AMD Opteron 3350 HE vs Intel Core i3-7100 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a remarkably narrow contest between these two processors. Across all five shared Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i3-7100 wins every single matchup, but the margins are consistently tiny. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the Opteron 3350 HE scores 231 against the i3-7100's 232, a difference of just 0.4%. That is a near dead heat, with the Intel part edging ahead by a single point.

The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Opteron posts 963 and the i3-7100 posts 970, a 0.7% gap. The single-core R20 test shows the same 0.7% delta, with scores of 135 and 136 respectively. Moving to Cinebench R23, the multicore results are 2294 for the AMD chip and 2310 for the Intel chip, again 0.7% apart. The single-core R23 test widens slightly to a 0.9% gap, with 323 versus 326.

What stands out from these measurements is not the winner, but the consistency of the margins. The largest delta in any test is less than 1%. The i3-7100 claims five wins out of five, but the Opteron 3350 HE is never more than a point or two behind in absolute terms. For a server/workstation part from 2012 facing a desktop processor from 2017, the Opteron's showing is surprisingly competitive. The database's average benchmark scores reflect this: the Opteron averages 789, while the i3-7100 averages 781, meaning the AMD part actually holds a slight lead in overall average across all recorded tests, despite losing every head-to-head matchup. That apparent contradiction comes from the i3-7100 having additional Geekbench scores in its record that are not part of the shared test set.

In terms of percentile ranking, both CPUs sit at the 21st percentile of all recorded processors. They are effectively peers in the database's overall distribution. The nearest rivals for the Opteron include the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 at a 0.1% lower average score, and the Core i5-4210U at a 0.1% higher average. For the i3-7100, the closest competitors include the AMD A10-5800K at 0.4% higher, and the Intel Pentium G4520 at the same 0.4% margin. These surrounding data points reinforce the picture: both chips occupy the same performance tier, surrounded by older and newer parts of similar capability.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is substantial, even though their benchmark scores align closely. The AMD Opteron 3350 HE uses the K10 architecture, codenamed Delhi, built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-7100 uses Kaby Lake, built on Intel's 14 nm process, with transistor count and die size not recorded in the database. The process node difference alone explains much of the efficiency and feature divergence.

Core counts differ sharply. The Opteron offers 4 physical cores and 4 threads, while the i3-7100 offers 2 physical cores and 4 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading. In pure multi-threaded workloads, the Opteron's extra physical cores should theoretically help, yet the i3-7100's higher clock speed compensates. The Opteron runs at a 2.80 GHz base with a 3.80 GHz boost, while the i3-7100 runs at a fixed 3.90 GHz with no boost clock recorded. That 1.10 GHz advantage in base frequency, and 0.10 GHz advantage over the Opteron's boost, explains how a 2-core part keeps pace with a 4-core part.

Cache configurations also differ. The Opteron has 192 KB of L1, 4 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. The i3-7100 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. The Opteron's larger L3 cache, more than double the Intel part's, helps it feed its four cores. The i3-7100's smaller but faster per-core cache layout suits its dual-core design.

Memory support is another clear divide. The Opteron uses DDR3 on a dual-channel bus, yielding 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth. The i3-7100 uses DDR4 on a dual-channel bus, with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. That is a 28% bandwidth advantage for the Intel chip, which helps explain its competitiveness in memory-sensitive workloads despite fewer cores. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

PCIe generation differs as well. The Opteron provides Gen 2, while the i3-7100 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Opteron also relies on a chipset feature for integrated graphics on certain motherboards, whereas the i3-7100 has Intel HD 630 built in. The Opteron targets the server/workstation segment, while the i3-7100 targets desktop, which aligns with their respective socket choices: AM3+ for AMD, Socket 1151 for Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100 runs at 3.90 GHz base, while the AMD Opteron 3350 HE runs at 2.80 GHz base. The i3-7100 has no boost clock, but its base is already higher than the Opteron's 3.80 GHz boost.

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

A: The i3-7100 wins all recorded single-core tests, but by tiny margins. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 136 versus 135 for the Opteron, a 0.7% gap. In R23 single-core, it scores 326 versus 323, a 0.9% gap.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron have more cores?

A: Yes, the Opteron has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, while the i3-7100 has 2 physical cores and 4 threads. Despite this difference, the i3-7100 wins the multicore tests because of its higher clock speed and newer architecture.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The Opteron supports DDR3 on a dual-channel bus with 29.9 GB/s bandwidth. The i3-7100 supports DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Opteron has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-7100 has 3 MB of shared L3. The Opteron also has 4 MB of L2 versus 256 KB per core for the Intel chip.

Q: What are the production statuses of these two chips?

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE is end-of-life, having been released in December 2012. The Intel Core i3-7100 is active, released in January 2017.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The Opteron is a 4-core, 4-thread part with a 2.80 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost, while the i3-7100 is a 2-core, 4-thread part with a 3.90 GHz base and no boost. TDP differs: the Opteron draws 45 watts, while the i3-7100 draws 51 watts, making the AMD chip more power-efficient on paper despite its older process.

Sockets are incompatible: AM3+ for AMD versus Socket 1151 for Intel. The Opteron uses the K10 architecture on a 32 nm process, while the i3-7100 uses Kaby Lake on 14 nm. The Opteron has 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die; the i3-7100 has no recorded transistor count or die size. Cache layouts differ completely: the Opteron has 192 KB L1, 4 MB L2, and 8 MB L3; the i3-7100 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB L3.

Memory support splits by generation: DDR3 versus DDR4, with bandwidths of 29.9 GB/s and 38.4 GB/s respectively. PCIe generation differs, with Gen 2 on the Opteron and Gen 3 on the i3-7100. Integrated graphics are a chipset feature on certain motherboards for the AMD part, while the Intel part has HD 630 built in. Market segments differ: server/workstation for the Opteron, desktop for the i3-7100. Production status is end-of-life versus active. Release dates are December 2012 versus January 2017. The Opteron has a recorded launch MSRP of $125, while the i3-7100 has no recorded launch MSRP. Part numbers differ: OS3350HOW4KHK for AMD, SR35C for Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 3350 HE wins in raw core count, offering 4 physical cores against the i3-7100's 2. It also leads in cache capacity, with 8 MB of L3 versus 3 MB, and 4 MB of L2 versus 256 KB per core. Its TDP is lower at 45 watts versus 51 watts, making it the more power-efficient choice on paper. The Opteron also has a slightly higher average benchmark score across all recorded tests: 789 versus 781.

The Intel Core i3-7100 wins every head-to-head benchmark test recorded. It takes all five Cinebench matchups, including multicore and single-core variants. Its base clock of 3.90 GHz is significantly higher than the Opteron's 2.80 GHz base and even exceeds the Opteron's 3.80 GHz boost. It offers faster memory bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s, and supports newer DDR4 memory. It also has PCIe Gen 3 versus Gen 2, and includes integrated graphics rather than relying on a chipset feature.

The overall pattern shows the i3-7100 winning on execution efficiency, while the Opteron wins on structural specifications. The i3-7100's newer architecture and higher clocks let it outperform a part with twice the physical cores. The Opteron's advantages in core count, cache, and power draw make it a candidate for workloads that scale with cores and cache, though its benchmark results do not show a decisive win in any recorded test.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but narrow recommendation. The Intel Core i3-7100 wins 5 of 5 head-to-head benchmarks, making it the faster processor in every shared test. Its margins are small, never exceeding 0.9%, but they are consistent. For users prioritizing measured performance in Cinebench workloads, the i3-7100 is the choice.

The AMD Opteron 3350 HE, however, offers structural advantages that the benchmarks do not fully capture. It has 4 physical cores, 8 MB of L3 cache, a lower 45 watt TDP, and a higher average benchmark score of 789. For scenarios that benefit from additional cores or larger cache pools, or where power draw matters, the Opteron has a theoretical edge, though the recorded tests do not demonstrate it decisively.

The 21st percentile ranking for both chips places them in the same performance stratum. The i3-7100 is the better pick for general desktop use, given its higher clocks, newer memory support, and integrated graphics. The Opteron is the better pick for legacy server or workstation builds on AM3+ platforms, especially where its lower TDP and extra physical cores are valued. Neither part dominates; the i3-7100 wins the tests, but the Opteron remains a viable alternative within a single percentage point across the board.