AMD EPYC 9274F vs Intel Core i7-1355U Comparison

The Verdict

The data in this comparison is unambiguous. The AMD EPYC 9274F wins every single benchmark recorded in the head-to-head set, taking all six tests with deltas ranging from -71.4% to -86.8% relative to the Intel Core i7-1355U. The EPYC 9274F is the only choice for any workload where the recorded scores matter, which in this database covers Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core variants.

The Intel Core i7-1355U holds a percentile rank of 73 against all CPUs, while the AMD EPYC 9274F sits at 72. Despite the EPYC losing by one percentile point, its average benchmark score of 18189 is only 541 points lower than the i7-1355U's 18730. This apparent contradiction is explained by the benchmark distribution: the EPYC has no PassMark entries in this database, so its average is computed from only six Cinebench results, all of which are extremely high. The i7-1355U has seventeen recorded benchmarks, including several PassMark tests where a mobile chip can compete more evenly.

For a buyer deciding purely on the recorded data, the EPYC 9274F is the pick for rendering, simulation, and any multi-threaded server task. The i7-1355U is the pick for a mobile system where the EPYC's 320 W TDP and Socket SP5 form factor are not viable. The i7-1355U also offers integrated graphics, which the EPYC lacks entirely. The launch MSRP for the i7-1355U is $469, and the EPYC 9274F is $3060, but the performance gap in multi-core is far larger than the price gap suggests.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-1355U is built on Intel's Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-U codename, using a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It has 10 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The TDP is 15 W, which classifies it as an ultra-low-power mobile part. It uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. ECC memory is not supported. The PCIe interface is Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. It includes Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, making it a complete system-on-chip for laptops.

The AMD EPYC 9274F belongs to the EPYC 9004 series, built on Zen 4 architecture with the Genoa codename. It uses a 5 nm process at TSMC, with 52,560 million transistors spread across 8 dies, each measuring 72 mm². The chip has 24 cores and 48 threads, with a base clock of 4.05 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The TDP is 320 W, reflecting a server-class power envelope. It uses AMD Socket SP5 and supports DDR5 memory in a twelve-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 460.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported. PCIe is Gen 5 with 128 CPU lanes. There is no integrated graphics.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The i7-1355U has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 9274F has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 256 MB of shared L3. The EPYC's L3 cache is 21 times larger in total, which directly feeds its multi-core dominance in the recorded Cinebench scores. The i7-1355U has a higher boost clock (5.00 GHz vs 4.30 GHz), but the EPYC's higher base clock (4.05 GHz vs 1.70 GHz) and greater core count outweigh that in every recorded test.

The release dates place the i7-1355U at January 3, 2023, and the EPYC 9274F at November 9, 2022. Both are listed as Active in production status. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 9274F wins in every recorded benchmark category. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 6338 against the i7-1355U's 1393, a delta of -78%. In R15 single-core, the EPYC scores 894 against 255.5, a delta of -71.4%. The R20 multi-core test shows the EPYC at 26411 versus 4949, a delta of -81.3%. The R20 single-core test mirrors that delta exactly: 3728 versus 698. In R23 multi-core, the EPYC reaches 62884 while the i7-1355U manages 8286, a delta of -86.8%, the largest gap in the set. In R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 8877 against 1825, a delta of -79.4%.

The i7-1355U does not win a single head-to-head test. Its only advantages in the database appear in categories the EPYC has no recorded scores for: PassMark tests. The i7-1355U shows a PassMark single-thread score of 3444, a multi-thread score of 14299, integer math at 52002, floating point math at 34965, data compression at 155727, data encryption at 9831, extended instructions at 8726, prime number finding at 51, random string sorting at 17631, and physics at 888. These numbers have no EPYC counterpart in the database, so no direct comparison is possible.

