AMD EPYC 9115 vs Intel Core i7-14700K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-14700K and AMD EPYC 9115 occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum—one a desktop flagship, the other a server/workstation part—yet their aggregate benchmark scores land within 0.3% of each other. Both processors sit at the 96th percentile of all CPUs tracked, with the i7-14700K averaging 70,074 points and the EPYC 9115 averaging 69,887 points. The i7-14700K claims 13 of 17 head-to-head wins, while the EPYC 9115 takes four, but the margins reveal a clear division of labour: Intel leads in single-threaded and most multi-threaded workloads, while AMD's Zen 5 architecture dominates specific server-oriented tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-14700K's largest victory comes in PassMark's single-thread test, where it scores 4,472 against the EPYC 9115's 3,377—a 32.4% advantage. This gap is consistent across all Cinebench iterations: the i7 leads by 6% in R15 multi-core (4,488 vs 4,233), R15 single-core (633 vs 597), R20 multi-core (18,704 vs 17,641), R20 single-core (2,640 vs 2,490), R23 multi-core (44,534 vs 42,003), and R23 single-core (6,287 vs 5,929). The i7 also wins PassMark's data encryption by 18.2% (40,091 vs 33,914), floating-point math by 15.8% (134,222 vs 115,955), data compression by 15.1% (695,234 vs 604,120), and multithread by 6% (52,392 vs 49,416). Random string sorting goes to Intel by a slimmer 4.6% (74,733 vs 71,473).

The EPYC 9115 counters with a dominant PassMark physics score of 4,198 versus the i7's 2,964—a 29.4% margin. It also wins find-prime-numbers (285 vs 212, a 25.6% difference) and extended-instructions (45,686 vs 40,632, an 11.1% edge). Integer math is essentially a tie, with the EPYC scoring 183,390 against the i7's 182,876, a 0.3% difference. These four wins, while fewer in number, are concentrated in workloads that leverage the EPYC's server-oriented feature set.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-14700K is the clear choice for single-threaded responsiveness and general desktop productivity. Its 32.4% lead in PassMark single-thread and 6% edge in every Cinebench single-core test indicate superior per-thread performance, likely from its higher boost clock (5.60 GHz vs 4.10 GHz) and larger L2 cache per core (2 MB vs 1 MB). The i7 also wins encryption, compression, and floating-point math—tasks common in content creation, data processing, and everyday software. Its 6% advantage in PassMark multithread and Cinebench multi-core tests shows that despite having fewer threads (28 vs 32), the i7's 20 cores (with higher clocks) deliver more aggregate throughput in these benchmarks.

The EPYC 9115 excels in workloads that reward its architecture and memory subsystem. The physics test, which often stresses memory bandwidth and cache hierarchy, sees the EPYC ahead by 29.4%—a result tied to its 64 MB shared L3 cache and twelve-channel DDR5 memory delivering 576.0 GB/s. Prime-number finding (25.6% faster) and extended-instruction workloads (11.1% faster) also favour the EPYC, suggesting its Zen 5 core design handles certain mathematical operations more efficiently. For server deployments where these specific tasks dominate, the EPYC's wins are decisive, even if its overall average score trails slightly.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs diverge fundamentally in process technology and design. The i7-14700K uses Intel's 10 nm process (Raptor Lake) with a 257 mm² die, while the EPYC 9115 uses TSMC's 4 nm process (Zen 5, Turin) with a 2x 70.6 mm² dual-die configuration. The i7 packs 20 cores and 28 threads, whereas the EPYC has 16 cores and 32 threads—the EPYC relies on simultaneous multithreading (SMT) to reach 32 threads, while the i7 uses a hybrid architecture (likely performance and efficiency cores, though not stated). Cache structures differ: both have 80 KB L1 per core, but the i7 offers 2 MB L2 per core versus the EPYC's 1 MB, while the EPYC has 64 MB shared L3 compared to the i7's 33 MB.

Memory support is a major differentiator. The i7 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, while the EPYC exclusively uses DDR5 in twelve-channel configuration, providing 576.0 GB/s of bandwidth—a figure not listed for the i7. PCIe connectivity also contrasts sharply: the i7 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the EPYC offers Gen 5 with 128 lanes. The i7 integrates UHD Graphics 770, whereas the EPYC has no integrated graphics. Socket and platform differ (Intel Socket 1700 vs AMD Socket SP5), and the i7 has an unlocked multiplier while the EPYC is locked. Release dates also separate them: the i7 launched on 2023-10-16, the EPYC on 2024-10-09.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700K wins PassMark's single-thread test with 4,472 points versus 3,377 for the EPYC 9115, a 32.4% advantage. It also leads in all Cinebench single-core tests by 6% (e.g., R23 6,287 vs 5,929).

Q: How do they compare in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The i7-14700K is ahead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (44,534 vs 42,003, +6%) and PassMark multithread (52,392 vs 49,416, +6%), despite having fewer threads (28 vs 32). The EPYC wins only in physics (4,198 vs 2,964) and prime-number finding (285 vs 212).

Q: Which CPU offers more memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD EPYC 9115 provides 576.0 GB/s through twelve-channel DDR5, while the i7-14700K's memory bandwidth is not listed; the i7 supports dual-channel DDR4/DDR5.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-14700K and AMD EPYC 9115 list ECC memory support as true.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-14700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770). The AMD EPYC 9115 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the launch MSRPs?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700K has a launch MSRP of $409, and the AMD EPYC 9115 has a launch MSRP of $726.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-14700K | AMD EPYC 9115 |

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

| Cores | 20 | 16 |

| Threads | 28 | 32 |

| Base clock | 3.40 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.60 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| Process node | 10 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die size | 257 mm² | 2x 70.6 mm² |

| L2 cache (per core) | 2 MB | 1 MB |

| L3 cache (shared) | 33 MB | 64 MB |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Twelve-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | Not specified | 576.0 GB/s |

| PCIe (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 lanes | Gen 5, 128 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | None |

| Market segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Release date | 2023-10-16 | 2024-10-09 |

| Launch MSRP | $409 | $726 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket SP5 |

| Part number | SRN3X | 100-000001552 |

The i7-14700K's higher boost clock and larger L2 cache drive its single-thread dominance, while the EPYC 9115's massive L3 cache and twelve-channel memory controller explain its physics and prime-number wins. Both processors hold a 96th-percentile standing, and their average scores differ by only 0.3%—a signal of how different design philosophies can yield similar overall performance in a broad benchmark suite, while excelling in distinct niches.