AMD EPYC 9135 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database records 17 direct comparisons between the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the AMD EPYC 9135. The Intel part wins 12 of those tests, while the AMD part takes 5. The overall average benchmark score for the Intel is 93,785, placing it at the 96th percentile among all CPUs. The AMD EPYC 9135 records an average score of 82,980, also at the 96th percentile. The nearest rival to the Intel part is the Intel Xeon 6520P with an average score of 93,786, a delta of 0%. The AMD EPYC 9135’s nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 4584PX at 83,090, which is 0.1% higher.

The largest single-test victory for the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 615 versus the AMD’s 292. That is a delta of 110.6%, meaning the Intel part more than doubles the AMD result in this workload. The next biggest Intel win is in PassMark floating point math, with a score of 229,491 against 126,679, a delta of 81.2%. In PassMark data encryption, the Intel scores 59,097 versus 40,295, a delta of 46.7%. PassMark single thread shows the Intel at 5,068 versus 3,672, a delta of 38%. These are substantial margins in compute-heavy and cryptographic tasks.

The AMD EPYC 9135’s biggest win is in Cinebench R23 single core, where it scores 6,936 versus the Intel’s 2,439, a delta of -64.8% (meaning the Intel is 64.8% behind). This is a massive single-thread advantage. In Cinebench R15 single core, the AMD scores 699 versus 354, a delta of -49.4%. The AMD also wins Cinebench R23 multicore with 49,136 against 44,253, a delta of -9.9%. In PassMark integer math, the AMD scores 202,962 versus 175,986, a delta of -13.3%. PassMark physics goes to the AMD with 5,477 versus 4,064, a delta of -25.8%.

Looking at the multicore Cinebench results, the pattern is not uniform. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel wins with 6,656 versus 4,952, a delta of 34.4%. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Intel wins with 24,461 versus 20,637, a delta of 18.5%. Yet in Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD wins by 9.9%. This suggests the two processors scale differently across workload intensities and instruction mixes. The PassMark multithread score favors the Intel, 68,574 versus 57,170, a delta of 19.9%. PassMark data compression also favors the Intel, 804,322 versus 739,277, a delta of 8.8%. PassMark extended instructions goes to the Intel, 63,506 versus 55,822, a delta of 13.8%. PassMark random string sorting is close, with the Intel at 96,945 versus 90,064, a delta of 7.6%.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is built on the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2. It uses a 3 nm process node from TSMC and contains 17,800 million transistors on a die size of 243 mm². The AMD EPYC 9135 uses the Zen 5 architecture, codename Turin, part of the EPYC 9005 series. It is fabricated on a 4 nm process node, also from TSMC, with 16,630 million transistors spread across two chiplets, each 70.6 mm², for a combined die area of roughly 141 mm². The Intel part is a monolithic design, while the AMD uses a chiplet approach.

Core counts differ significantly. The Intel has 24 cores and 24 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The AMD has 16 cores and 32 threads, using simultaneous multithreading to double thread count. The Intel base clock is 3.70 GHz with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The AMD base clock is 3.65 GHz with a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Intel has a higher boost clock by 1.2 GHz, but the AMD has a higher single-core benchmark result in Cinebench R23, which is notable given the clock deficit.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Intel has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD has nearly double the L3 cache, 64 MB versus 36 MB, which can benefit certain server workloads. The Intel has more L1 and L2 per core, which may help latency-sensitive tasks.

Memory support is a major differentiator. Both support DDR5, but the Intel uses a dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The AMD uses a twelve-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 576.0 GB/s, exactly five times the bandwidth. Both support ECC memory, which is expected for the server-class AMD and is also present on the desktop Intel. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD provides Gen 5 with 128 lanes from the CPU, a 108-lane difference that matters for expansion-heavy server environments.

