CPU
GPU
Core i5-1230U
EPYC 7261
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-1230U is positioned at rank 620 and the EPYC 7261 is on rank 592, so the EPYC 7261 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-1230U
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 7261
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-1230U | EPYC 7261 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($8) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Naples (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-1230U | EPYC 7261 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($8) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1230U and EPYC 7261
Core i5-1230U
The Core i5-1230U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1781. Thermal design power (TDP): 9.5 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 10,995 points. Launch price was $149.
EPYC 7261
The EPYC 7261 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Naples (2017−2018) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 170 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 11,149 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i5-1230U packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 7261 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-1230U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1230U versus 2.9 GHz on the EPYC 7261 — a 41.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-1230U (base: 1 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-1230U uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 7261 uses Naples (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1230U scores 10,995 against the EPYC 7261's 11,149 — a 1.4% lead for the EPYC 7261. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-1230U vs 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7261.
| Feature | Core i5-1230U | EPYC 7261 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 12+25% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+52% | 2.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1 GHz | 2.5 GHz+150% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 32 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-U (2022) | Naples (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 10,995 | 11,149+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,625 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-1230U uses the FCBGA1781 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 7261 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-1230U | EPYC 7261 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1781 | SP3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-5200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 14 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1230U) / not specified (EPYC 7261). The Core i5-1230U includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 80EU), while the EPYC 7261 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1230U targets Thin & Light Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-1230U rivals Ryzen 5 5600U.
| Feature | Core i5-1230U | EPYC 7261 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Thin & Light Laptop | — |
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