AMD EPYC 7F52 vs Intel Xeon Gold 6338N Comparison

The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N and AMD EPYC 7F52 occupy the same performance percentile (66th) among all CPUs, yet they achieve this status through fundamentally different designs. The Intel part fields 32 cores and 64 threads, while the AMD EPYC counters with 16 cores and 32 threads. Despite the 2x core disadvantage, the EPYC 7F52 trails the Xeon Gold 6338N by only 1.8% in average benchmark score (10159 vs 10347). This head-to-head comparison reveals a consistent, narrow margin of victory for Intel across every Cinebench test, with the largest gap being a 2.0% single-core win and the smallest a 1.8% multi-core win.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a complete sweep for the Intel Xeon Gold 6338N, winning all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The margins are remarkably consistent, ranging from 1.8% to 2.0%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel scores 3605 against the AMD's 3540, a 1.8% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a 2.0% lead (509 vs 499). Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result favors Intel by 1.9% (15024 vs 14751), and the single-core test again shows a 1.9% gap (2121 vs 2082). Cinebench R23 repeats this pattern: multi-core gives Intel a 1.9% edge (35773 vs 35123), and single-core also lands at 1.9% (5050 vs 4958).

The consistency of these deltas is notable. Across three generations of Cinebench (R15, R20, R23), the Intel Xeon Gold 6338N maintains roughly a 2% lead in every discipline. This suggests the performance relationship is stable regardless of workload intensity or test methodology. The AMD EPYC 7F52 never wins a single benchmark in this set, yet its losses are narrow enough that it remains competitive in the same performance tier. The 1.8% multi-core R15 delta and the 1.9% deltas elsewhere indicate that the EPYC's higher base clock (3.50 GHz vs 2.20 GHz) and boost clock (3.90 GHz vs 3.50 GHz) partially compensate for having half the cores.

Benchmark results further contextualize these chips against their nearest rivals. The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N's average score of 10347 places it 0.2% behind the Intel Xeon W-3175X (10369) and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Xeon E3-1565L v5 (10320). Meanwhile, the AMD EPYC 7F52's average of 10159 sits 0.7% behind the Intel Xeon Platinum 8280 (10230) and 1.3% behind the Intel Xeon Gold 6312U (10291). The EPYC's closest rival in the list is the Intel Xeon Gold 6338N itself, trailing by 1.8% (10347). This reinforces that the two processors are direct competitors despite their architectural divergence.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two server processors is stark. The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N uses the Ice Lake-SP architecture on a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. It houses 32 cores with 64 threads, a base clock of 2.20 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. Cache allocation includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 48 MB L3 cache. The chip operates on the Intel Socket 4189 with a TDP of 185 watts.

The AMD EPYC 7F52 employs the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome, built on a 7 nm process node from TSMC. It contains 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. Its cache hierarchy differs substantially: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 256 MB shared L3 cache. The EPYC uses the AMD Socket SP3 and carries a higher TDP of 240 watts. AMD lists 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die size, while Intel's transistor count and die size are not provided in the data.

Memory support is similar in scope but differs in bandwidth. Both processors support DDR4 memory with an eight-channel memory bus. The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N achieves a memory bandwidth of 170.7 GB/s, while the AMD EPYC 7F52 reaches 204.8 GB/s, a 20% advantage for AMD. Both support ECC memory. PCIe capabilities also differ: Intel offers Gen 4 with 64 lanes (CPU only), while AMD lists Gen 4 without specifying lane count.

The release timeline shows Intel launching the Xeon Gold 6338N on 2021-04-05, nearly a year after the AMD EPYC 7F52's 2020-04-13 debut. Both processors remain in active production. The Intel part uses part number SRKY2CD8068904722302, while AMD lists 100-000000140100-000000140WOF. Neither chip has a launch MSRP listed.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear but narrow victory for the Intel Xeon Gold 6338N. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with deltas between 1.8% and 2.0%. However, the AMD EPYC 7F52's performance relative to its core count is remarkable. With half the cores (16 vs 32), it trails by less than 2% in every test. The EPYC's higher clock speeds (3.50 GHz base, 3.90 GHz boost) and larger L3 cache (256 MB vs 48 MB) compensate for its core deficit in these Cinebench workloads.

For buyers prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput, the Intel Xeon Gold 6338N is the data-supported choice. Its 32 cores deliver 35773 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus the EPYC's 35123. For single-threaded performance, Intel also leads, scoring 5050 versus 4958 in R23 single-core. The AMD EPYC 7F52's advantages lie elsewhere: memory bandwidth (204.8 GB/s vs 170.7 GB/s) and L3 cache capacity (256 MB vs 48 MB). These factors may matter more in memory-bound or cache-sensitive workloads not captured by Cinebench.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the verdict. Intel's 10347 average edges AMD's 10159 by 1.8%. Both sit at the 66th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rival for the Intel chip is the Intel Xeon W-3175X, just 0.2% ahead, while the EPYC's closest competitor is the Intel Xeon Platinum 8280, 0.7% ahead. Neither processor is a runaway winner, but the data consistently favors Intel in Cinebench tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N wins with a score of 35773, compared to the AMD EPYC 7F52's 35123, a 1.9% advantage.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The AMD EPYC 7F52 provides 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel Xeon Gold 6338N offers 170.7 GB/s. AMD holds a significant lead in this metric.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N has 32 cores and 64 threads. The AMD EPYC 7F52 has 16 cores and 32 threads, exactly half.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each CPU?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N has an average benchmark score of 10347, while the AMD EPYC 7F52 scores 10159. Intel leads by 1.8%.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process node?

A: The AMD EPYC 7F52 uses a 7 nm process node from TSMC. The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N uses a 10 nm process node from Intel.

Q: Did the AMD EPYC 7F52 win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The AMD EPYC 7F52 lost all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons to the Intel Xeon Gold 6338N.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon Gold 6338N wins in every measured Cinebench test. Its multi-core advantages are consistent at 1.8% (R15) and 1.9% (R20 and R23). Single-core wins are similarly uniform at 2.0% (R15) and 1.9% (R20 and R23). This means Intel holds the edge in both threaded and single-threaded rendering workloads as measured by Cinebench.

The AMD EPYC 7F52 wins in architectural features that are not directly benchmarked in this dataset. It offers 20% higher memory bandwidth (204.8 GB/s vs 170.7 GB/s), which can benefit memory-intensive applications. Its L3 cache is more than five times larger (256 MB vs 48 MB), potentially reducing latency for repeated data access. The EPYC also uses a more advanced 7 nm process node compared to Intel's 10 nm, which may influence power efficiency per core, though its total TDP is higher at 240 watts versus 185 watts.

For workloads that scale with core count, the Intel Xeon Gold 6338N is the data-backed winner. For scenarios where memory bandwidth or cache capacity dominate, the AMD EPYC 7F52's specifications suggest an advantage, though no benchmark in this dataset directly measures those scenarios. The EPYC's higher base and boost clocks (3.50/3.90 GHz vs 2.20/3.50 GHz) also indicate potential strength in lightly threaded tasks that rely on clock speed rather than core count.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon Gold 6338N | AMD EPYC 7F52 |

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

| Cores | 32 | 16 |

| Threads | 64 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 185 W | 240 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 4189 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Architecture | Ice Lake | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Ice Lake-SP | Rome |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 48 MB (shared) | 256 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 170.7 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 64 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4 |

| Transistors | Not listed | 3,800 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 74 mm² |

| Release Date | 2021-04-05 | 2020-04-13 |

| Part Number | SRKY2CD8068904722302 | 100-000000140100-000000140WOF |