AMD EPYC 7F72 vs Intel Core i9-14900KF Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the AMD EPYC 7F72 and the Intel Core i9-14900KF reveals a clear split: Intel dominates rendering and raw compute throughput, while AMD wins in specialized enterprise workloads. The Intel Core i9-14900KF takes 11 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with the AMD EPYC 7F72 securing 6 victories.

In Cinebench tests, the Intel part is consistently ahead by roughly 9.2% across all three versions. The Cinebench R15 multicore score shows Intel at 4976 against AMD's 4518, a 9.2% margin. The single-core R15 test shows Intel at 702 versus 637, a 9.3% lead. This pattern repeats in R20 multicore (20735 vs 18828) and R20 single-core (2926 vs 2657), both at 9.2%. The R23 multicore result is 49370 for Intel versus 44829 for AMD, again a 9.2% gap, and R23 single-core shows 6969 against 6328, another 9.2% difference.

The single-thread PassMark test shows the largest Intel advantage. The Intel Core i9-14900KF scores 4685 in PassMark single-thread, while the AMD EPYC 7F72 scores 2384, a 49.1% delta in Intel's favor. This is by far the biggest single-core gap in the data.

Floating-point math also favors Intel strongly. The PassMark floating-point math score is 151918 for Intel versus 108437 for AMD, a 28.6% lead. Integer math follows similarly: Intel scores 209125 against AMD's 181103, a 13.4% margin. The PassMark multithread score goes to Intel at 58405 versus 52740, a 9.7% difference.

However, the AMD EPYC 7F72 wins several tests by remarkable margins. The PassMark physics test shows AMD at 6459 against Intel's 3159, a 104.5% advantage, meaning AMD more than doubles Intel's score. The find prime numbers test is even more lopsided: AMD scores 498 versus Intel's 231, a 115.6% lead. Data encryption also goes to AMD at 56261 against 46416, a 21.2% margin. Random string sorting shows AMD ahead at 102436 versus 86564, an 18.3% lead. Data compression is closer, with AMD at 808795 against Intel's 785831, a 2.9% edge. Extended instructions slightly favor AMD at 46936 versus 44839, a 4.7% difference.

Overall, the average benchmark score places the AMD EPYC 7F72 at 85072, which is 1.3% above the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and 1.5% above the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K in its nearest rival group. The Intel Core i9-14900KF averages 79371, sitting 0.3% below the Intel Core i9-14900K and 0.8% below the AMD EPYC 7413. The EPYC 7F72 ranks in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, while the i9-14900KF ranks in the 95th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD EPYC 7F72 uses the Zen 2 architecture on TSMC's 7 nm process, while the Intel Core i9-14900KF uses the Raptor Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process. The AMD chip is built with 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die, whereas the Intel die is 257 mm² with no transistor count listed in the database.

Both processors have 24 cores, but the thread counts differ significantly. The AMD EPYC 7F72 supports 48 threads through simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel Core i9-14900KF supports 32 threads. Both have a base clock of 3.20 GHz, but the boost clocks diverge sharply: AMD reaches 3.70 GHz, while Intel boosts to 6.00 GHz.

Cache configurations are also very different. The EPYC 7F72 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 192 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The AMD processor's L3 cache is more than five times larger.

Memory support separates the two further. The EPYC 7F72 supports DDR4 memory over an eight-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The i9-14900KF supports both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with no bandwidth figure recorded in the database. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation. The AMD part uses PCIe Gen 4, while the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The EPYC 7F72 targets the server and workstation market on AMD Socket SP3, while the i9-14900KF is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the AMD chip does not. The EPYC 7F72 was released in April 2020, and the i9-14900KF in October 2023. The AMD chip draws 240 W TDP, while the Intel chip draws 125 W TDP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD EPYC 7F72 has an average benchmark score of 85072, compared to 79371 for the Intel Core i9-14900KF.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900KF leads by 49.1% in the PassMark single-thread test, scoring 4685 versus 2384 for the AMD EPYC 7F72. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows a 9.2% Intel advantage.

