AMD EPYC 9454 vs Intel Core i7-11700 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a complete sweep for the AMD EPYC 9454 across all six head-to-head comparisons. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC 9454 scores 7396 against the Core i7-11700’s 1764, a difference of 76.1%. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 1044 versus 248, again 76.2% apart. These deltas are not marginal; they represent a fundamental performance gap rather than a close contest.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore test shows the EPYC 9454 at 30817 versus 7351 for the Intel part, a 76.1% margin. The single-core R20 result is 4350 against 1037, a 76.2% difference. Cinebench R23 repeats the story, with the EPYC 9454 reaching 73375 in multicore and 10358 in single-core, while the Core i7-11700 manages 17504 and 2471 respectively. Both R23 deltas are 76.1%.

Notably, the Intel Core i7-11700 has zero wins in this head-to-head set. The AMD EPYC 9454 wins all six tests. This is not a close competition. The fact that the deltas are nearly identical (all in the 76.1% to 76.2% range) suggests that the EPYC 9454’s advantage scales uniformly across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, rather than being purely a core-count effect. In single-core tests, the EPYC 9454’s higher base clock of 2.75 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz likely contribute, but the data alone shows the outcome.

The average benchmark scores in the database reinforce this: the Core i7-11700 has an average score of 21891, while the EPYC 9454 averages 21223. However, these averages are based on different benchmark sets, so the head-to-head Cinebench results are more directly comparable. The nearest rivals for the Core i7-11700 include the AMD EPYC 9554P with an average score of 21899 and a delta of 0%, and the AMD EPYC 9534 at 21900, also a 0% delta. These are effectively tied scores, showing the Core i7-11700 sits near a cluster of higher-core server parts in overall average, despite losing all Cinebench head-to-heads. For the EPYC 9454, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U (average 21174, delta 0.2%), the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U (21133, 0.4%), the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V (21112, 0.5%), and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G (21088, 0.6%). The EPYC 9454 is only slightly above these parts in average score, which shows that its average is dragged down by the limited benchmark set recorded, but the Cinebench results are unambiguous.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design philosophies and market segments. The Intel Core i7-11700 is a desktop part built on the Rocket Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The die size is 276 mm², and the cache layout is as follows: 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. The PCIe interface is Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). It includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750). The production status is end-of-life, and the part number is SRKNS.

The AMD EPYC 9454 is a server and workstation processor based on Zen 4, codenamed Genoa. It is manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The chip has 48 cores and 96 threads, with a base clock of 2.75 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The transistor count is listed as 52,560 million, with a die size of 8x 72 mm². The cache hierarchy is: 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 256 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR5 on a twelve-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 460.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported. The PCIe interface is Gen 5 with 128 lanes (CPU only). No integrated graphics are present. The production status is active, with a release date of 2022-11-09. The part number is 100-100000478.

These architectural differences are stark. The EPYC 9454 has 6 times the cores (48 versus 8), 6 times the threads (96 versus 16), and 16 times the L3 cache (256 MB versus 16 MB). The memory bandwidth is roughly 9 times higher (460.8 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s). The process node is smaller (5 nm versus 14 nm), and the transistor count is astronomical compared to the Intel part, though the Intel die size is not directly comparable because it is a single 276 mm² die versus the EPYC’s eight 72 mm² chiplets. The EPYC supports ECC memory, which the Intel does not. The Intel part has integrated graphics, the EPYC does not. The socket types differ too: Intel Socket 1200 versus AMD Socket SP5. The EPYC’s 128 PCIe lanes of Gen 5 versus the Intel’s 20 lanes of Gen 4 is a major expansion in I/O capability.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data indicates that the AMD EPYC 9454 wins every recorded head-to-head test, so the use-case split is not a matter of trade-offs in the measured workloads. Instead, the split is defined by the absence of wins for the Intel part. The EPYC 9454 is the clear winner in all Cinebench tests, both multicore and single-core. For server and workstation workloads, such as rendering, simulation, and multi-threaded computation, the EPYC 9454’s 48 cores and 96 threads deliver a massive advantage. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 73375 versus 17504 is a 4.2 times gap, which translates to significantly faster completion times for heavily parallel tasks. For single-threaded performance, the EPYC 9454 also wins, with a 10358 versus 2471 in R23 single-core. This is surprising for a server part, but the data shows it.

