AMD Opteron 3350 HE vs Intel Core i5-3320M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is decisive: the AMD Opteron 3350 HE wins every recorded head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core i5-3320M. The margins are narrow but consistent across all five Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 231 against 227 for the Intel, a 1.7% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar pattern, with the Opteron at 963 and the Intel at 948, a 1.6% lead. Single-core results follow the same trend: the Opteron scores 135 in R20 single-core versus 133, and 323 in R23 single-core versus 318, both representing 1.5% advantages. The R23 multi-core test rounds out the sweep, with the Opteron at 2294 and the Intel at 2258, another 1.6% margin.

While the Opteron takes every test, the differences are small enough that they fall within typical run-to-run variance for these workloads. The larger story is how both chips compare to their respective peer groups. The Intel Core i5-3320M sits at the 22nd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 803. Its nearest rivals include the AMD A10-7700K at 801 (0.2% slower) and the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U at 805 (0.2% faster). This places the Intel part in a tight cluster of mid-range processors from different generations and market segments. The Opteron 3350 HE, by contrast, holds the 21st percentile with an average score of 789. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 at 789 (0.1% lower) and the Intel Core i5-4210U at 788 (0.1% lower). The Opteron's average score is slightly lower than the Intel i5-3320M's, but its head-to-head wins show it has the edge in these specific Cinebench workloads.

The pattern is clear: the Opteron's four physical cores provide a marginal but real advantage over the Intel's two cores with Hyper-Threading. The consistency of the 1.5% to 1.7% deltas across both single and multi-threaded tests suggests the AMD chip has a slight architectural edge in this comparison, even though its overall percentile ranking is one point lower.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and process nodes. The Intel Core i5-3320M is built on Intel's 22 nm process at Intel's own foundry, using the Ivy Bridge architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The thermal design power is 35 watts, reflecting its mobile market segment. The die size is 118 mm², and the cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. It includes Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, making it a self-contained mobile solution. The socket is Intel BGA 1023, and the memory bus is dual-channel. ECC memory is not supported, and the multiplier is locked. It was released on 2012-05-31.

The AMD Opteron 3350 HE is a server and workstation part from the Opteron 3000 series, built on GlobalFoundries' 32 nm process using the K10 architecture with the codename Delhi. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The TDP is 45 watts, higher than the Intel part but still within the "HE" (high efficiency) designation. The die is substantially larger at 315 mm², and the transistor count is listed at 1,200 million, compared to no transistor count listed for the Intel. The cache structure differs significantly: the Opteron has 192 KB of L1, 4 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache, roughly double the Intel's L3. It supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus with a listed bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. PCIe is Gen 2, and integrated graphics are available only through a chipset feature on certain motherboards, not on the CPU itself. The socket is AMD Socket AM3+, and ECC memory is not supported. The multiplier is locked. It was released on 2012-12-03 and is marked as end-of-life. The launch MSRP was $125.

The process node difference (22 nm versus 32 nm) and the much larger AMD die (315 mm² versus 118 mm²) highlight the divergent design goals: the Intel is a compact, integrated mobile processor, while the AMD is a larger, multi-core server chip with significantly more cache.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Core i5-3320M has 2 physical cores. However, the Intel part supports 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, bringing its thread count to 4, matching the Opteron's 4 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-3320M have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-3320M includes Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 3350 HE does not have integrated graphics on the CPU; it relies on a chipset feature on certain motherboards.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE has a higher boost clock at 3.80 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i5-3320M's 3.30 GHz. The Opteron also has a higher base clock at 2.80 GHz versus 2.60 GHz.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE scores 323 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Intel Core i5-3320M scores 318. This gives the Opteron a 1.5% advantage in that specific test.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-3320M has 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron's total L2 cache is also larger at 4 MB versus 256 KB per core on the Intel.

Q: Are both processors from the same manufacturing process?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-3320M uses a 22 nm process at Intel's foundry, while the AMD Opteron 3350 HE uses a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3320M | AMD Opteron 3350 HE |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1023 | AMD Socket AM3+ |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | K10 |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Delhi |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not listed | 1,200 million |

| Die Size | 118 mm² | 315 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 4 MB |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | Not listed | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 29.9 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4000 | On certain motherboards (Chipset feature) |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Not listed | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2012-05-31 | 2012-12-03 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $125 |

| Part Number | SR0MY | OS3350HOW4KHK |

The two parts also share some similarities: both have dual-channel memory buses, neither supports ECC memory, both have locked multipliers, and both have 4 threads.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 3350 HE wins in all five recorded benchmark comparisons. Its margins are consistent at 1.5% to 1.7% across both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests. The Opteron's advantage likely stems from its higher base and boost clocks (2.80/3.80 GHz versus 2.60/3.30 GHz) and its additional physical cores, even though thread counts are equal. The larger L3 cache (8 MB versus 3 MB) may also contribute to its slightly better scores.

The Intel Core i5-3320M, despite losing the head-to-head, holds a higher overall average benchmark score of 803 versus 789 for the Opteron. This discrepancy is explained by the Intel part having additional benchmark entries in the database (including Geekbench results) that are not present for the Opteron. The Intel's percentile ranking is also one point higher (22nd versus 21st). Furthermore, the Intel part's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U, a much newer processor, and the Intel Xeon E5530, indicating its score cluster spans a wide range of hardware.

For use cases, the data suggests the Opteron is the stronger choice for pure Cinebench rendering workloads, where it wins every test. The Intel part's integrated graphics make it a more self-contained solution for mobile systems where a discrete GPU is not available. The Opteron's server/workstation market segment and larger cache structure point toward multi-threaded server tasks, while the Intel's mobile segment and lower TDP (35 W versus 45 W) suggest it is better suited for power-constrained laptop environments. The Opteron also supports DDR3 memory with a listed bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, a specification absent from the Intel's profile.

The Verdict

The data shows a narrow but unambiguous victory for the AMD Opteron 3350 HE in this head-to-head comparison. It wins every recorded benchmark, with the largest margin being 1.7% in Cinebench R15 multi-core and the smallest at 1.5% in both single-core tests. For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering performance, the Opteron is the better choice, despite its lower overall average score and percentile ranking.

The Intel Core i5-3320M is the pick for mobile applications where integrated graphics are required and power consumption matters. Its 35 W TDP is lower than the Opteron's 45 W, and the presence of Intel HD 4000 eliminates the need for a separate GPU. The Intel part also has a slight edge in the aggregate benchmark average (803 versus 789) and a higher percentile (22nd versus 21st), though this is partly due to the different benchmark suites recorded for each.

For a server or workstation workload focused on multi-threaded compute with no need for on-chip graphics, the Opteron 3350 HE is the data-supported winner. Its four physical cores, higher clocks, and larger caches give it a measurable performance advantage in the recorded tests. The Intel part, however, remains the more versatile mobile solution, offering integrated graphics and lower power draw. The choice between them should be guided by the application environment: the Opteron for raw compute in a server chassis, the Intel for portable systems where power efficiency and graphics capability are priorities.