AMD EPYC 9224 vs Intel Core i7-7700 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the AMD EPYC 9224 than the Intel Core i7-7700 in multi-core rendering?

A: The EPYC 9224 dominates multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 38,439 versus 7,344 for the i7-7700, a delta of 423.4%. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar gap: 16,144 versus 3,084, a 423.5% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-7700 win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The head-to-head data records 6 wins for the AMD EPYC 9224 and 0 wins for the Intel Core i7-7700. Every Cinebench test, single-core and multi-core, goes to the EPYC.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: The EPYC 9224 leads in every single-core test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 5,426 versus 1,036, a 423.7% delta. R20 single-core shows 2,278 versus 435, also a 423.7% difference.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-7700 has a higher average benchmark score at 11,914, compared to 11,118 for the AMD EPYC 9224. This is an interesting inversion given the EPYC's dominance in the head-to-head Cinebench tests.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD EPYC 9224 has 24 cores and 48 threads. The Intel Core i7-7700 has 4 cores and 8 threads. That is a 6x difference in core count and a 6x difference in thread count.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-7700 has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 9224 boosts to 3.70 GHz. The Intel part also has a higher base clock at 3.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 9224 and Intel Core i7-7700 come from different eras and design philosophies. The EPYC 9224 belongs to the EPYC 9004 series, built on Zen 4 architecture with the codename Genoa. It uses a 5 nm process from TSMC and packs 26,280 million transistors across a die size of 4x 72 mm². The Core i7-7700 uses Kaby Lake architecture on Intel's 14 nm process, and the database lists no transistor count or die size for it.

Cache layouts diverge sharply. The EPYC 9224 provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The Core i7-7700 also has 64 KB of L1 per core, but only 256 KB of L2 per core and 8 MB of shared L3. The EPYC's L3 cache is 8 times larger, which matters for server workloads with large working sets.

Memory architecture is another major split. The EPYC 9224 supports DDR5 memory over a twelve-channel bus, delivering 460.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core i7-7700 uses DDR4 over a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s. That is a 12x difference in memory bandwidth, a figure that aligns with the EPYC's server positioning. ECC memory is supported on the EPYC but not on the Intel part.

PCIe capabilities also differ. The EPYC 9224 offers Gen 5 with 128 lanes from the CPU, while the Core i7-7700 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The EPYC targets Socket SP5, the Intel part uses Socket 1151. The EPYC has no integrated graphics; the Core i7-7700 includes HD 630 graphics. The EPYC is a server/workstation part, while the Core i7-7700 is a desktop processor. Both have locked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark set is entirely Cinebench, and the results are remarkably consistent. The AMD EPYC 9224 wins all six tests with deltas clustered tightly around 423% to 425%. This uniformity suggests the performance gap is structural, driven by core count, memory bandwidth, and process node, rather than workload-specific quirks.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 9224 scores 3,874 against 740 for the Core i7-7700, a 423.5% delta. The R15 single-core test shows 546 versus 104, a 425% delta. The single-core result is notable because the Intel part has a higher boost clock at 4.20 GHz versus 3.70 GHz, yet still loses by a wide margin. This indicates the Zen 4 architecture's instructions-per-clock advantage and the newer 5 nm process overcome the clock deficit.

R20 multi-core continues the pattern: 16,144 versus 3,084, a 423.5% delta. R20 single-core: 2,278 versus 435, a 423.7% delta. R23 multi-core: 38,439 versus 7,344, a 423.4% delta. R23 single-core: 5,426 versus 1,036, a 423.7% delta. The deltas barely move across generations of the Cinebench suite, which points to a consistent ratio of performance between the two parts.

The interesting wrinkle is the average benchmark score. The Core i7-7700 sits at 11,914, above the EPYC 9224's 11,118. This happens because the average includes a broader set of tests beyond Cinebench, and the i7-7700 has additional Geekbench and PassMark entries in the database. The EPYC 9224's average is pulled down by its limited benchmark set, while the i7-7700 benefits from a wider range of scores that include strong single-thread results.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. Core count: 24 versus 4. Threads: 48 versus 8. Base clock: 2.50 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. Boost clock: 3.70 GHz versus 4.20 GHz. TDP: 200 versus 65. The EPYC draws substantially more power, consistent with its server role.

