AMD A12-9800 vs AMD Opteron 3380 Comparison

The AMD A12-9800 and the AMD Opteron 3380 occupy very different positions in the AMD lineup, one aimed at the desktop with integrated graphics and the other at the server and workstation space. Despite the Opteron’s older K10 architecture and lower clock speeds, the benchmark data consistently shows the eight-core Opteron 3380 outperforming the four-core A12-9800 in every recorded test. The A12-9800 does offer a more modern platform with DDR4 memory support and a newer 28 nm process, but in raw compute performance, the Opteron 3380 holds a clear and consistent lead across all measured Cinebench workloads.

The Verdict

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 3380 wins all five head-to-head comparisons against the AMD A12-9800. The Opteron 3380 leads by roughly 15 percent in every recorded test, whether single-core or multi-core. The closest margin is 15.1 percent in Cinebench R20 single-core and Cinebench R23 single-core, while the largest margin is 15.3 percent in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The Opteron 3380 also holds a higher average benchmark score of 1071 compared to the A12-9800’s 1081, though that difference is negligible and falls within the range of measurement noise.

The A12-9800 should be the choice for a desktop build that requires integrated graphics and a modern socket. It features a Radeon R7 integrated GPU, which the Opteron 3380 does not have as a processor feature, as the Opteron relies on chipset features for display output on certain motherboards. The A12-9800 also supports DDR4 memory with a higher theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s compared to the Opteron’s DDR3 at 29.9 GB/s.

The Opteron 3380 is the better choice for workloads that can use its eight cores and eight threads. Its multi-core scores are consistently higher across all Cinebench versions. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Opteron scores 3704 versus 3140 for the A12-9800, a 15.2 percent advantage. The Opteron also wins single-core tests, scoring 522 versus 443 in Cinebench R23 single-core.

The percentile rankings are nearly identical, with the A12-9800 at the 30th percentile and the Opteron 3380 at the 29th percentile of all CPUs in the database. This suggests that while the Opteron wins this specific head-to-head matchup, both processors sit at a similar overall performance tier relative to the broader CPU landscape. The Opteron 3380’s nearest rivals include the AMD Athlon X4 880K with a delta of 0 percent, while the A12-9800’s nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium Gold G6505T with a delta of -0.1 percent.

For a user choosing strictly between these two, the Opteron 3380 delivers more compute performance in every measured category. The A12-9800 counters with a newer platform, integrated graphics, and higher memory bandwidth. The Opteron 3380 was launched with a launch MSRP of $229, and it is now end-of-life, while the A12-9800 remains active in production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Opteron 3380 is faster in all multi-core tests. It scores 373 versus 316 in Cinebench R15, 1555 versus 1318 in Cinebench R20, and 3704 versus 3140 in Cinebench R23. The Opteron leads by roughly 15.2 percent in each multi-core test.

Q: Does the AMD A12-9800 win in any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Opteron 3380 winning all five recorded tests. The A12-9800 has zero wins in this comparison.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD A12-9800 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The AMD Opteron 3380 supports DDR3 memory with dual-channel configuration and a theoretical bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The AMD A12-9800 includes a Radeon R7 integrated graphics solution. The AMD Opteron 3380 does not have integrated graphics as a processor feature; display output is available on certain motherboards as a chipset feature.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The Opteron 3380 leads in single-core tests as well. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 219 versus 186 for the A12-9800, a 15.1 percent advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Opteron scores 522 versus 443, also a 15.1 percent advantage.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD A12-9800 is listed as active in production, released on 2017-07-26. The AMD Opteron 3380 is end-of-life, released on 2012-12-03.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The AMD A12-9800 uses the Excavator architecture on the Bristol Ridge codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The AMD Opteron 3380 uses the older K10 architecture on the Delhi codename, built on a 32 nm process. The A12-9800’s newer process node allows for a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, while the Opteron 3380 runs at a lower 2.60 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost.

The transistor counts differ significantly, though the die sizes paint a more complex picture. The A12-9800 packs 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die, while the Opteron 3380 uses 1,200 million transistors on a larger 315 mm² die. The Opteron’s larger die with fewer transistors reflects the older 32 nm manufacturing process and the K10 architecture’s design priorities.

Cache configurations also diverge. The A12-9800 has 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache with no L3 cache. The Opteron 3380 has 384 KB of L1 cache, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron’s larger cache hierarchy, particularly the presence of L3 cache, contributes to its performance lead despite lower clock speeds.

The A12-9800 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the Opteron 3380 supports PCIe Gen 2. Memory support differs as well, with the A12-9800 using DDR4 and the Opteron using DDR3. The A12-9800 includes a Radeon R7 integrated GPU, whereas the Opteron 3380 relies on chipset features on certain motherboards for display output.

The market segments reflect different design goals. The A12-9800 targets desktop use with its integrated graphics and modern socket, while the Opteron 3380 targets server and workstation workloads with eight cores and eight threads. The Opteron 3380 uses Socket AM3+, while the A12-9800 uses Socket AM4.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show clear differences between the two processors. The A12-9800 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Opteron 3380 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The A12-9800 runs at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, while the Opteron 3380 runs at 2.60 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. Both have a TDP of 65 watts.

The process nodes differ, with the A12-9800 on 28 nm and the Opteron 3380 on 32 nm. The A12-9800 has 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die, while the Opteron 3380 has 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. The cache hierarchies differ in every level: L1 is 320 KB for the A12-9800 versus 384 KB for the Opteron, L2 is 2 MB versus 8 MB, and L3 is absent for the A12-9800 while the Opteron has 8 MB shared.

Memory support differs: the A12-9800 uses DDR4 with dual-channel configuration and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Opteron 3380 uses DDR3 with dual-channel configuration and 29.9 GB/s bandwidth. Both have ECC memory support listed as false. The PCIe support differs, with the A12-9800 using Gen 3 with 8 lanes and the Opteron using Gen 2.

The sockets differ, with the A12-9800 using Socket AM4 and the Opteron using Socket AM3+. Integrated graphics differ, with the A12-9800 featuring Radeon R7 and the Opteron having no processor-level graphics. The market segments are Desktop for the A12-9800 and Server/Workstation for the Opteron. Production status shows the A12-9800 as active and the Opteron as end-of-life. The release dates differ, with the A12-9800 released on 2017-07-26 and the Opteron released on 2012-12-03. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a consistent pattern of Opteron 3380 dominance across all five recorded tests. The Opteron wins by a margin of 15.1 to 15.3 percent in every case, with no single test favoring the A12-9800.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron 3380 scores 373 against the A12-9800’s 316, a 15.3 percent advantage. This is the largest margin in the entire comparison. The Opteron’s eight cores provide a clear advantage in this older rendering workload, despite the A12-9800’s higher clock speeds.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a similar result. The Opteron scores 1555 versus 1318 for the A12-9800, a 15.2 percent difference. The gap remains consistent even as the benchmark scales with newer Cinebench versions.

The single-core tests also favor the Opteron, which is notable given its lower base clock of 2.60 GHz compared to the A12-9800’s 3.80 GHz. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 219 versus 186, a 15.1 percent advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Opteron scores 522 versus 443, also a 15.1 percent advantage. The Opteron’s higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz, combined with its larger cache hierarchy, appears to offset the A12-9800’s higher base clock in single-threaded workloads.

Cinebench R23 multi-core confirms the pattern. The Opteron scores 3704 versus 3140, a 15.2 percent advantage. This test represents the most modern workload in the comparison, and the Opteron’s lead remains essentially unchanged from the older Cinebench R15 results.

The average benchmark scores in the database place the A12-9800 at 1081 and the Opteron 3380 at 1071, a difference of only 1 percent in favor of the A12-9800. This near-identical average score, combined with the Opteron’s consistent head-to-head wins, suggests that the Opteron’s performance advantage is specific to the Cinebench workload family rather than a universal characteristic. The percentile rankings reinforce this: the A12-9800 sits at the 30th percentile while the Opteron sits at the 29th percentile, essentially tied in the overall CPU distribution.

The nearest rivals for each processor confirm they occupy similar performance tiers. The A12-9800’s nearest rival is the Intel Pentium Gold G6505T with an average score of 1082 and a delta of -0.1 percent, followed by the Intel Core i5-3335S at 1083 with a delta of -0.1 percent. The Opteron 3380’s nearest rival is the AMD Athlon X4 880K with an average score of 1071 and a delta of 0 percent, followed by the Intel Core i5-5287U at 1072 with a delta of -0.1 percent.

The data shows that while the Opteron 3380 wins every direct comparison, the two processors are closely matched in their overall standing among all CPUs in the database. The Opteron’s wins are consistent but modest, never exceeding 15.3 percent. For workloads that resemble Cinebench’s rendering and multi-threaded tasks, the Opteron 3380 is the stronger choice. For users who need integrated graphics, DDR4 memory support, and a modern AM4 socket, the A12-9800 offers those features at the cost of measurable compute performance.