Integrated graphics are present on the Intel part, with Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The AMD EPYC 9135 has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A. The Intel has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD does not. The Intel is a desktop market segment part, while the AMD is a server/workstation part. The Intel was released on 2026-03-10, while the AMD was released on 2024-10-09, meaning the AMD has been available for roughly a year and a half longer.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus dominates in floating-point math, data encryption, prime number finding, and single-threaded PassMark tests. Its 81.2% lead in floating point math and 110.6% lead in prime numbers suggest strong FPU throughput and integer-heavy algorithms. The 46.7% lead in data encryption points to efficient cryptographic instruction handling. The 38% lead in PassMark single thread, combined with a 5.50 GHz boost clock, makes it well suited for lightly threaded desktop applications, though the Cinebench R23 single-core result contradicts this, with the AMD winning by 64.8%. This divergence likely reflects different instruction sets and scaling behaviors in that specific renderer.

The Intel also wins in Cinebench R15 and R20 multicore, with deltas of 34.4% and 18.5%, respectively, and in PassMark multithread by 19.9%. Data compression and random string sorting also favor the Intel, with deltas of 8.8% and 7.6%, respectively. This makes the Intel a strong choice for general desktop multitasking, compression workloads, and mixed integer/floating-point tasks where its 24 physical cores can be fully utilized without the overhead of multithreading.

The AMD EPYC 9135 wins decisively in Cinebench R23 single core by 64.8% and Cinebench R15 single core by 49.4%. These are renderer-specific single-thread tests where the Zen 5 architecture clearly excels. The AMD also wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 9.9%, despite having fewer physical cores (16 versus 24), which indicates that its 32 threads and larger 64 MB L3 cache provide a significant advantage in this particular workload. PassMark integer math goes to the AMD by 13.3%, and PassMark physics by 25.8%, suggesting strengths in integer arithmetic and physics simulations.

For use cases, the Intel part is better for desktop productivity, encryption, floating-point-heavy simulation, and tasks that benefit from high boost clocks and many physical cores. The AMD part is better for single-threaded renderer performance, integer math, physics, and server workloads that leverage its twelve-channel memory bandwidth, 128 PCIe lanes, and massive L3 cache. The AMD’s memory bandwidth advantage, 576.0 GB/s versus 115.2 GB/s, is a qualitative factor that the benchmark scores do not fully capture, as memory-bound server workloads would favor the AMD.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on every major specification field. The Intel has 24 cores and 24 threads; the AMD has 16 cores and 32 threads. Base clocks are close, 3.70 GHz versus 3.65 GHz, but boost clocks differ substantially, 5.50 GHz versus 4.30 GHz. Thermal design power differs: the Intel is rated at 125 W, while the AMD is rated at 200 W. Sockets are incompatible, Intel Socket 1851 versus AMD Socket SP5. The manufacturing process differs, 3 nm versus 4 nm, both from TSMC. Transistor counts are 17,800 million versus 16,630 million. Die size is 243 mm² for the Intel, while the AMD uses two 70.6 mm² chiplets.

Cache configurations differ per core and total. The Intel has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. The AMD has 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB shared L3. Memory bus width is dual-channel for the Intel versus twelve-channel for the AMD. Memory bandwidth is 115.2 GB/s versus 576.0 GB/s. PCIe lanes from the CPU are 20 for the Intel versus 128 for the AMD. The Intel has integrated graphics, the AMD does not. The Intel has an unlocked multiplier, the AMD is locked. Release dates differ by about 17 months. Launch MSRP for the Intel is $299, and for the AMD it is $1214. The AMD has an architecture name (Zen 5), while the Intel’s architecture field is null. The Intel part number is SA4V6; the AMD part number is 100-000001150.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher single-thread performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD EPYC 9135 scores 6,936 in Cinebench R23 single core, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 2,439. The AMD wins by a delta of 64.8%.

Q: How do the two compare in PassMark multithread performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 68,574, while the AMD EPYC 9135 scores 57,170. The Intel leads by 19.9%.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel has a dual-channel memory bus with 115.2 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD has a twelve-channel memory bus with 576.0 GB/s bandwidth, which is five times higher.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the AMD EPYC 9135 have ECC memory support listed as true.

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The AMD EPYC 9135 has 16 cores and 32 threads, so the Intel has more physical cores but the AMD has more threads.

Q: What are the launch MSRPs?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has a launch MSRP of $299. The AMD EPYC 9135 has a launch MSRP of $1214.