AMD EPYC 9174F vs Intel Core i7-4790K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4790K and AMD EPYC 9174F occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, and the benchmark data reflects that divide without ambiguity. The EPYC 9174F wins every recorded head-to-head test, often by margins exceeding 85%, while the i7-4790K retains relevance only in legacy desktop scenarios. This analysis breaks down where each processor excels, answers common questions, and interprets the raw scores.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 9174F is the undisputed performance leader across all eight head-to-head benchmarks. It wins every single test, from Cinebench R15 single-core to Geekbench multi-core, with no exceptions. The data shows a complete sweep: 8 wins for the EPYC, 0 for the i7-4790K. This is not a close contest by any metric.

The EPYC 9174F dominates in multi-threaded workloads, which aligns with its 16 cores and 32 threads versus the i7-4790K's 4 cores and 8 threads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 46489 versus 6855 represents a 85.3% delta, meaning the EPYC delivers roughly 6.8 times the multi-core rendering performance. For server virtualization, database workloads, or content creation, the EPYC 9174F is the clear choice.

Single-core performance also favors the EPYC 9174F, though by a smaller margin. The Geekbench single-core score of 2244 versus 1361 shows a 39.3% delta, indicating the Zen 4 architecture provides a substantial per-thread advantage over the older Haswell design. Even in lightly threaded applications, the EPYC 9174F wins.

The i7-4790K has no benchmark wins in this comparison. Its strengths are historical: it was a desktop flagship in 2014, but against a 2022 server processor, the data shows no category where it comes out ahead. The only context where the i7-4790K makes sense is in legacy systems or applications that cannot utilize the EPYC's platform features, but the recorded scores do not support any performance advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 9174F wins all multi-core benchmarks. Cinebench R23 multi-core scores are 46489 for the EPYC versus 6855 for the i7-4790K, a delta of 85.3%. Geekbench multi-core shows 17363 versus 4569, a 73.7% delta.

Q: Is the i7-4790K better in single-core tests?

A: No. The EPYC 9174F wins every single-core benchmark. Cinebench R23 single-core is 6563 versus 967, and Geekbench single-core is 2244 versus 1361. The smallest margin is Geekbench single-core at 39.3%.

Q: What memory configurations do these processors support?

A: The i7-4790K supports DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC 9174F supports DDR5 with a twelve-channel memory bus and 460.8 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, while the i7 does not.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The EPYC 9174F has an average benchmark score of 12536, while the i7-4790K averages 11745. Both processors sit at the 67th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The EPYC 9174F has 16 cores and 32 threads. The i7-4790K has 4 cores and 8 threads. The EPYC also has a larger L2 cache per core (1 MB versus 256 KB) and a much larger shared L3 cache (256 MB versus 8 MB).

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The i7-4790K is end-of-life, released on 2014-04-30. The EPYC 9174F is active, released on 2022-11-09.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The eight head-to-head tests reveal a consistent pattern of EPYC dominance, but the margins vary by workload. The largest deltas appear in Cinebench tests, where the EPYC 9174F outperforms the i7-4790K by 85.3% in all six variants: R15 multi-core (4686 versus 690), R15 single-core (661 versus 97), R20 multi-core (19525 versus 2879), R20 single-core (2756 versus 406), R23 multi-core (46489 versus 6855), and R23 single-core (6563 versus 967).

Geekbench scores show a more nuanced picture. The multi-core test gives the EPYC a 73.7% advantage (17363 versus 4569), while the single-core test narrows the gap to 39.3% (2244 versus 1361). This suggests that the EPYC's per-core architecture is significantly stronger, but the multi-core advantage is amplified by the 4x core count.

