AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 vs Intel Core i7-8086K Comparison

# Intel Core i7-8086K vs AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

The benchmark data presents a remarkably consistent picture: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with a narrow but uniform margin of roughly 8% across every test. This is unusual — most matchups show at least some oscillation between single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, but here the AMD chip dominates both. The Intel Core i7-8086K, despite its higher boost clock, never manages to claim a single victory. The average benchmark scores tell a similar story: the Intel chip sits at 3800, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 lands at 3777, a difference of just 0.6% in favor of the Intel part. Yet in every individual Cinebench test, the AMD chip outperforms. The question is why the aggregate scores barely differ while the head-to-head deltas are so pronounced.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test sets the tone: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 scores 1316 against the Intel Core i7-8086K's 1206, an 8.4% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern — 185 versus 170, an 8.1% lead for AMD. What makes this notable is that the Intel chip has a much higher boost clock, yet still loses in single-threaded performance. Moving to Cinebench R20, the margins hold steady: multicore shows 5484 for AMD versus 5029 for Intel (8.3% delta), and single-core shows 774 versus 709 (8.4% delta). The Cinebench R23 results confirm the trend, with AMD taking multicore at 13059 versus 11975 (8.3%) and single-core at 1843 versus 1690 (8.3%). Every delta sits between 8.1% and 8.4%, suggesting a consistent structural advantage rather than workload-specific quirks.

The Intel part's best showing is its 0.6% aggregate lead over the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 in the nearestRivals comparison — but this is based on the average benchmark score, which includes Geekbench results that the AMD chip does not have in this data set. The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700's nearestRivals list places it 0.6% behind the Intel chip on average, yet the head-to-head Cinebench tests tell a different story. This discrepancy is worth investigating. The Intel chip's Geekbench scores (7920 multicore, 1697 single-core) are strong, but without comparable Geekbench data for the AMD part, the aggregate comparison is incomplete. What the data does show clearly is that in every Cinebench generation — R15, R20, and R23 — the AMD chip wins by a consistent margin.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-8086K uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process from Intel's own foundry, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 uses the Zen (specifically Zen+ Pinnacle Ridge) architecture on a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The Intel chip packs 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD chip offers 8 cores and 16 threads — a 33% core count advantage for AMD. Yet the Intel chip has higher clocks: 4.00 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost versus 3.20 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost. This means the Intel chip has a 900 MHz boost advantage, but it still loses in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests.

The cache configurations differ substantially. Intel provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip has more cache at every level. The die size and transistor counts also differ: the AMD chip uses 4,800 million transistors on a 192 mm² die, while the Intel chip's transistor count and die size are not listed in the data. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not. Both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel buses, but the Intel chip has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s while the AMD chip's bandwidth is not provided. The Intel chip includes UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics, while the AMD chip has no integrated graphics listed. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the AMD chip's PCIe configuration is not listed.

The power envelopes tell a story of efficiency: the AMD chip has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel chip draws 95 watts. Despite the lower power draw, the AMD chip delivers higher performance in every measured test. This suggests the Zen+ architecture achieves better performance-per-watt, though the data does not directly measure power consumption. The AMD chip was released on 2018-09-18, roughly three months after the Intel chip's 2018-06-04 launch. Both have unlocked multipliers, but the Intel chip is end-of-life while the AMD chip remains active in production.

FAQ

Q: Which chip wins in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 wins every single-core Cinebench test. In R15, it scores 185 versus 170 (8.1% ahead). In R20, it scores 774 versus 709 (8.4% ahead). In R23, it scores 1843 versus 1690 (8.3% ahead). This is notable given the Intel chip's higher 5.00 GHz boost clock versus 4.10 GHz for AMD.

Q: Does the Intel chip win anything in the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: No. The data shows winsA equals 0 and winsB equals 6. The AMD chip wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, each in both multicore and single-core variants). However, the Intel chip does have a higher average benchmark score of 3800 versus 3777, a 0.6% edge that comes from Geekbench results not included in the head-to-head set.

Q: How does the core count difference affect the results?

A: The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel chip has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD chip's multicore advantage in R23 is 13059 versus 11975 (8.3%). Interestingly, the AMD chip's single-core advantage is nearly identical at 8.3%, so the core count advantage alone does not explain the margin — the AMD chip is also faster per core.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core i7-8086K has a TDP of 95 watts. This means the AMD chip delivers higher performance across all tested benchmarks while having a 30-watt lower TDP rating.

Q: Do both chips support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 supports ECC memory (eccMemory: true), while the Intel Core i7-8086K does not (eccMemory: false). This makes the AMD chip more suitable for workstation or server environments where data integrity matters.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The Intel chip uses a 14 nm process from Intel's foundry, while the AMD chip uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The smaller process node may contribute to the AMD chip's efficiency, though the data does not directly measure this relationship.

The Verdict

The data points decisively toward the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 for any workload measured by Cinebench. It wins all six head-to-head tests with margins between 8.1% and 8.4%, regardless of whether the test is single-core or multi-core, and regardless of the Cinebench version (R15, R20, or R23). It does so while drawing 30 watts less TDP (65 versus 95 watts), offering two additional cores (8 versus 6), and providing ECC memory support. The Intel Core i7-8086K's only aggregate advantage is its 0.6% higher average benchmark score (3800 versus 3777), which is driven by Geekbench results that lack a direct AMD comparison in this data set. For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the AMD chip is the clear winner. The Intel chip retains its higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.10 GHz) and integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), which the AMD chip lacks entirely. However, the benchmark data shows the Intel chip's clock advantage does not translate into performance wins. The Intel chip is end-of-life, while the AMD chip remains active in production, which may matter for long-term availability. The AMD chip's 4,800 million transistors on a 192 mm² die and larger cache (96 KB L1, 512 KB L2, 16 MB L3 per-core or shared) suggest a more robust design, but the data does not directly link these specifications to the observed performance.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in nearly every major specification. The Intel Core i7-8086K offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 offers 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel chip has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the AMD chip has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Intel chip has a TDP of 95 watts; the AMD chip has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1151, while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM4. The architectures differ: Coffee Lake for Intel, Zen (Zen+ Pinnacle Ridge) for AMD. The process nodes differ: 14 nm for Intel, 12 nm for AMD. The cache configurations differ: Intel has 64 KB L1, 256 KB L2, and 12 MB shared L3 per core; AMD has 96 KB L1, 512 KB L2, and 16 MB shared L3 per core. The AMD chip lists 4,800 million transistors on a 192 mm² die, while the Intel chip lists neither. The Intel chip has a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; the AMD chip's bandwidth is not listed. The Intel chip supports ECC memory (false), while the AMD chip supports it (true). The Intel chip has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630); the AMD chip has none. The Intel chip lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes; the AMD chip's PCIe is not listed. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $425; the AMD chip has no launch MSRP listed. The Intel chip is end-of-life; the AMD chip is active. The Intel chip was released on 2018-06-04; the AMD chip on 2018-09-18.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 wins every single benchmark test in the head-to-head set. This includes all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23) in both single-core and multi-core modes. The margins are consistent at roughly 8.3%, suggesting a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific one. The AMD chip also wins on power efficiency, with a 65-watt TDP versus 95 watts for Intel. It wins on core count (8 versus 6), thread count (16 versus 12), cache size at every level, ECC memory support, and production status (active versus end-of-life). The AMD chip also has a smaller process node (12 nm versus 14 nm) and a documented transistor count and die size.

The Intel Core i7-8086K wins on clock speed, with a 5.00 GHz boost versus 4.10 GHz for AMD, and a 4.00 GHz base versus 3.20 GHz. It wins on memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s versus not listed for AMD), and it has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630) while the AMD chip has none. The Intel chip also has a slightly higher average benchmark score (3800 versus 3777), a 0.6% difference. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $425, while the AMD chip has no listed launch MSRP. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the AMD chip's PCIe configuration is not listed. For users who need integrated graphics, a higher boost clock, or a specific socket (Intel Socket 1151 versus AMD Socket AM4), the Intel chip has those advantages. But for raw Cinebench performance, core count, efficiency, and ECC support, the AMD chip dominates.