Process node: 5 nm versus 14 nm. Foundry: TSMC versus Intel. The EPYC lists 26,280 million transistors; the Core i7-7700 has no transistor figure in the database. Die size: 4x 72 mm² versus none listed.

Cache: L1 is identical at 64 KB per core. L2 is 1 MB per core on the EPYC versus 256 KB per core on the i7-7700. L3 is 64 MB shared versus 8 MB shared. Memory support: DDR5 versus DDR4. Memory bus: twelve-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 460.8 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. ECC: supported versus not supported.

PCIe: Gen 5 with 128 lanes versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics: none versus HD 630. Socket: SP5 versus 1151. Market segment: server/workstation versus desktop. Release date: 2022-11-09 versus 2017-01-02. The EPYC has a launch MSRP of $1825; the Core i7-7700 has no launch MSRP listed.

The Verdict

The data tells a clear story. The AMD EPYC 9224 is overwhelmingly faster in every head-to-head test, with deltas above 423% across the board. It offers 6 times the cores, 6 times the threads, 8 times the L3 cache, and 12 times the memory bandwidth. For any workload that scales with cores, threads, cache, or memory throughput, the EPYC 9224 is the unambiguous choice.

The Intel Core i7-7700 does have one statistical advantage: its average benchmark score of 11,914 exceeds the EPYC's 11,118. This is driven by the i7-7700's broader benchmark coverage, which includes Geekbench and PassMark results. The i7-7700 also has a higher boost clock at 4.20 GHz, and it draws far less power at 65 TDP versus 200. For a desktop user with a Socket 1151 platform, the i7-7700 remains a functional part, and its integrated HD 630 graphics mean it does not require a discrete GPU for basic display output.

The percentile rankings are close: the EPYC 9224 sits at the 66th percentile, the Core i7-7700 at the 67th. Both are near the middle of the database's CPU population. The EPYC's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7542 with an average score of 11,152 and a delta of -0.3%, and the Intel Core i7-6700 at 11,074 with a delta of 0.4%. The i7-7700's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7453 at 11,912 with a 0% delta and the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X at 12,000 with a -0.7% delta.

The verdict depends on context. For server or workstation workloads, the EPYC 9224 is the only sensible pick. For a desktop build where power draw and integrated graphics matter, the Core i7-7700 has its place, but the benchmark data shows it cannot compete with the EPYC on raw compute.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 9224 wins every recorded Cinebench test, both multi-core and single-core. Multi-core wins are expected given the 24-core versus 4-core split. The single-core wins are more surprising, given the i7-7700's higher clocks. The EPYC's Zen 4 architecture and 5 nm process deliver superior instructions-per-clock, so it wins single-core despite a 0.50 GHz boost clock disadvantage.

The EPYC also wins on memory bandwidth. With 460.8 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s, it is suited for memory-intensive server tasks like large database operations, virtualization, and scientific computing. The 64 MB L3 cache versus 8 MB further favors the EPYC for workloads with large working sets. The 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus 16 Gen 3 lanes make the EPYC the choice for high-throughput I/O configurations.

The Intel Core i7-7700 wins on power efficiency. Its 65 TDP is less than a third of the EPYC's 200 TDP. It also has a higher boost clock at 4.20 GHz, which helps in lightly threaded desktop applications. The integrated HD 630 graphics give it a distinct advantage for systems that do not use a discrete GPU. The i7-7700's broader benchmark footprint, including Geekbench and PassMark scores, gives it a higher average benchmark score in the database.

The record shows 6 wins for the EPYC 9224 and 0 for the Core i7-7700 in the head-to-head set. The i7-7700's advantages are contextual, tied to power, platform, and integrated graphics, rather than raw compute. For anyone choosing between these two for compute-heavy work, the data points squarely to the EPYC 9224.