Q: Where does the AMD EPYC 7F72 show its biggest wins?

A: The AMD part wins the PassMark physics test by 104.5% and the find prime numbers test by 115.6%. It also leads in data encryption by 21.2% and random string sorting by 18.3%.

Q: Do both processors have the same core count?

A: Yes, both have 24 cores. However, the AMD EPYC 7F72 supports 48 threads, while the Intel Core i9-14900KF supports 32 threads.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache capacity?

A: The AMD EPYC 7F72 has 192 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i9-14900KF has 36 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900KF boosts to 6.00 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 7F72 boosts to 3.70 GHz. Both have a 3.20 GHz base clock.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every major specification. The AMD EPYC 7F72 has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Intel Core i9-14900KF has 24 cores and 32 threads. Their base clocks match at 3.20 GHz, but the boost clock differs: 3.70 GHz for AMD versus 6.00 GHz for Intel. The TDP is 240 W for AMD and 125 W for Intel.

The socket and platform are entirely distinct: AMD Socket SP3 for the EPYC 7F72 versus Intel Socket 1700 for the i9-14900KF. The architecture is Zen 2 with the Rome codename for AMD, versus Raptor Lake with the Raptor Lake-R codename for Intel. The process node is 7 nm from TSMC for AMD, while Intel uses its own 10 nm process. The AMD die is 74 mm² with 3,800 million transistors; the Intel die is 257 mm² with no transistor figure recorded.

Cache layouts differ per core and in shared capacity. AMD has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 192 MB shared L3. Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. Memory support shows AMD limited to DDR4 over eight channels with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 over dual channels with no bandwidth listed. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe generation differs: Gen 4 for AMD, Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes for Intel. The market segments are server and workstation for AMD, desktop for Intel. The AMD part has a locked multiplier, while the Intel part is unlocked. Release dates are April 2020 for AMD and October 2023 for Intel. The Intel launch MSRP is $564. The AMD part number is 100-000000141100-000000141WOF, and the Intel part number is SRN49.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i9-14900KF is the stronger choice for workloads that depend on high clock speeds and single-thread performance. Its 6.00 GHz boost clock and 49.1% lead in PassMark single-thread paint a clear picture for such tasks. The Intel part also wins all six Cinebench tests by consistent 9.2% margins, indicating a solid edge in rendering workloads that scale with both frequency and thread efficiency.

The AMD EPYC 7F72 is the better option for server-style workloads that benefit from massive L3 cache, higher thread counts, and specialized instruction throughput. Its 115.6% lead in find prime numbers and 104.5% lead in physics suggest workloads involving mathematical or scientific computation favor AMD heavily. The 21.2% encryption advantage and 18.3% random string sorting lead further support this position.

The average benchmark score favors AMD at 85072 versus 79371, and the EPYC 7F72 sits at the 96th percentile of all CPUs versus the 95th percentile for the i9-14900KF. However, the Intel part's nearest rivals include the i9-14900K at only 0.3% higher average score, while the EPYC 7F72 sits 1.3% above the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus. The overall data shows two different tools for two different jobs, with neither processor being universally superior.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-14900KF wins in rendering and general compute. All Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests go to Intel at 9.2% or 9.3% margins. The PassMark multithread test goes to Intel at 58405 versus 52740, a 9.7% lead. Floating-point math is an Intel win at 28.6% ahead, and integer math is 13.4% ahead. The single-thread PassMark result is the defining Intel victory at 49.1% higher. These results point to desktop workloads, content creation, and applications that rely on high clock speeds.

The AMD EPYC 7F72 wins in data-intensive and scientific workloads. The physics test shows AMD at 6459 versus 3159, more than double Intel's score. The find prime numbers test shows AMD at 498 versus 231, also more than double. Data encryption is 21.2% ahead, random string sorting is 18.3% ahead, and data compression is 2.9% ahead. Extended instructions are 4.7% ahead. These wins align with the EPYC 7F72's 192 MB L3 cache and 48 threads, making it the better fit for server environments, database operations, and scientific computing tasks.