AMD Opteron 3350 HE vs AMD Ryzen 3 2200U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data splits cleanly between these two processors, but not in the way the core counts might suggest. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U wins the only directly comparable benchmark, the Cinebench R15 multicore test, by a substantial margin. The AMD Opteron 3350 HE, despite having twice the physical cores, does not win a single head-to-head test in the database. The Ryzen 3 2200U posts a score of 312 against the Opteron's 231, a 35.1% advantage in the one test where both processors have recorded results.

Looking at the broader benchmark sets, each chip has its own strengths. The Ryzen 3 2200U shows strong scores across modern workloads, with a Geekbench multicore score of 1880 and a single-core score of 911. The Opteron 3350 HE, on the other hand, has results in newer Cinebench versions that the Ryzen chip does not have recorded, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 2294 and a single-core score of 323. These numbers suggest the Opteron can handle multi-threaded rendering tasks in newer test versions, but the lack of overlapping benchmarks makes direct comparison difficult beyond the single head-to-head result.

The use-case split becomes clearer when considering the market segments. The Ryzen 3 2200U is a mobile part, designed for laptops and portable systems, with a 15 W TDP. The Opteron 3350 HE is a server and workstation processor with a 45 W TDP. The data indicates that the Ryzen 3 2200U is the better choice for users who need strong per-watt performance in a compact system, while the Opteron 3350 HE targets legacy server platforms where its four cores and higher clock speeds may be more relevant. The percentile rankings reinforce this split, with the Ryzen 3 2200U sitting at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs and the Opteron at the 21st, a negligible difference in overall standing.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from completely different eras of AMD design. The Ryzen 3 2200U uses the Zen architecture on the Raven Ridge codename, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Opteron 3350 HE uses the much older K10 architecture with the Delhi codename, manufactured on a 32 nm process, also at GlobalFoundries. The transistor counts tell the story of the process gap: the Ryzen chip packs 4,950 million transistors into a 210 mm² die, while the Opteron manages only 1,200 million transistors across a larger 315 mm² die.

Cache configurations differ significantly between the two. The Ryzen 3 2200U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron 3350 HE has 192 KB of L1 cache total, 4 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen's per-core L2 allocation is more generous relative to its two cores, while the Opteron spreads its cache across four cores with a larger shared L3 pool.

Memory support represents another generational divide. The Ryzen 3 2200U supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with a theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Opteron 3350 HE supports DDR3 on a dual-channel bus with 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth. Neither chip supports ECC memory according to the database. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Ryzen 3 2200U offers PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the Opteron 3350 HE provides PCIe Gen 2.

The integrated graphics situation is a major differentiator. The Ryzen 3 2200U includes Radeon Vega 3 graphics built directly into the chip, making it a complete APU solution for mobile systems. The Opteron 3350 HE has no integrated graphics of its own, relying on a chipset feature on certain motherboards. The Ryzen part also uses the AMD Socket FP5, while the Opteron uses the older AMD Socket AM3+. Production status differs as well, with the Ryzen 3 2200U listed as active and the Opteron 3350 HE marked as end-of-life.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multicore performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U wins the only direct head-to-head benchmark, the Cinebench R15 multicore test, with a score of 312 against the Opteron 3350 HE's 231, a 35.1% advantage.

Q: Does the Opteron 3350 HE have more cores?

A: Yes, the Opteron 3350 HE has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Ryzen 3 2200U has 2 cores and 4 threads due to simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which chip has better memory bandwidth?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200U supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s of theoretical bandwidth, compared to the Opteron 3350 HE's DDR3 at 29.9 GB/s.

Q: Can the Opteron 3350 HE be used in a laptop?

A: The database lists the Opteron 3350 HE as a server and workstation processor with a 45 W TDP and an AM3+ socket, so it is not suited for mobile systems. The Ryzen 3 2200U is the mobile part with a 15 W TDP.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200U includes Radeon Vega 3 graphics. The Opteron 3350 HE has no integrated graphics, only a chipset feature on certain motherboards.

Q: What are the release dates for these processors?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200U was released on 2018-01-07, while the Opteron 3350 HE was released on 2012-12-03.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Ryzen 3 2200U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Opteron 3350 HE has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clock speeds favor the Opteron at 2.80 GHz versus 2.50 GHz, and the boost clock also favors the Opteron at 3.80 GHz versus 3.40 GHz. The TDP difference is dramatic: 15 W for the Ryzen 3 2200U against 45 W for the Opteron 3350 HE.

The process node separates the generations clearly, with the Ryzen 3 2200U on 14 nm and the Opteron 3350 HE on 32 nm. Transistor counts differ by a factor of more than four, with the Ryzen chip at 4,950 million and the Opteron at 1,200 million. Die sizes also differ, with the Ryzen at 210 mm² and the Opteron at 315 mm².

Cache hierarchies are distinct. The Ryzen 3 2200U has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Opteron 3350 HE has 192 KB of L1 total, 4 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. Memory support differs as noted, with DDR4 on the Ryzen and DDR3 on the Opteron, along with the bandwidth gap between 38.4 GB/s and 29.9 GB/s.

Other differences include sockets, with the Ryzen using AMD Socket FP5 and the Opteron using AMD Socket AM3+. PCIe generations differ, with the Ryzen offering Gen 3 and the Opteron offering Gen 2. The market segments are also different, with the Ryzen listed as mobile and the Opteron as server and workstation. Production status separates them, with the Ryzen active and the Opteron end-of-life. The release dates show a gap of over five years, with the Opteron launching in 2012 and the Ryzen in 2018. The Opteron 3350 HE has a launch MSRP of $125.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains one directly comparable benchmark between these two processors: Cinebench R15 multicore. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U scores 312, while the AMD Opteron 3350 HE scores 231. That is a 35.1% difference in favor of the Ryzen chip. This result is notable because the Opteron has twice the physical core count, yet still loses by a wide margin. The Ryzen 3 2200U's two cores with four threads, combined with the much newer Zen architecture, clearly overcome the Opteron's four K10 cores.

The Opteron 3350 HE does have additional recorded benchmarks that the Ryzen 3 2200U lacks, including Cinebench R20 and R23 results. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Opteron scores 963, and in single-core it scores 135. In Cinebench R23, the Opteron scores 2294 multicore and 323 single-core. These results show the Opteron can still complete modern rendering workloads, but without a matching Ryzen score, they cannot be used for direct comparison.

The Ryzen 3 2200U's other scores include Geekbench multicore at 1880 and single-core at 911. These are strong numbers for a 15 W mobile processor, particularly the single-core result, which reflects the Zen architecture's efficiency at lower power levels. The average benchmark score for the Ryzen 3 2200U is 805, while the Opteron 3350 HE averages 789, a difference of only 16 points across their respective benchmark sets.

The nearest rivals for each chip provide context for their overall positioning. The Ryzen 3 2200U sits alongside the Intel Xeon X5482 with a 0% delta, the AMD Athlon X4 850 with a -0.1% delta, the Intel Core i5-3320M with a 0.3% delta, and the Intel Core i7-870S with a -0.4% delta. The Opteron 3350 HE is comparable to the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 with a -0.1% delta, the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 with a -0.1% delta, the Intel Core i5-4210U with a 0.1% delta, and the Intel Core i5-3610ME with a 0.2% delta. These nearest rival groups show both processors competing with older Intel parts, though the Ryzen 3 2200U's rivals include a more modern Core i5-3320M.

The Verdict

The data makes the choice clear for most users. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U is the better processor for anyone needing a modern, efficient solution with strong single-threaded performance and integrated graphics. Its 35.1% lead over the Opteron 3350 HE in the Cinebench R15 multicore test, despite having only half the physical cores, demonstrates the architectural superiority of Zen over K10. The 15 W TDP makes it suitable for laptops and compact systems, while the Radeon Vega 3 graphics eliminate the need for a separate GPU in basic systems.

The AMD Opteron 3350 HE is a legacy server part that has been end-of-life since its 2012 release. Its four cores and higher clock speeds of 2.80 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost do not translate into better performance in the recorded benchmarks. The 45 W TDP and lack of integrated graphics make it less practical for modern builds. However, for users maintaining older AM3+ server platforms, the Opteron 3350 HE remains a functional choice with its 8 MB of shared L3 cache and DDR3 support.

The Ryzen 3 2200U also offers superior memory bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s, a newer PCIe Gen 3 interface, and a far more recent manufacturing process at 14 nm versus 32 nm. The Opteron's only advantages in the specification sheet are core count, clock speed, and L3 cache size, none of which translate into a benchmark win. The percentile rankings are nearly identical, with the Ryzen at 22 and the Opteron at 21, but the Ryzen achieves this with a fraction of the power draw.

For new purchases, the Ryzen 3 2200U is the only sensible pick. For those maintaining existing Opteron platforms, the 3350 HE remains a viable server processor, but the data shows it cannot compete with even a low-power Ryzen mobile chip in raw performance. The Ryzen 3 2200U wins the head-to-head comparison decisively, and the Opteron 3350 HE should be considered only in the context of its specific legacy socket and server market segment.