AMD Opteron 3280 vs Intel Core i3-4150 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent sweep in favor of the AMD Opteron 3280 across every shared benchmark. The Intel Core i3-4150 does not win a single test in the head-to-head comparison. The closest margin appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Opteron 3280 scores 3215 against the Core i3-4150's 2888, a difference of 10.2%. That same 10.2% gap repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore (1350 vs 1212) and Cinebench R23 singlecore (453 versus 407).

The single-core results are particularly telling for the AMD part. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, the Opteron 3280 scores 190 versus the Core i3-4150's 170, a 10.5% lead. The fact that an eight-core server-oriented chip beats a dual-core desktop part in single-threaded workload is notable, given the Intel chip's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus the Opteron's 2.50 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost. The recorded data does not indicate any clock advantage for Intel in these tests.

The multicore delta is consistent across generations of the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron 3280 leads with 324 points versus 290, again a 10.5% margin. Cinebench R20 multicore shows a 10.2% lead (1350 versus 1212). This consistency suggests a steady performance gap rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

In terms of aggregate scores, the Intel Core i3-4150 has an average benchmark score of 1119 across all its recorded tests, while the AMD Opteron 3280 averages 1106. This puts the Intel part at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, with the Opteron at the 31st percentile. The nearest rivals for the Intel chip include the Intel Core i7-2860QM (avg score 1120, 0.1% behind) and the Intel Core i5-3550S (avg score 1118, 0.1% ahead). For the Opteron 3280, the nearest rivals are the AMD Athlon X4 845 (avg score 1106, even) and the AMD Opteron 4280 (avg score 1107, 0.1% ahead). These aggregate figures place both processors in a similar overall performance tier, despite the head-to-head sweep.

The Verdict

If the choice is based purely on the recorded benchmark data, the AMD Opteron 3280 is the faster chip. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with margins between 10.2% and 10.5%. The data shows no counterevidence: the Core i3-4150 has zero wins in the comparison. However, the aggregate scores tell a slightly different story. The Intel part's average score of 1119 is marginally higher than the Opteron's 1106, but this includes benchmarks where the Opteron does not appear, such as Geekbench multicore (1896 for Intel) and Geekbench singlecore (968 for Intel). The Opteron has no Geekbench entries in the database, so those Intel scores skew the average.

For users who rely on Cinebench as a proxy for rendering or compute workloads, the Opteron 3280 is the clear choice. For users who prioritize the wider benchmark coverage or the Intel platform's specifics, the Core i3-4150 might still be attractive, but the recorded head-to-head data gives no support for an Intel-led performance. The percentile ranking is nearly identical (32nd for Intel, 31st for AMD), so neither part is a standout in the broader CPU landscape. The verdict from the data: the Opteron 3280 wins the direct comparison, but the margin is modest and both belong to the same performance neighborhood.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 3280 wins in every benchmark where both parts were measured. This includes multicore and single-core Cinebench R20 and R23, plus multicore Cinebench R15. The Opteron's advantage is consistent, ranging from 10.2% to 10.5% across all tests. This suggests a balanced lead that holds regardless of thread count or instruction mix. The Opteron's larger cache hierarchy (8 MB L2 and 8 MB L3 shared) and eight physical cores likely contribute, though the data does not explicitly state the cause.

The Intel Core i3-4150 has no benchmark wins in this comparison. However, it does have recorded scores in Geekbench multicore (1896) and Geekbench singlecore (968), which the Opteron lacks. If a user needs those specific metrics, the Intel part provides the only data point. The Intel's 2 cores with 4 threads and a base clock of 3.50 GHz may also present lower power consumption characteristics, although the TDP figures (54 W for Intel, 65 W for AMD) are the only power-related numbers available.

In terms of platform features, the Intel supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Opteron supports PCIe Gen 2. The Intel has integrated graphics (Intel HD 4400), whereas the Opteron's graphics come from the chipset on certain motherboards. The Intel also has a smaller process node (22 nm versus 32 nm) and a smaller die size (177 mm² versus 315 mm²), but those advantages do not translate into benchmark wins in the recorded data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Opteron 3280 scores 453 in Cinebench R23 singlecore, while the Intel Core i3-4150 scores 407, a 10.2% difference.

1: How many times does the Intel Core i3-4150 win a head-to-head benchmark?

A: The Intel Core i3-4150 wins zero of the head-to-head benchmarks. The AMD Opteron 3280 wins all five.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-4150 has an average benchmark score of 1119, while the AMD Opteron 3280 averages 1106.

Q: Which processor has a higher core count?

A: The AMD Opteron 3280 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-4150 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The AMD Opteron 3280 has a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Intel Core i3-4150 has 25.6 GB/s. Both support DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-4150 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz, while the AMD Opteron 3280 has a base clock of 2.50 GHz but boosts to 3.50 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from completely different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Core i3-4150 is a dual-core with Hyper-Threading (4 threads) based on the Haswell architecture, manufactured on a 22 nm process at Intel's foundry. It has 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The AMD Opteron 3280 is an eight-core, eight-thread part from the K10 architecture (codename Zurich), built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 1,200 million transistors on a larger 315 mm² die.

The cache layouts differ substantially. The Intel part has L1 cache of 64 KB per core, L2 of 256 KB per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has a larger L1 cache of 384 KB total, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Opteron's aggregate cache capacity is far greater, which may contribute to its performance in the recorded multi-core tests.

Memory support is the same in type (DDR3) and channel count (dual-channel), but the Opteron has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth (29.9 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s). Neither supports ECC memory. The PCIe generations differ: the Intel offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD offers Gen 2. The Intel integrates HD 4400 graphics, while the Opteron relies on a chipset feature for display output on certain motherboards.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i3-4150 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Opteron 3280 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel's base clock is 3.50 GHz with no boost clock listed, while the AMD has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. TDP is lower on the Intel at 54 W versus 65 W for the AMD.

Sockets are entirely different: Intel uses LGA 1150, while AMD uses AM3+. The process nodes are 22 nm (Intel) versus 32 nm (AMD), with transistor counts of 1,400 million versus 1,200 million and die sizes of 177 mm² versus 315 mm². The cache hierarchy is a clear differentiator: Intel's L1 is 64 KB per core, L2 is 256 KB per core, and L3 is 3 MB shared; AMD's L1 is 384 KB total, L2 is 8 MB, and L3 is 8 MB shared. Memory bandwidth differs (25.6 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s), and PCIe versions differ (Gen 3 vs Gen 2). The Intel has integrated HD 4400 graphics; the AMD does not have integrated graphics as a core feature. The release dates are the AMD in March 2012 and the Intel in April 2014. The launch MSRP for the Intel was $117, and for the AMD it was $229.

The Intel part number is SR1PJ, the AMD part number is OS3280OLW8KGU. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are end-of-life.