AMD EPYC 8124P vs Intel Core i7-13850HX Comparison

The Intel Core i7-13850HX and AMD EPYC 8124P represent two radically different philosophies in CPU design: a high-frequency mobile powerhouse versus a dense, efficiency-focused server chip. The benchmark data shows a near-total split, with the Intel part dominating single-threaded and floating-point workloads, while the AMD EPYC takes command in data-heavy and security-related tasks. The final tally is 11 benchmark wins for the Intel and 6 for the AMD, yet the average benchmark scores tell a different story, with the EPYC posting a higher overall average of 52,121 compared to the i7’s 50,761.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking disparity appears in the PassMark single-thread test. Here, the Intel Core i7-13850HX scores 3,769, which is a massive 66% higher than the EPYC 8124P’s 2,271. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and highlights the i7’s superior per-core performance, driven by its boost clock. The gap in floating-point math is also pronounced; the i7’s score of 92,369 eclipses the EPYC’s 72,395, a 27.6% advantage. The i7 also shows solid, if narrower, wins in integer math (126,852 vs 123,513, a 2.7% lead) and multithreaded throughput (36,870 vs 36,014, a 2.4% lead).

In Cinebench tests, the Intel part wins every single round, though by razor-thin margins. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7 scores 30,695 against the EPYC’s 30,611, a mere 0.3% difference. The same 0.3% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core (12,891 vs 12,856) and R15 multi-core (3,093 vs 3,085). Single-core Cinebench results are similarly tight, with the i7 winning by 0.2% in R15 (436 vs 435) and 0.3% in both R20 (1,819 vs 1,814) and R23 (4,333 vs 4,321). These margins are within noise, but they consistently favor the Intel chip.

The AMD EPYC 8124P’s wins are decisive in the opposite direction. The largest of these is in PassMark physics, where it scores 3,356 versus the i7’s 2,483, a 26% advantage. It also dominates random string sorting, scoring 64,067 against 49,198, a 23.2% lead. Data encryption shows a 15.2% edge for the EPYC (30,743 vs 26,062), and it also wins in data compression (468,411 vs 441,525, a 5.7% lead) and extended instructions (29,666 vs 26,586, a 10.4% lead). The EPYC’s win in finding prime numbers (222 vs 184) represents a 17.1% delta.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-13850HX is the clear choice for latency-sensitive, single-threaded applications. Its massive 66% lead in PassMark single-thread makes it the superior processor for everyday responsiveness, general desktop work, and any software that relies on high per-core clocks. The 27.6% win in floating-point math suggests it is better suited for scientific simulations, 3D rendering, and audio processing that leverages FPU operations. Its narrow wins in integer math and multithreaded tests indicate it can hold its own even in heavily parallel tasks, despite having fewer threads (28 vs 32) than the EPYC.

The AMD EPYC 8124P is a specialist for server and workstation environments. Its 26% win in physics is notable for simulation workloads. The 23.2% advantage in random string sorting points to strength in database and data processing tasks that involve heavy text manipulation. The 15.2% lead in data encryption is critical for security-focused applications, VPNs, and encrypted storage. Its wins in data compression and extended instructions further solidify its role as a data-center workhorse. The 91st percentile ranking against all CPUs, compared to the i7’s 90th, suggests the EPYC is slightly better positioned for overall aggregate performance across diverse server workloads.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The Intel Core i7-13850HX uses Raptor Lake, built on a 10 nm process at Intel, while the AMD EPYC 8124P uses Zen 4c, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. This process advantage gives the EPYC a significant transistor density; it packs 17,750 million transistors across a die size of 2x 73 mm², whereas the Intel chip’s die is 257 mm². The core configurations differ: the i7 has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the EPYC has 16 cores and 32 threads, meaning the AMD part relies on simultaneous multithreading to a greater degree.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has smaller per-core caches (64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2) but a much larger 64 MB shared L3 pool. The EPYC’s larger L3 cache likely contributes to its wins in data-heavy tasks. Memory support diverges sharply: the i7 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while the EPYC supports only DDR5 but across a six-channel bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 230.4 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

Connectivity and platform targets are entirely different. The Intel chip uses an Intel BGA 1964 socket, is unlocked for overclocking, and features integrated UHD Graphics 770. It offers Gen 5 PCIe with 20 lanes. The AMD EPYC uses an AMD Socket SP6, is locked, has no integrated graphics, and provides Gen 5 PCIe with 96 lanes. The Intel part has a 55 W TDP, while the EPYC has a 125 W TDP. The i7 is a mobile part released on 2023-01-03, while the EPYC is a server chip released on 2023-09-17.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-13850HX is far ahead, scoring 3,769 in the PassMark single-thread test, a 66% improvement over the AMD EPYC 8124P’s 2,271.

Q: Is the AMD EPYC 8124P better for data compression?

A: Yes, the EPYC scores 468,411 in PassMark data compression, which is 5.7% higher than the Intel i7-13850HX’s 441,525.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-13850HX wins narrowly with a score of 30,695, just 0.3% ahead of the AMD EPYC 8124P’s 30,611.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-13850HX has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the AMD EPYC 8124P has 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: Which chip has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 8124P has a 64 MB shared L3 cache, which is more than double the 30 MB shared L3 cache on the Intel Core i7-13850HX.

Q: What are the market segments for these CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i7-13850HX is a mobile processor, while the AMD EPYC 8124P is designed for the server and workstation market.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear bifurcation. For a mobile workstation or high-end laptop, the Intel Core i7-13850HX is the superior option due to its massive lead in single-threaded performance and floating-point math, along with its integrated graphics and lower 55 W TDP. Its consistent, though marginal, wins across all Cinebench tests show it can handle professional rendering tasks competently.

For a server rack, the AMD EPYC 8124P is the logical choice. Its wins in encryption, compression, physics, and string sorting are exactly the workloads that server CPUs are optimized for. The 96 PCIe Gen 5 lanes and six-channel memory with 230.4 GB/s bandwidth provide the platform connectivity that the Intel mobile chip cannot offer. The EPYC’s higher average benchmark score of 52,121 versus 50,761 reinforces that its overall computing profile is better suited for sustained, multi-faceted server loads. The choice is not about which is “better,” but which is better for the job: the Intel for client-side performance, the AMD for server-side throughput.