AMD EPYC 8224P vs Intel Core i9-14900K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between the Intel Core i9-14900K and the AMD EPYC 8224K. The Intel chip claims victory in 14 out of 17 head-to-head comparisons, and the margins are often substantial. The most striking result is in the PassMark single-thread test, where the Core i9-14900K scores 4697 against 2339 for the EPYC, a 100.8% advantage. This is the largest single delta in the entire comparison and highlights a fundamental difference in design priorities.

Multi-core Cinebench results also favor Intel, though the gap narrows with newer test versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core i9-14900K scores 6103 versus 3891 for the EPYC, a 56.8% lead. In R20 multicore, the Intel part scores 20793 against 16214, a 28.2% advantage. By R23 multicore, the margin shrinks to just 2.1% (39399.5 for Intel, 38607 for AMD). The trend suggests that as the workload complexity grows, the EPYC’s higher thread count begins to pull it closer, but it never fully catches up in this suite.

The floating-point math workload shows another decisive Intel win. The Core i9-14900K records 152975 in PassMark floating-point math, while the EPYC manages 104698, a 46.1% difference. Integer math is closer but still favors Intel: 210622 to 185556, a 13.5% edge. Data compression also goes to Intel, with 792694 versus 702065, a 12.9% gap. The PassMark multithread score follows a similar pattern, with Intel ahead at 58674 against 45421, a 29.2% margin.

However, the AMD EPYC 8224P does secure three wins, and they are worth examining. The most dramatic is in Cinebench R23 singlecore, where the EPYC scores 5450 against 2262.5 for the Intel part, a 58.5% advantage. This is an unusual result, as it suggests that in this specific benchmark, the EPYC’s single-thread efficiency far exceeds what its modest 3.00 GHz boost clock would imply. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R15 singlecore, where the EPYC wins 549 to 324.5, a 40.9% margin. The third win is in PassMark physics, where the EPYC scores 3236 versus 3140 for Intel, a narrow 3% edge.

The PassMark data encryption test is essentially a tie. Intel scores 46813, AMD scores 46742, a delta of just 0.2%. The extended instructions test is also close, with Intel ahead by only 3.5% (45154 to 43614). Random string sorting goes to Intel by 6.5% (86971 to 81674). Prime number finding favors Intel by 12.1% (231 to 206).

What is interesting is the contradiction between the Cinebench single-core results and the PassMark single-thread results. The EPYC wins both Cinebench single-core tests by large margins, yet loses the PassMark single-thread test by 100.8%. This suggests that the two benchmarks measure very different aspects of single-thread performance, and the EPYC’s architecture is highly optimized for the specific workload mix in Cinebench R23 and R15 single-core, while the Intel design dominates the PassMark single-thread metric.

The overall average benchmark score for the Intel Core i9-14900K is 79097, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The EPYC 8224P averages 75582, also in the 95th percentile. The nearest rivals for Intel include the Core i9-14900KF at 79371 (0.3% higher) and the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus at 79574 (0.6% higher). The EPYC’s nearest rival is the Core Ultra 9 285 at 75488, which is 0.1% lower, and the Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D at 75716, which is 0.2% higher. These positioning data show that both chips sit in a competitive performance tier, but the Intel part holds a higher raw average score.

The Verdict

The data clearly indicates that the Intel Core i9-14900K is the better performer across the majority of workloads. It wins 14 of 17 benchmarks, including all PassMark math, compression, sorting, and multithread tests, plus the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. For anyone running general-purpose compute, content creation, or software that scales well with high clock speeds and strong single-thread performance, the Intel chip is the clear choice.

The AMD EPYC 8224P is not without merit. Its wins in Cinebench R23 singlecore and R15 singlecore are substantial, and its PassMark physics score edges out Intel. The EPYC also offers 48 threads versus 32 on the Intel part, which explains why the Cinebench R23 multicore gap is so narrow. If a workload is heavily threaded and optimized for the Zen 4c architecture, the EPYC can compete closely, but the benchmark record shows that this is the exception rather than the rule.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this: Intel at 79097 against AMD at 75582. The 4.4% difference in average score is modest but consistent. The Intel chip also holds a higher percentile ranking, though both sit at the 95th percentile. For a desktop user or a workstation operator prioritizing raw speed, the Core i9-14900K is the data-backed recommendation. For a server environment where the EPYC’s six-channel memory bus and 96 PCIe Gen 5 lanes matter more than benchmark wins, the EPYC has a structural argument, but the benchmark data alone does not support choosing it over Intel for pure compute performance.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-14900K dominates in most compute-heavy scenarios. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4697, double that of the EPYC, makes it the obvious pick for applications that rely heavily on single-thread responsiveness, such as legacy software, scripting, or UI-driven workflows. Its floating-point math score of 152975, 46.1% higher than the EPYC, points to an advantage in scientific computing and any workload with heavy FPU usage. Data compression, integer math, and random string sorting all favor Intel, suggesting it is better suited for database operations, file compression, and general data processing.