The i7-4790K's Passmark scores are not part of the head-to-head comparison, but they provide context for its overall profile. The i7 achieves 29163 in integer math, 14597 in floating point math, and 2466 in single-thread tests. These numbers, alongside its average benchmark score of 11745, place it near rivals like the Intel Core i7-1185G7 (11697, 0.4% delta) and AMD EPYC 7453 (11912, -1.4% delta). The EPYC 9174F's average of 12536 sits near the Intel Core i5-1230U (12559, -0.2% delta), indicating its average is competitive with modern mobile chips despite being a server processor.

The biggest win for the EPYC is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where its 46489 score is nearly seven times the i7's 6855. The smallest win is Geekbench single-core, where the EPYC's 2244 beats the i7's 1361 by 39.3%. No benchmark favors the i7-4790K.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The i7-4790K uses 4 cores and 8 threads, while the EPYC 9174F uses 16 cores and 32 threads. Base clocks are similar at 4.00 GHz versus 4.10 GHz, and both boost to 4.40 GHz, but the architectural differences dominate.

Thermal design power differs drastically: the i7-4790K is rated at 88 W, while the EPYC 9174F is rated at 320 W. The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1150 versus AMD Socket SP5. The i7-4790K has an unlocked multiplier, while the EPYC 9174F is locked.

Memory support diverges completely. The i7-4790K uses DDR3 with dual-channel access and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the EPYC 9174F uses DDR5 with twelve-channel access and 460.8 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is available only on the EPYC. PCIe capabilities also differ: the i7 offers Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the EPYC offers Gen 5 with 128 CPU lanes.

The i7-4790K includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), while the EPYC 9174F has none. Market segments also differ: the i7 is a desktop part, while the EPYC is designed for server and workstation use. The launch MSRP for the i7-4790K was $350, while the EPYC 9174F launched at $3850.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is generational. The i7-4790K uses Intel's Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The EPYC 9174F uses AMD's Zen 4 architecture on a 5 nm process with 52,560 million transistors spread across 8x 72 mm² chiplets, produced by TSMC.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both have 64 KB L1 per core, but the i7's L2 is 256 KB per core versus the EPYC's 1 MB per core. The L3 cache is the most striking difference: 8 MB shared on the i7 versus 256 MB shared on the EPYC, a 32x difference.

The EPYC's memory architecture is also far more expansive. Its twelve-channel DDR5 support and 460.8 GB/s bandwidth dwarf the i7's dual-channel DDR3 at 25.6 GB/s. The EPYC supports ECC memory, which is critical for server reliability, while the i7 does not. PCIe Gen 5 with 128 lanes versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes further separates the two platforms.

The i7-4790K is a monolithic Haswell die from 2014, end-of-life. The EPYC 9174F is a chiplet-based Genoa design from 2022, still active. The transistor count difference (52,560 million versus 1,400 million) reflects not just the core count but also the massive L3 cache and memory controllers on the EPYC.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 9174F outperforms the Intel Core i7-4790K in every recorded test. For anyone choosing between these two based on performance, the EPYC is the only rational option. It wins multi-core by 85.3% in Cinebench and 73.7% in Geekbench, and it wins single-core by 39.3% in Geekbench. The 16 cores, 32 threads, 256 MB L3 cache, and DDR5 support provide a platform that the i7 cannot approach.

The i7-4790K is only relevant in legacy contexts. Its 88 W TDP, integrated graphics, and unlocked multiplier made it a desktop favorite in its era, but the data shows it now sits at the 67th percentile, tied with the EPYC in that ranking, despite having a fraction of the performance. Its average benchmark score of 11745 is within 1.5% of the AMD EPYC 7453, another server chip, but that comparison does nothing to close the gap with the 9174F.

Who should pick the i7-4790K? Only those maintaining existing Haswell systems where the platform, socket, or DDR3 memory must be preserved. For new builds, the EPYC 9174F wins on every performance metric, offers ECC memory, PCIe Gen 5, and a twelve-channel memory bus. The $3850 launch MSRP versus $350 for the i7 reflects the difference in capability, and the data justifies that gap. The EPYC 9174F is the clear verdict for any workload that can utilize its resources.