For real-world use, the EPYC 9274F is the clear winner for any workload that uses more than a few threads, given its 48 threads and 256 MB L3 cache. The i7-1355U is the only option for a fanless or low-power mobile design, as its 15 W TDP is 305 W lower than the EPYC's 320 W, and it includes integrated graphics for display output without a discrete GPU.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-1355U has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 9274F has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Intel chip also has a lower base clock at 1.70 GHz versus the EPYC's 4.05 GHz.

Q: How much larger is the EPYC's L3 cache?

A: The EPYC 9274F has 256 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-1355U has 12 MB of shared L3. The EPYC's cache is 21 times larger in total capacity.

Q: Does the Intel chip support ECC memory?

A: No. The i7-1355U has ECC memory support listed as false. The EPYC 9274F supports ECC memory.

Q: What memory channels does each processor support?

A: The i7-1355U supports dual-channel memory, with DDR4 and DDR5 types. The EPYC 9274F supports twelve-channel DDR5, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 460.8 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i7-1355U includes Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. The EPYC 9274F has no integrated graphics.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does each CPU provide?

A: The i7-1355U provides Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. The EPYC 9274F provides Gen 5 with 128 CPU lanes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the database is the Cinebench R23 multi-core test. The EPYC 9274F scores 62884, while the i7-1355U scores 8286. The delta is -86.8%, meaning the Intel chip delivers only about 13% of the EPYC's performance in this workload. This is the largest margin in the entire comparison. With 24 cores and 48 threads versus 10 cores and 12 threads, the multi-core advantage is expected, but the magnitude is still notable.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the EPYC scores 26411 versus the i7-1355U's 4949, a delta of -81.3%. The R15 multi-core test shows a similar pattern: 6338 versus 1393, a delta of -78%. These three multi-core tests all show the EPYC winning by at least 78 percentage points, which indicates that the performance gap grows as the workload becomes more parallel. The R23 test, which is the most demanding of the three, produces the largest delta.

Single-core results are closer in relative terms but still decisively favor the EPYC. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 8877 against the i7-1355U's 1825, a delta of -79.4%. In R20 single-core, the EPYC scores 3728 against 698, a delta of -81.3%. In R15 single-core, the EPYC scores 894 against 255.5, a delta of -71.4%. The i7-1355U has a higher boost clock by 700 MHz, yet the EPYC still wins every single-core test. The Zen 4 architecture's higher base clock and likely higher instructions per clock explain this outcome, though the database does not record IPC numbers directly.

The nearest rivals for the i7-1355U in the database include the AMD EPYC 7643 with an average score of 18697 and a delta of 0.2%, the Intel Core i5-12400 at 18683 with a delta of 0.3%, the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 at 18811 with a delta of -0.4%, and the Intel Core i3-14100F at 18519 with a delta of 1.1%. The i7-1355U sits at 18730, meaning it is effectively in a dead heat with these four chips. This context shows that the i7-1355U's average score is competitive with desktop-class parts, even though it loses badly to the EPYC.

The EPYC 9274F's nearest rivals include the Intel Core 5 315 with an average score of 18188 and a delta of 0%, the Intel Core i7-9700 at 18180 with a delta of 0%, the Intel Core i7-1365U at 18177 with a delta of 0.1%, and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U at 18176 with a delta of 0.1%. The EPYC's average score of 18189 is nearly identical to these parts, which is surprising given its enormous Cinebench wins. This is because the EPYC has no PassMark scores in the database, so its average is based solely on six Cinebench results, while the other parts have broader benchmark coverage that pulls their averages down or up depending on the test mix.

The overall record shows 0 wins for the i7-1355U and 6 wins for the EPYC 9274F. The percentile ranks are nearly equal, with the i7-1355U at 73 and the EPYC at 72. The data suggests that if the EPYC had PassMark scores recorded, its average benchmark score would likely be higher, given its Cinebench dominance. As recorded, the i7-1355U has a slightly higher average score, but that is an artifact of test coverage, not a reflection of relative performance in the tests both processors share.