The EPYC 8224P wins in two specific Cinebench single-core tests and one physics test. The Cinebench R23 singlecore result, where the EPYC scores 5450 versus 2262.5, is particularly notable. This suggests that for ray tracing or rendering workloads that use the Cinebench engine, the EPYC may deliver unexpectedly strong single-thread performance. The PassMark physics win, 3236 versus 3140, is narrow but indicates that physics simulations in PassMark may favor the EPYC’s architecture.

For multi-threaded workloads, the two chips are closer than the overall win count suggests. The Cinebench R23 multicore difference is only 2.1%, and the EPYC’s 48 threads versus 32 for Intel provide a theoretical advantage in highly parallel workloads. However, the PassMark multithread test still favors Intel by 29.2%, so the EPYC’s thread advantage does not translate into a win in that metric. The conclusion is that the EPYC is competitive in specific rendering scenarios but loses in general multithreaded compute.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K has an average benchmark score of 79097, while the AMD EPYC 8224P scores 75582. Both are in the 95th percentile of all CPUs.

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

A: In the PassMark single-thread test, the Intel Core i9-14900K scores 4697 against 2339 for the EPYC, a 100.8% advantage. However, in Cinebench R23 singlecore, the EPYC wins 5450 to 2262.5, a 58.5% margin.

Q: What is the closest benchmark result between the two?

A: The PassMark data encryption test is nearly identical, with Intel at 46813 and AMD at 46742, a delta of 0.2%. The Cinebench R23 multicore test is also close, with Intel ahead by 2.1%.

Q: Does the EPYC have more threads than the Intel chip?

A: Yes, the AMD EPYC 8224P has 48 threads compared to 32 threads on the Intel Core i9-14900K. Both have 24 cores.

Q: Which CPU wins in Cinebench R15 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K wins with a score of 6103 against 3891 for the EPYC, a 56.8% lead.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K has a boost clock of 6.00 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 8224P boosts to 3.00 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i9-14900K uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel’s own foundry. The die size is 257 mm². The EPYC 8224P, by contrast, uses the Zen 4c architecture with the codename Siena, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. Its die configuration is two separate 73 mm² dies, totaling roughly 146 mm², and it packs 17,750 million transistors.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The Intel chip provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a 36 MB shared L3 cache. The EPYC offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a larger 64 MB shared L3 cache. The larger L3 on the EPYC may help with server workloads that exhibit high cache locality, but the benchmark data does not show a consistent advantage in cache-sensitive PassMark tests, with Intel winning integer math, floating-point math, and data compression.

The memory systems are also different. The Intel Core i9-14900K supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, while the EPYC 8224P supports only DDR5 over a six-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 230.4 GB/s. The EPYC also provides 96 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, compared to 16 lanes on the Intel chip. The Intel part includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, while the EPYC has no integrated graphics. Both support ECC memory. The Intel processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the EPYC is locked. The Intel part launches with an MSRP of $589, while the EPYC’s launch MSRP is $855.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical in terms of core count: both have 24 cores. The Intel Core i9-14900K has 32 threads, while the EPYC 8224P has 48 threads. Base clocks differ, with Intel at 3.20 GHz and AMD at 2.55 GHz. Boost clocks are 6.00 GHz for Intel and 3.00 GHz for AMD. The TDP is 125 W for Intel and 160 W for AMD.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses Socket 1700, while AMD uses Socket SP6. The process nodes are 10 nm for Intel and 5 nm for AMD. The Intel chip is fabricated by Intel, the EPYC by TSMC. The die size for Intel is 257 mm², while AMD uses two 73 mm² dies. The Intel cache is 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. AMD offers 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB shared L3.

Memory support differs: Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 over dual-channel, AMD supports DDR5 over six-channel. The EPYC has a rated memory bandwidth of 230.4 GB/s, while Intel does not list one. PCIe lanes are 16 for Intel and 96 for AMD, both Gen 5. Intel includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, AMD has none. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, the EPYC does not. The market segments are Desktop for Intel and Server/Workstation for AMD. Release dates are within a month, with Intel at October 16, 2023 and AMD at September 17, 2023. The launch MSRP is $589 for Intel and $855 for AMD. The part numbers are SRN48 for Intel and 100-000001134 for AMD. The EPYC has 17,750 million transistors, while Intel does not list a transistor count.