The Intel Core i7-11700, with zero wins, is not the better choice in any benchmark measured. However, its 65 W TDP and 14 nm process, plus its integrated graphics, may make it a more practical option for a desktop system where low power draw and integrated display output are priorities. The data does not show any benchmark where the Intel wins, but the database does include other tests for the Core i7-11700 (such as 3DMark, Geekbench, PassMark) that are not in the head-to-head set. Those are not compared to the EPYC, so no direct conclusion can be made there. In the recorded head-to-heads, the EPYC 9454 is the clear choice for all six tests.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD EPYC 9454 scores 10358 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Intel Core i7-11700 scores 2471. The EPYC leads by 76.1%.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD EPYC 9454 has 48 cores and 96 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-11700 support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported on the Intel Core i7-11700. The AMD EPYC 9454 does support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700 has a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s (DDR4, dual-channel). The AMD EPYC 9454 has a memory bandwidth of 460.8 GB/s (DDR5, twelve-channel).

Q: Are there any benchmark wins for the Intel Core i7-11700 in the head-to-head comparisons?

A: No, the AMD EPYC 9454 wins all six head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i7-11700 has zero wins.

Q: What is the process node for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700 uses 14 nm (Intel foundry). The AMD EPYC 9454 uses 5 nm (TSMC foundry).

Specification Differences

The specifications diverge in several fields. The core count is 8 for the Intel and 48 for the AMD, and the threads are 16 versus 96. The base clock is 2.50 GHz for Intel and 2.75 GHz for AMD, while the boost clock is 4.90 GHz for Intel and 3.80 GHz for AMD. The TDP is 65 W for Intel and 290 W for AMD. The socket is Intel Socket 1200 versus AMD Socket SP5. The architecture is Rocket Lake versus Zen 4, with codenames Rocket Lake and Genoa, respectively. The process node is 14 nm for Intel and 5 nm for AMD, with different foundries (Intel versus TSMC). The transistor count and die size differ: the Intel die is 276 mm², while the AMD uses 8x 72 mm² chips. The cache layout is different: L1 is 80 KB per core on Intel versus 64 KB per core on AMD; L2 is 512 KB per core on Intel versus 1 MB per core on AMD; L3 is 16 MB shared on both.

Intel versus 256 MB shared on AMD. Memory support is DDR4 versus DDR5; memory bus is dual-channel versus twelve-channel; memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s versus 460.8 GB/s. ECC memory is false versus true. PCIe is Gen 4, 20 lanes versus Gen 5, 128 lanes. Integrated graphics is UHD Graphics 750 versus none. Market segment is Desktop versus Server/Workstation. Production status is End-of-life versus Active. Release date is 2021-03-15 versus 2022-11-09. The launch MSRP for the Intel is $323, and for the AMD it is $5225. The multiplier is locked for both. Part numbers are SRKNS and 100-100000478. The percentile rank is the same (75th percentile) for both, despite the large performance gap, because the percentile is based on the average benchmark score, which for the Intel is 21891 and for the AMD is 21223. These averages are close, but the head-to-head Cinebench tests show a massive difference.

The memory bandwidth ratio is particularly notable: 460.8 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s, a 8.4 times difference. The PCIe lane count is 128 (Gen 5) versus 20 (Gen 4), a 6.4 times difference. The L3 cache is 256 MB versus 16 MB, a 16 times difference. These are not minor spec bumps; they represent entirely different classes of processor. The Intel part is a mainstream desktop CPU with a modest 65 W TDP and integrated graphics, while the AMD part is a high-core-count server chip with a 290 W TDP, no integrated graphics, and massive memory and I/O capabilities. The boost clock is higher on the Intel (4.90 GHz vs 3.80 GHz), but that does not translate to a single-core win in the recorded tests. The AMD EPYC 9454 wins all single-core Cinebench tests despite a lower boost clock and higher base clock. This indicates that IPC improvements and other architectural factors (like the 5 nm process) outweigh the raw clock speed advantage of the Intel.