AMD EPYC 8024P vs Intel Core i9-11900K Comparison

The Intel Core i9-11900K and AMD EPYC 8024P are an unusual pairing: a desktop enthusiast chip from 2021 facing a modern server processor. Despite both having 8 cores and 16 threads, the benchmark data shows they are built for entirely different realities. The Intel part dominates almost every head-to-head test, while the AMD chip wins only in specific, narrow workloads. This analysis breaks down exactly where each processor excels and why the specs dictate those outcomes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i9-11900K wins 15 of the 17 direct benchmark comparisons, and its victories are often decisive. In the Cinebench suite, the Intel chip is consistently about 21% faster across the board. The R23 multicore score is 21,168 versus 17,472 for the EPYC, and the R23 single-core score is 2,988 versus 2,466. This pattern holds for R15 and R20 multicore and single-core tests, with deltas of 21.0% to 21.2% in Intel’s favor. The gap is not a fluke of one test; it is a uniform advantage across rendering workloads.

The Intel chip’s lead grows even larger in several PassMark tests. The most extreme example is extended instructions, where Intel scores 23,406 against AMD’s 14,251, a 64.2% advantage. Floating-point math shows a 52% gap (52,841 vs. 34,757), and integer math runs 43.7% ahead (89,279 vs. 62,128). Data compression is another blowout: Intel’s 330,836 score beats the EPYC’s 232,242 by 42.5%. Even in single-threaded PassMark, Intel is 48.1% ahead with a score of 3,511 versus 2,371.

The AMD EPYC 8024P’s two wins are notable for their specificity. In PassMark’s find prime numbers test, the EPYC scores 109 versus Intel’s 68 — a 37.6% advantage for AMD. The other win is in PassMark physics, where the EPYC scores 1,905 against Intel’s 1,052, a 44.8% lead. These are not general-purpose wins; they point to particular instruction paths where the EPYC’s architecture has a clear edge. Intel’s narrow wins include data encryption (16,000 vs. 15,809, just 1.2% ahead) and random string sorting (37,942 vs. 34,613, a 9.6% margin). The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 26,639 for Intel and 26,555 for AMD — which places them as direct rivals with a deltaPct of only 0.3%.

Architecture Differences

The core architectures are generations apart. The Intel Core i9-11900K uses Rocket Lake, built on Intel’s 14 nm process with a 276 mm² die. The AMD EPYC 8024P uses Zen 4c architecture, codenamed Siena, manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process with a much smaller 73 mm² die and 8,875 million transistors. This explains the efficiency and clock speed differences. Intel’s base clock is 3.50 GHz with a 5.30 GHz boost, while AMD’s base is 2.40 GHz and boosts to only 3.00 GHz. The Intel chip compensates for its older process with much higher clocks.

Cache layouts differ significantly. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a 16 MB shared L3. AMD gives each core 64 KB of L1 and a larger 1 MB of L2, plus 32 MB of shared L3. The EPYC’s larger L2 and L3 caches are typical for server workloads that rely on data locality, but they do not overcome the clock-speed deficit in most tests. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier; the EPYC does not. Intel includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750); AMD has none.

Platform support is a major differentiator. Intel runs on Socket 1200 with dual-channel DDR4 memory and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, plus PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. AMD’s EPYC uses Socket SP6 with six-channel DDR5 memory and 230.4 GB/s bandwidth — over four times the memory bandwidth — plus PCIe Gen 5 with 96 lanes. AMD also supports ECC memory; Intel does not. The EPYC’s 90 W TDP is lower than Intel’s 125 W, despite the server chip’s vastly larger memory and PCIe capabilities.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-11900K is the clear winner for single-threaded and lightly threaded performance. Its 5.30 GHz boost clock and 48.1% lead in PassMark single-thread make it ideal for applications that rely on fast per-core execution. The Cinebench single-core results confirm this, with a 21.2% advantage in R23 (2,988 vs. 2,466). For general desktop use, gaming, and content creation where responsiveness matters, the Intel chip is the stronger pick. Its 21.8% lead in PassMark multithread (25,038 vs. 20,556) and 21.2% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore also mean it handles heavily threaded workloads better in this direct comparison.

The AMD EPYC 8024P wins where its architecture shines: specialized math and physics simulations. The 37.6% advantage in find prime numbers and 44.8% lead in PassMark physics suggest the Zen 4c core handles certain integer and physics calculations more efficiently. The EPYC’s real strengths, however, are not in the benchmark scores but in its platform features. The six-channel DDR5 memory with 230.4 GB/s bandwidth and 96 PCIe Gen 5 lanes make it a server processor for memory-bandwidth-intensive tasks and high-speed I/O. ECC memory support is critical for data integrity in server environments. The EPYC’s 90 W TDP also indicates it can fit into power-constrained server chassis.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every major specification. The Intel Core i9-11900K has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost of 5.30 GHz; the AMD EPYC 8024P has 2.40 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. Intel’s TDP is 125 W; AMD’s is 90 W. Intel uses Socket 1200; AMD uses Socket SP6. The process nodes are 14 nm (Intel) versus 5 nm (TSMC). Intel’s cache is 80 KB L1 / 512 KB L2 / 16 MB L3 per the pack; AMD uses 64 KB L1 / 1 MB L2 / 32 MB L3. Memory support is DDR4 dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s for Intel, versus DDR5 six-channel with 230.4 GB/s for AMD. Intel has 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes; AMD has 96 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. Intel supports no ECC; AMD supports ECC. Intel has integrated UHD Graphics 750; AMD has none. Intel’s multiplier is unlocked; AMD’s is locked. Intel is end-of-life; AMD is active production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900K is significantly faster. It scores 3,511 in PassMark single-thread versus 2,371 for the AMD EPYC 8024P, a 48.1% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 2,988 versus 2,466, a 21.2% lead.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 8024P win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, it wins two of the 17 head-to-head tests. It scores 109 in PassMark find prime numbers versus Intel’s 68 (a 37.6% lead), and 1,905 in PassMark physics versus 1,052 (a 44.8% lead).

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD EPYC 8024P offers 230.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth over a six-channel DDR5 bus. The Intel Core i9-11900K provides 51.2 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR4 bus. The EPYC has over four times the bandwidth.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD EPYC 8024P supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i9-11900K does not.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900K has an average benchmark score of 26,639, and the AMD EPYC 8024P has 26,555. The deltaPct between them is 0.3%, making them near-identical in overall average performance.

Q: What are the PCIe lane counts and generations?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900K provides 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The AMD EPYC 8024P provides 96 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, which is a substantial difference in both count and generation.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward split: pick the Intel Core i9-11900K for raw compute speed, and pick the AMD EPYC 8024P for server infrastructure. The Intel chip wins 15 of 17 benchmarks, with leads ranging from 1.2% in data encryption to 64.2% in extended instructions. Its average benchmark score is 26,639, slightly above the EPYC’s 26,555, and its single-thread performance is nearly 50% better. For anyone building a desktop or workstation where application speed is the priority, the i9-11900K is the clear choice from this comparison.

The AMD EPYC 8024P is not competitive in most compute tasks here, but its 90 W TDP, six-channel DDR5 memory, 96 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, and ECC support define its purpose. It is a server processor designed for memory bandwidth, I/O expansion, and reliability. The two wins in physics and prime-number calculations suggest niche math workloads where Zen 4c is efficient. If the workload is a database, a virtualized host, or high-throughput networking, the EPYC’s platform features outweigh its benchmark losses. The i9-11900K is end-of-life and runs on the older Socket 1200 platform, while the EPYC is active on Socket SP6. Choose based on the application environment: Intel for compute speed, AMD for server duty.