AMD EPYC 7251 vs Intel Xeon E3-1220L v2

Comparative analysis of AMD EPYC 7251 and Intel Xeon E3-1220L v2 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Virtualization, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core.

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD EPYC 7251

  • CPU is newer: launch date 5 year(s) 1 month(s) later
  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • 6 more cores, run more applications at once: 8 vs 2
  • 12 more threads: 16 vs 4
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 14 nm vs 22 nm
  • 6x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • 8x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • 4x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 11% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1671 vs 1505
  • 6.6x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 14935 vs 2248
Specifications (specs)
Launch date June 2017 vs May 2012
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores 8 vs 2
Number of threads 16 vs 4
Manufacturing process technology 14 nm vs 22 nm
L1 cache 96 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 512 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 32 MB vs 8192 KB (shared)
Max number of CPUs in a configuration 2 vs 1
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1671 vs 1505
PassMark - CPU mark 14935 vs 2248

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E3-1220L v2

  • Around 21% higher clock speed: 3.50 GHz vs 2.9 GHz
  • 7.1x lower typical power consumption: 17 Watt vs 120 Watt
Maximum frequency 3.50 GHz vs 2.9 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 17 Watt vs 120 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD EPYC 7251
CPU 2: Intel Xeon E3-1220L v2

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1671
1505
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
14935
2248
Name AMD EPYC 7251 Intel Xeon E3-1220L v2
PassMark - Single thread mark 1671 1505
PassMark - CPU mark 14935 2248
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 2267
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 5828

Compare specifications (specs)

AMD EPYC 7251 Intel Xeon E3-1220L v2

Essentials

Architecture codename Zen Ivy Bridge
Family AMD EPYC
Launch date June 2017 May 2012
Place in performance rating 1273 1228
Series AMD EPYC 7000 Series Intel® Xeon® Processor E3 v2 Family
Vertical segment Server Server
Processor Number E3-1220LV2
Status Discontinued

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 2.1 GHz 2.30 GHz
Die size 192 mm
L1 cache 96 KB (per core) 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 512 KB (per core) 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 32 MB 8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 14 nm 22 nm
Maximum frequency 2.9 GHz 3.50 GHz
Number of cores 8 2
Number of threads 16 4
Transistor count 4800 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI

Memory

Max memory channels 8 2
Maximum memory bandwidth 307 GB/s 25.6 GB/s
Supported memory frequency 2400 MHz
Supported memory types DDR4 DDR3 1333/1600
ECC memory support
Maximum memory size 32.23 GB

Compatibility

Max number of CPUs in a configuration 2 1
Socket Count 1P/2P
Sockets supported TR4 FCLGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 120 Watt 17 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size 37.5mm x 37.5mm

Peripherals

PCI Express revision x128 3.0
PCIe configurations 1x16 & 1x4, 2x8 & 1x4 or 1x8 & 3x4

Virtualization

AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Security & Reliability

Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)

Advanced Technologies

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring