AMD A10-5800K vs AMD Opteron 3350 HE Comparison

AMD Opteron 3350 HE and AMD A10-5800K are both 2012-era quad-core AMD parts, but they target different segments and use different architectures. The Opteron 3350 HE is a low-power server chip built on the K10 architecture, while the A10-5800K is a desktop APU with the Piledriver architecture and integrated graphics. The recorded data shows both chips land at the 21st percentile of all CPUs, with the Opteron averaging 789 points and the A10-5800K averaging 778 points, a gap of about 1.4%. The head-to-head benchmark table is empty, so the comparison relies on the individual benchmark suites and the specification fields.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct head-to-head benchmark list contains no entries, meaning the database has no shared test results for these two processors. Instead, the comparison must be assembled from the separate benchmark suites recorded for each part. The Opteron 3350 HE has results from the Cinebench series: R15 multicore at 231 points, R20 multicore at 963, R20 singlecore at 135, R23 multicore at 2294, and R23 singlecore at 323. The A10-5800K has only Geekbench results: multicore at 1102 and singlecore at 454.

The average benchmark score favors the Opteron 3350 HE, 789 versus 778, a 1.4% lead. That margin is small enough to be within run-to-run variance, but the pattern of the nearest rival deltas supports the ordering. The Opteron sits 0.1% behind the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 and QX9770, and 0.1% to 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i5-4210U and i5-3610ME. The A10-5800K matches the Intel Pentium G4520 exactly, runs 0.2% ahead of the AMD Athlon X4 760K, 0.3% ahead of the Intel Pentium Silver J5005, and trails the Intel Core i3-7100 by 0.4%.

The single-core Geekbench result for the A10-5800K, 454 points, is the only direct single-threaded score available, and it comes from a different test suite than the Opteron's Cinebench single-core numbers. The A10-5800K's multicore Geekbench score of 1102 is also from a different benchmark, so cross-suite comparisons are not valid. What the data shows is that both processors cluster tightly in the same performance band, with the Opteron holding a marginal average lead despite its lower clock speeds.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE averages 789 points, while the AMD A10-5800K averages 778 points, giving the Opteron a 1.4% lead in the database's aggregate scoring.

Q: Do both processors land in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Opteron 3350 HE and the A10-5800K are recorded at the 21st percentile of all CPUs, meaning they outperform roughly one-fifth of the processors in the database.

Q: What is the clock speed difference between the two chips?

A: The Opteron 3350 HE has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The A10-5800K has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, so the A10 runs 1.00 GHz higher at base and 0.40 GHz higher at boost.

Q: Do the two processors share the same socket?

A: No. The Opteron 3350 HE uses AMD Socket AM3+, while the A10-5800K uses AMD Socket FM2.

Q: Which processor has a higher transistor count?

A: The A10-5800K has 1,303 million transistors, while the Opteron 3350 HE has 1,200 million, a difference of 103 million transistors in favor of the A10.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Opteron 3350 HE and the A10-5800K have ECC memory support recorded as false.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge at the architectural level. The Opteron 3350 HE uses the K10 architecture with the Delhi codename, part of the Opteron 3000 series. The A10-5800K uses the Piledriver architecture with the Trinity codename, part of the A10 generation. Both are built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries, but the die sizes differ: the Opteron measures 315 mm², the A10 measures 246 mm². The transistor counts also differ, with the A10 using 1,303 million transistors versus 1,200 million on the Opteron.

Cache configurations show another split. Both have 192 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, but the Opteron's L2 is listed as 4 MB without a shared designation, while the A10's L2 is listed as 4 MB shared. The Opteron adds 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the A10 has no L3 cache at all. This L3 difference is significant for server workloads that rely on larger working sets.

The integrated graphics situation differs as well. The Opteron 3350 HE lists integrated graphics as "On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)", meaning graphics come from the chipset rather than the CPU. The A10-5800K includes the Radeon HD 7660D as a built-in GPU, making it a true APU. The Opteron targets the server/workstation market segment, while the A10 is a desktop part.

The Verdict

The data points to different buyers for each chip. The Opteron 3350 HE, with its 45 W TDP, 8 MB of L3 cache, and server market segment, is positioned for low-power server or workstation duty where the L3 cache and lower power envelope matter more than raw clock speed. The A10-5800K, with a 100 W TDP, a 4.20 GHz boost clock, an unlocked multiplier, and the Radeon HD 7660D integrated graphics, is a desktop part aimed at systems that need graphics without a discrete card.

The average benchmark scores are close, 789 for the Opteron versus 778 for the A10, and both sit at the 21st percentile. That means in pure compute terms, the two are roughly equivalent, with the Opteron holding a 1.4% edge in the aggregate. The Opteron's nearest rivals are Intel Core 2 Extreme parts and low-voltage Core i5 mobile chips, while the A10's nearest rivals include Intel Pentium and Core i3 desktop parts. The A10's higher clocks do not translate into a benchmark lead, likely because the Opteron's L3 cache compensates in the workloads the database records.

For a system where power draw is the primary constraint, the Opteron 3350 HE delivers similar average performance at 45 W versus the A10's 100 W, a 55 W difference. For a desktop build needing integrated graphics, the A10-5800K is the only option, since the Opteron relies on chipset graphics. Neither chip is current, as both are marked end-of-life, and both use DDR3 memory with dual-channel support.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded fields. The base clock is 2.80 GHz on the Opteron and 3.80 GHz on the A10. The boost clock is 3.80 GHz on the Opteron and 4.20 GHz on the A10. The TDP is 45 W for the Opteron and 100 W for the A10. The socket is AM3+ for the Opteron and FM2 for the A10. The architecture is K10 for the Opteron and Piledriver for the A10, with codenames Delhi and Trinity respectively.

The die size is 315 mm² for the Opteron and 246 mm² for the A10, while the transistor count is 1,200 million for the Opteron and 1,303 million for the A10. The L3 cache is 8 MB shared on the Opteron, while the A10 has no L3. The integrated graphics is chipset-dependent on the Opteron, while the A10 has the Radeon HD 7660D. The market segment is server/workstation for the Opteron and desktop for the A10. The multiplier is locked on the Opteron and unlocked on the A10. The release dates differ by two months, with the A10 launching on 2012-10-01 and the Opteron on 2012-12-03. The launch MSRP for the Opteron is $125, while the A10 has no recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The Opteron 3350 HE wins on power efficiency, with a 45 W TDP against the A10-5800K's 100 W, a 55 W advantage that matters in dense server deployments or always-on systems. It also has the 8 MB shared L3 cache, which the A10 lacks entirely, and this cache can benefit workloads with repeated data access. The Opteron's average benchmark score of 789 is higher than the A10's 778, giving it a marginal aggregate win. The Opteron's nearest rivals are mostly older Intel Core 2 Extreme parts and mobile Core i5 chips, placing it in a similar performance class as those parts.

The A10-5800K wins on clock speed, with a 3.80 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost versus the Opteron's 2.80 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. It also has the Radeon HD 7660D integrated graphics, which the Opteron does not include on-die. The A10 has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Opteron's multiplier is locked. The A10's transistor count is higher at 1,303 million versus 1,200 million, and its die is smaller at 246 mm² versus 315 mm², indicating a denser design. The A10's nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium G4520 and Core i3-7100, showing it competes in the entry desktop space.

For use cases, the Opteron suits low-power server roles, such as a small web server or a dedicated compute node where the 45 W envelope and L3 cache are assets. The A10 suits a desktop or home theater PC where the integrated Radeon HD 7660D eliminates the need for a separate graphics card and the higher clocks provide snappier single-threaded response in lightly threaded desktop applications. The data does not record any shared benchmark to directly compare the two, so the choice rests on the specification differences and the separate benchmark averages.