52 is the clear victor in every multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench test, making it the obvious choice for CPU-bound rendering, video encoding, and scientific computing. Its 16 cores and 32 threads produce a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35,123, versus 6,062 for the Core i5-1035G1, a 479.4% advantage. Even in single-core Cinebench R23, the EPYC 7F52 leads with 4,958 against 855, a 479.9% margin. The server chip’s 256 MB of shared L3 cache and eight-channel DDR4 memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth are built for sustained throughput on massive datasets. The Core i5-1035G1, with its 4 cores and 8 threads, cannot compete in these workloads; its 6 MB shared L3 cache and dual-channel 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth are a fraction of the EPYC’s capacity.

The Core i5-1035G1 does have its own domain, though the head-to-head data does not capture it. Its PassMark results show strengths in data compression (80,534), integer math (26,645), and floating-point math (15,483), which are not part of the six Cinebench tests. For mobile productivity tasks like spreadsheet manipulation, light code compilation, or data sorting (9,782 in random string sorting), the Core i5-1035G1 offers a balanced set of capabilities. Its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops, whereas the EPYC 7F52’s 240 W TDP demands a server chassis with robust cooling. The Core i5-1035G1 also includes integrated UHD Graphics, something the EPYC 7F52 lacks entirely, giving it an edge in systems where a discrete GPU is not an option.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is generational and philosophical. The EPYC 7F52 is built on AMD’s Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome, using a 7 nm process from TSMC. It packs 3,800 million transistors into a 74 mm² die, which is remarkably small for a 16-core part. The Core i5-1035G1 uses Intel’s Ice Lake architecture (Sunny Cove-U) on a 10 nm process, with a 123 mm² die and no transistor count listed. The process node advantage is clear: AMD’s 7 nm allows for denser transistor packing, while Intel’s 10 nm is comparatively larger for fewer cores.

Cache hierarchies diverge sharply. The EPYC 7F52 allocates 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus a massive 256 MB shared L3. The Core i5-1035G1 provides 80 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with only 6 MB of shared L3. This 256 MB versus 6 MB L3 difference is the single largest architectural chasm, directly affecting how much working set can reside on-chip before hitting system memory. Memory support also differs: both support DDR4, but the EPYC 7F52 runs eight channels with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core i5-1035G1 runs dual-channel at 51.2 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on the EPYC 7F52 but not on the Core i5-1035G1, reflecting the server versus mobile design intent.

PCIe lanes and sockets reinforce the split. The EPYC 7F52 uses Gen 4 PCIe on AMD Socket SP3, while the Core i5-1035G1 uses Gen 3 on Intel BGA 1526. The former is socketed and upgradeable in a server platform; the latter is soldered to the motherboard, typical for ultraportables. The EPYC 7F52 has no integrated graphics, while the Core i5-1035G1 includes UHD Graphics. Production status for both is Active, though release dates differ: the Core i5-1035G1 launched in July 2019, and the EPYC 7F52 followed in April 2020. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option on either.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six Cinebench tests are the only direct comparisons in the data, and the EPYC 7F52 wins every one by nearly identical margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7F52 scores 3,540 against 611 for the Core i5-1035G1, a 479.4% delta. Single-core R15 shows 499 versus 86, a 480.2% delta. Moving to R20, multi-core is 14,751 versus 2,546 (479.4% delta), and single-core is 2,082 versus 359 (479.9% delta). The R23 results mirror this pattern: multi-core 35,123 versus 6,062 (479.4% delta), and single-core 4,958 versus 855 (479.9% delta). The consistency of these deltas—hovering around 480%—suggests a fixed performance ratio driven by core count and clock behavior, not workload-specific architectural advantages.

The EPYC’s nearest rivals help contextualize its score. It trails the Intel Xeon Platinum 8280 by 0.7% (10,230 vs. 10,159), the Intel Xeon Gold 6312U by 1.3% (10,291), the Intel Xeon E3-1565L v5 by 1.6% (10,320), and the Intel Xeon Gold 6338N by 1.8% (10,347). These are all server-class Xeons, and the EPYC 7F52 sits within 2% of each, meaning its average benchmark score is competitive with those parts despite having fewer cores than some. For the Core i5-1035G1, its nearest rivals are a mixed bag: it sits 0.2% below the Intel Core i7-3770 (9,706), 1.6% above the AMD EPYC 7402P (9,529), 2% above the Intel Core i7-7700HQ (9,493), and 2.2% below the Intel Core 3 N350 (9,903). The inclusion of an EPYC in the mobile chip’s rival list is notable, but the delta is small enough to place the Core i5-1035G1 in the same average-score bracket as those parts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7F52 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i5-1035G1 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How much faster is the EPYC 7F52 in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The EPYC 7F52 scores 35,123, which is 479.4% higher than the Core i5-1035G1’s 6,062.

Q: Does the Core i5-1035G1 win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The EPYC 7F52 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with winsA equal to 6 and winsB equal to 0.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7F52 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-1035G1 does not.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two?

A: The EPYC 7F52 uses a 7 nm process from TSMC, while the Core i5-1035G1 uses a 10 nm process from Intel.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The EPYC 7F52 averages 10,159 (66th percentile), and the Core i5-1035G1 averages 9,684 (65th percentile), a gap of about 4.9%.

The Verdict

Pick the AMD EPYC 7F52 if the workload is server-grade rendering, virtualization, or data-heavy computation where core count and memory bandwidth dominate. Its 16 cores, 32 threads, 256 MB L3 cache, and eight-channel 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth make it a decisive winner in every Cinebench test, with margins near 480% over the Core i5-1035G1. Its average score also lands within 2% of several Intel Xeon parts, confirming its position in the server tier. The 240 W TDP and Socket SP3 requirement are acceptable trade-offs for a system designed for sustained throughput.

Pick the Intel Core i5-1035G1 if the use case is mobile computing with modest multi-threaded demands. Its 15 W TDP, integrated UHD Graphics, and BGA 1526 socket make it suitable for laptops where power efficiency and compactness matter more than raw compute. Its PassMark results—80,534 in data compression, 26,645 in integer math, and 15,483 in floating-point math—show it can handle everyday productivity and light content creation without the need for a discrete GPU. The 6 MB L3 and dual-channel memory are sufficient for these tasks, and its average score remains within 2.2% of recent Core and EPYC parts, indicating it is not obsolete. However, in any direct rendering benchmark, the EPYC 7F52 will outperform it by a factor of nearly six.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 7F52 | Intel Core i5-1035G1 |

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

| Cores | 16 | 4 |

| Threads | 32 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 1000.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 240 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP3 | Intel BGA 1526 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Ice Lake |

| Codename | Rome | Ice Lake-U |

| Process Node | 7 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| Die Size | 74 mm² | 123 mm² |

| Transistors | 3,800 million | Not listed |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

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

| L3 Cache | 256 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 204.8 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe Version | Gen 4 | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Release Date | April 2020 | July 2019 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |