AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 vs Intel Core i9-7920X Comparison

The Intel Core i9-7920X and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 present a fascinating study in generational contrast. The data shows a consistent, albeit narrow, victory for the older, higher-core-count Intel part across every benchmark in the comparison, yet the AMD chip matches it in overall percentile ranking. This suggests that raw core count and architecture efficiency are trading blows in a way that produces a near-dead heat in average performance, despite the Intel processor winning every single head-to-head test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably uniform, with the Intel Core i9-7920X securing a 3.1% lead in the majority of tests. In Cinebench R15 and R20, the Intel chip posts 2015 and 8396 points in multi-core respectively, against the AMD's 1955 and 8146. The single-core results follow the same pattern, with Intel leading by 3.3% in Cinebench R15 (284 vs 275) and by 3.1% in Cinebench R20 (1185 vs 1149).

This consistency extends into the newer Cinebench R23 workload, where the Intel processor scores 19991 in multi-core and 2822 in single-core, again edging out the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700's 19397 and 2738 by exactly 3.1%. The pattern is clear: the Intel Core i9-7920X wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, with five of the six victories coming by a precise 3.1% margin. The only exception is the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the lead stretches slightly to 3.3%.

What makes this sweeping victory intriguing is the hardware behind it. The Intel chip deploys 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD processor operates with 8 cores and 16 threads. A 50% core advantage translating to only a 3.1% multi-core score improvement is a remarkable testament to the efficiency of the AMD Zen 2 architecture. The data implies that per-core performance is heavily weighted toward the AMD design, allowing it to nearly match the multi-threaded output of a much larger Intel chip.

The Geekbench scores, while not part of the head-to-head array, reinforce this narrative. The Intel Core i9-7920X achieves 9297 in multi-core and 1394 in single-core, whereas the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 does not have Geekbench results in the pack. However, the average benchmark scores tell the broader story: the Intel chip averages 5673, while the AMD chip averages 5610, a difference of just 1.1%.

The Verdict

From a pure performance standpoint, the data leaves no ambiguity: the Intel Core i9-7920X wins every benchmark it contests against the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700. The 3.1% margin in multi-core and single-core tests is small but consistent. For workloads that depend on Cinebench scores, the Intel processor is the definitive choice. It holds a 3.1% advantage in R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, meaning any rendering or simulation task that scales with those benchmarks will complete slightly faster on the Intel platform.

However, the verdict is not one-sided when considering the broader context. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 achieves the same 61st percentile ranking among all CPUs, indicating that its performance profile is considered equivalent in the grand scheme of the database. The average benchmark score difference is a mere 1.1%, with the Intel chip at 5673 and the AMD at 5610. This suggests that outside of the specific Cinebench tests, the two processors are effectively interchangeable in average performance.

The data implies that the Intel Core i9-7920X is the pick for users who prioritize peak Cinebench scores, where its extra cores provide a measurable, if modest, edge. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 counters with a dramatically lower 65W TDP compared to Intel's 140W, a fact that becomes critical for system builders focused on thermal output and power delivery. The data does not show the AMD chip winning any benchmark, so the verdict for raw speed is clear, but the verdict for system-level efficiency is equally clear in favor of AMD.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-7920X wins exclusively in benchmark performance. It dominates the head-to-head results with a clean sweep of six victories. Its multi-core scores in Cinebench R15 (2015), R20 (8396), and R23 (19991) are all higher than the AMD equivalents. This makes it the stronger candidate for multi-threaded rendering, video encoding, and any workload that can utilize its 12 cores and 24 threads. It also edges ahead in single-core tests, taking the R15 (284 vs 275), R20 (1185 vs 1149), and R23 (2822 vs 2738) victories.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 wins in operational characteristics rather than raw performance. It consumes only 65W of power versus Intel's 140W, which is a significant advantage in dense system builds or environments where heat dissipation is a concern. Its 7nm process node from TSMC, compared to Intel's 14nm, explains this efficiency. The AMD chip also features a smaller die size of 74 mm² versus Intel's 484 mm², and it uses a newer PCIe Gen 4 interface with 24 lanes, whereas the Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 3 with 44 lanes. For users building a new system in 2024, the AMD platform offers a more modern foundation.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i9-7920X scores 19991 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 3.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700's score of 19397.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 win any benchmark against the Intel Core i9-7920X?

A: No. The data shows the Intel Core i9-7920X winning all six head-to-head benchmarks, including every single-core and multi-core test in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i9-7920X has an average benchmark score of 5673, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 scores 5610, making the Intel chip 1.1% higher on average.

Q: What is the transistor count difference between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 contains 3,800 million transistors, while the transistor count for the Intel Core i9-7920X is not listed in the data.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-7920X and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 have their multipliers unlocked.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core i9-7920X supports quad-channel memory with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, whereas the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 uses dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is stark. The Intel Core i9-7920X is built on the Skylake-X architecture using a 14nm process node from Intel, with a large die size of 484 mm². It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a 16.5 MB shared L3 cache.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700, in contrast, uses the Zen 2 architecture on a 7nm process node from TSMC. This smaller process allows for a die size of just 74 mm², and the chip packs 3,800 million transistors. It has 8 cores and 16 threads. Its cache layout is different: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a much larger 32 MB of L3 cache. The larger L3 cache on the AMD chip is likely a key factor in closing the performance gap with the Intel processor.

Other architectural differences are substantial. The Intel chip supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while the AMD chip supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel chip offers PCIe Gen 3 with 44 lanes, whereas the AMD chip offers the newer PCIe Gen 4 with 24 lanes. The Intel processor uses the Intel Socket 2066, while the AMD uses Socket AM4. Both lack integrated graphics and neither supports ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i9-7920X has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The base clock of the AMD chip is higher at 3.60 GHz compared to the Intel's 2.90 GHz, but both boost to the same 4.40 GHz maximum.

The TDP is a major differentiator, with the Intel chip rated at 140W and the AMD chip at just 65W. The Intel chip is built on a 14nm process, while the AMD uses 7nm. The L3 cache is 16.5 MB on the Intel and 32 MB on the AMD. The memory bus is quad-channel on the Intel and dual-channel on the AMD, leading to different memory bandwidth figures of 85.3 GB/s and 51.2 GB/s respectively. The PCIe support also differs: Intel uses Gen 3 with 44 lanes, while AMD uses Gen 4 with 24 lanes. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $1199, while the AMD chip has no listed launch MSRP. The Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part is still active.