AMD EPYC 9174F vs Intel Core i3-1210U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-1210U and the AMD EPYC 9174F represent opposite poles of the processor market: one is a 9-watt mobile chip designed for thin-and-light laptops, the other a 320-watt server monster built for datacenter density. Benchmark data shows a total mismatch in raw performance, with the EPYC 9174F winning every head-to-head test by a massive margin, yet the two parts share a 68th and 67th percentile ranking among all CPUs, respectively, due to the way their average scores land near similar rivals.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 9174F outclasses the Intel Core i3-1210U across every single benchmark in the comparison suite. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC scores 46,489 against the i3’s 8,413, a delta of -81.9% for Intel — meaning the EPYC delivers roughly 5.5 times the multi-threaded rendering throughput. The single-core story is equally one-sided: Cinebench R23 single-core shows 6,563 for AMD versus 1,187 for Intel, again a -81.9% delta. This pattern repeats identically across all six tests, with every deltaPct sitting at either -81.9% or -82%. The largest raw gap appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the EPYC’s 19,525 dwarfs the i3’s 3,533.

The closest margin in the entire head-to-head set is still a crushing defeat for Intel. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the EPYC posts 661 versus the i3’s 119, a -82% difference — the only test where the delta stretches beyond -81.9%. Even the least demanding workload, Cinebench R15 multi-core, shows the EPYC at 4,686 against Intel’s 847. There are no wins for the i3-1210U in any category; the scoreboard reads 0 wins for Intel and 6 for AMD. What makes this interesting is that the i3-1210U’s average benchmark score of 12,795 actually edges out the EPYC’s 12,536, because the Intel part has a broader benchmark suite including PassMark tests, while the EPYC’s average is pulled down by its limited set of Cinebench and Geekbench results.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures, nodes, and design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-1210U uses Alder Lake-U architecture, manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process at Intel’s own foundry. It packs 6 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 1.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The AMD EPYC 9174F, by contrast, is Zen 4 (Genoa) architecture, built on TSMC’s 5 nm process, with 16 cores and 32 threads. Its base clock is 4.10 GHz with the same 4.40 GHz boost — a telling detail: the EPYC achieves its multi-threaded dominance not through higher clocks but through 2.67 times the cores and 4 times the threads, plus a much higher power envelope.

Cache hierarchies differ dramatically. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 10 MB of shared L3. AMD uses 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core, but a massive 256 MB shared L3 — 25 times Intel’s total L3. The EPYC also lists 52,560 million transistors across 8x 72 mm² chiplets, while the i3-1210U’s transistor count and die size are not specified. Memory support diverges sharply: Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, while AMD supports only DDR5 but over a twelve-channel bus, yielding a stated 460.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The EPYC also supports ECC memory; the i3 does not. PCIe connectivity is another chasm: the i3 offers Gen 4, while the EPYC provides Gen 5 with 128 lanes (CPU only). The i3 includes integrated UHD Graphics 64EU; the EPYC has no integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 9174F wins every benchmark category where the two overlap — all six Cinebench tests, both multi-core and single-core variants. This makes it the clear choice for any workload that scales with raw compute, particularly multi-threaded rendering, scientific simulation, or server-side compilation. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with 256 MB of L3 and twelve-channel DDR5, are built for sustained, high-throughput operations in a datacenter chassis. The 4.10 GHz base clock also means it holds high performance under load without relying solely on boost behavior, which is critical for predictable server performance.

The Intel Core i3-1210U does not win a single head-to-head test, but its design targets a completely different use case: mobile efficiency. Its 9-watt TDP, dual-channel memory support for DDR4 and DDR5, and integrated UHD graphics make it suitable for thin laptops where battery life and low heat are priorities. The i3-1210U’s PassMark results — including 102,965 in data compression, 34,445 in integer math, and 23,815 in floating point math — show it can handle everyday productivity tasks and light content creation, despite being outclassed in the Cinebench suite. Its 3,354 single-thread PassMark score indicates respectable responsiveness for a low-power part, though the EPYC’s Geekbench single-core score of 2,244 (and Cinebench R23 single-core of 6,563) suggests the server chip still wins on per-thread speed in the tests that matter for its segment.

Specification Differences

The following table highlights only the fields where the two processors differ:

| Specification | Intel Core i3-1210U | AMD EPYC 9174F |

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

| Cores | 6 | 16 |

| Threads | 8 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 1.00 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 9 W | 320 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1781 | AMD Socket SP5 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 4 |

| Codename | Alder Lake-U | Genoa |

| Generation | Core i3 (Alder Lake-U) | EPYC (Zen 4 (Genoa)) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 5 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not specified | 52,560 million |

| Die Size | Not specified | 8x 72 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 10 MB (shared) | 256 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Twelve-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 460.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4 | Gen 5, 128 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 64EU | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | 2022-02-22 | 2022-11-09 |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $3850 |

| Part Number | Not specified | 100-100000796 |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 9174F has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i3-1210U has 6 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How much faster is the EPYC 9174F in multi-core rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC scores 46,489 versus the i3’s 8,413, a -81.9% delta for Intel — the EPYC is roughly 5.5 times faster.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-1210U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD Graphics 64EU. The AMD EPYC 9174F has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The EPYC 9174F supports twelve-channel DDR5 with a stated 460.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3-1210U uses dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 and has no specified bandwidth figure.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD EPYC 9174F supports ECC memory; the Intel Core i3-1210U does not.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for these two parts?

A: The i3-1210U’s nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X with a 0.1% delta, while the EPYC 9174F’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-1230U with a -0.2% delta. Both parts sit near the 67-68th percentile of all CPUs.