Intel Xeon Silver 4214Y vs AMD EPYC 7251

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon Silver 4214Y and AMD EPYC 7251 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark.

Intel Xeon Silver 4214Y

AMD EPYC 7251

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon Silver 4214Y

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 10 month(s) later
4 more cores, run more applications at once: 12 vs 8
8 more threads: 24 vs 16
Around 10% higher clock speed: 3.20 GHz vs 2.9 GHz
3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 41% lower typical power consumption: 85 Watt vs 120 Watt
Around 9% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1822 vs 1671
Around 10% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 16442 vs 14935

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	2 Apr 2019 vs June 2017
Number of cores	12 vs 8
Number of threads	24 vs 16
Maximum frequency	3.20 GHz vs 2.9 GHz
L2 cache	12 MB vs 512 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	85 Watt vs 120 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1822 vs 1671
PassMark - CPU mark	16442 vs 14935

Reasons to consider the AMD EPYC 7251

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 94% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later

Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
L3 cache	32 MB vs 16.5 MB

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon Silver 4214Y
CPU 2: AMD EPYC 7251

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1822

1671

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

16442

14935

Name	Intel Xeon Silver 4214Y	AMD EPYC 7251
PassMark - Single thread mark	1822	1671
PassMark - CPU mark	16442	14935

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon Silver 4214Y	AMD EPYC 7251
Essentials
Architecture codename	Cascade Lake	Zen
Launch date	2 Apr 2019	June 2017
Launch price (MSRP)	$768
Place in performance rating	1072	1179
Processor Number	4214Y
Series	2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processors	AMD EPYC 7000 Series
Status	Launched
Vertical segment	Server	Server
Family		AMD EPYC
Performance
Base frequency	2.20 GHz	2.1 GHz
L1 cache	768 KB	96 KB (per core)
L2 cache	12 MB	512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	16.5 MB	32 MB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	77°C
Maximum frequency	3.20 GHz	2.9 GHz
Number of cores	12	8
Number of threads	24	16
Number of Ultra Path Interconnect (UPI) Links	2
64 bit support
Die size		192 mm
Transistor count		4800 million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	6	8
Maximum memory size	1 TB
Supported memory frequency	2400 MHz	2400 MHz
Supported memory types	DDR4-2400	DDR4
Maximum memory bandwidth		307 GB/s
Compatibility
Package Size	76.0mm x 56.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA3647	TR4
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	85 Watt	120 Watt
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		2
Socket Count		1P/2P
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	48
PCI Express revision	3.0	x128
Scalability	2S
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Run Sure Technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Mode-based Execute Control (MBE)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Instruction set extensions	Intel SSE4.2, Intel AVX, Intel AVX2, Intel AVX-512
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD)
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Number of AVX-512 FMA Units	1
Speed Shift technology
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)