AMD Opteron 3350 HE vs Intel Core i5-3610ME Comparison

# AMD Opteron 3350 HE vs Intel Core i5-3610ME: Benchmark Analysis

The recorded benchmark data places the AMD Opteron 3350 HE and the Intel Core i5-3610ME in a tight performance cluster. Both processors average near the 788 to 790 composite score range, with the Opteron averaging 789 and the Core i5 averaging 788. This places them at the 21st percentile among all CPUs in the database, a position that reflects their standing as mid-range parts rather than top-tier flagships. The near-identical averages, a 0.1% difference, make this comparison a study in small deltas and specific workload strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Looking across the five Cinebench tests in the database, the AMD Opteron 3350 HE wins all five matchups. The margins, however, are very narrow. The largest single win comes in the multicore Cinebench R15 test, where the Opteron scored 231 against 230 for the Core i5, a 0.4% advantage. In the Cinebench R20 multicore test, the Opteron again leads, 963 to 961, a 0.2% margin. The single-core tests tell a similar story, both chips tie at 135 in R20 single-core and 323 in R23 single-core, with the delta at 0.0%. The most striking result may be the Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Opteron wins 2294 to 2289, again a 0.2% edge.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the AMD part wins every single test, but never by more than 0.4%. This is not a story of dominance but of marginal, repeatable advantages. The Opteron is not faster in any dramatic way, it simply nudges ahead in each recorded workload. For buyers, this means the two CPUs are functionally interchangeable in benchmark terms, and the differences are likely below human perception in real-world use.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two parts is substantial. The AMD Opteron 3350 HE is built on the K10 architecture with the "Delhi" codename, manufactured on a 32nm process at GlobalFoundries with 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. It is a true quad-core design with 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. Cache is organized as 192 KB of L1, 4 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. Memory support is dual-channel DDR3 with a measured bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The chip uses the AMD Socket AM3+ interface and includes PCIe Gen 2 lanes. Integrated graphics are not native to the CPU but available on certain motherboards via the chipset.

The Intel Core i5-3610ME, by contrast, is a dual-core, four-thread part on the Ivy Bridge architecture. This is the "Ivy Bridge" generation from Intel, built on a 22nm process. The die is much smaller at 118 mm², and the cache structure is per-core: 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2, with 3 MB shared L3. Memory support is also dual-channel but the Intel part does not officially list a memory bandwidth figure. The Intel part has integrated graphics, the Intel HD 4000, which the Opteron lacks by default. The socket is Intel G2 (988B), and PCIe support is not listed.

The key differences are core count, process node, and cache. The Opteron has double the physical cores and double the last-level cache (8 MB vs 3 MB), while running on a larger, older process. The Core i5 has SMT (4 threads on 2 cores), which helps offset its core count disadvantage.

Where Each One Wins

Choose the AMD Opteron 3350 HE if the workload favors a large number of physical cores and shared L3 cache. The data shows it wins all Cinebench tests, including the R15 multicore (231 vs 230) and R20 multicore (963 vs 961). The R23 multicore test also favors the Opteron (2294 vs 2289). The Opteron also has more L3 cache (8 MB vs 3 MB), which helps with cache reuse in server-style workloads. The Opteron's 32nm process and larger die suggest it is oriented toward raw multi-core throughput, not efficiency.

The Intel Core i5-3610ME wins in efficiency metrics, but not benchmark wins. Its 22nm process and smaller die (118 mm² vs 315 mm²) indicate lower power draw. The data shows 2 cores with 4 threads, and the Intel part includes integrated graphics, a feature the Opteron lacks. For mobile or all-in-one systems where the integrated GPU matters, the Core i5 is the logical choice. The 3MB L3 is smaller than AMD's 8MB, but the SMT and process advantage even the benchmark scores.

The benchmark parity is not the whole story. The AMD provides more physical cores at the same price point, which is beneficial for multi-threaded software. The Intel provides integrated graphics and a smaller manufacturing process. The data does not show a clear winner on benchmarks, the Opteron wins 5-0 in the nearest rival tests, but with an average delta of only 0.16% these wins are symbolic.

Specification Differences

Between the two parts, the most notable differences in the specification sheet are the core/thread count, process node, cache, and socket. The AMD Opteron 3350 HE is a 4-core, 4-thread processor on AMD Socket AM3+ with the K10 architecture. The Intel Core i5-3610ME is a 2-core, 4-thread processor on Intel Socket G2B with the Ivy Bridge architecture. The process node differs significantly: 32nm for AMD vs 22nm for Intel.

The cache configuration differs slightly. The Opteron has 192KB L1, 4MB L2, and 8MB shared L3. The Core i5 has 64KB L1 per core, 256KB L2 per core, and 3MB shared L3. The AMD part has more L3 cache and the Intel part has more L1 cache per core. Memory support also differs: AMD specifies DDR3 with dual-channel; Intel specifies dual-channel but does not list memory type. The AMD also lists measured memory bandwidth (29.9 GB/s) and PCIe Gen2, while the Intel does not list PCIe.

The AMD is listed as server/workstation market segment; the Intel is mobile. The AMD has a launch MSRP of $125; the Intel part has no MSRP. The AMD is "End-of-life", the Intel has no production status. The AMD uses GlobalFoundries as foundry; the Intel uses Intel as foundry. The AMD has 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die, the Intel 118 mm² die with no transistor count listed.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE averages 789, the Intel Core i5-3610ME averages 788. This is a 0.1% difference, which is within the noise range of the database.

Q: Which part has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i5-3610ME has 2 cores and 4 threads. The AMD has double the physical cores.

Q: Does either part support integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-3610ME includes Intel HD 4000 graphics. The AMD Opteron 3350 HE does not include integrated graphics, but certain motherboards support graphics via the chipset.

Q: How do the L3 cache sizes compare?

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE has 8MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-3610ME has 3MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has about 2.7 times more L3 cache.

Q: What are the socket and process node differences?

A: The AMD uses AMD Socket AM3+ and is built on 32nm, while the Intel uses Intel Socket G2 (988B) and is built on 22nm.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the decision is a narrow one, but it tilts to the AMD Opteron 3350 HE. In every benchmark comparison, the Opteron wins, even though the largest delta is only 0.4%. The Opteron also offers more physical cores (4 vs 2) and a larger L3 cache (8 MB vs 3 MB), which matters for server workloads that run many threads in parallel. Its dual-channel DDR3 support and measured 29.9 GB/s bandwidth suit memory-heavy tasks. The lack of integrated graphics is not a drawback if a discrete GPU is present.

The Intel Core i5-3610ME is the better choice for mobile or compact systems. Its 22nm process and smaller die (118 mm² vs 315 mm²) point to lower power draw, and the integrated Intel HD 4000 eliminates the need for a separate graphics card. The 4 threads on 2 cores, enabled by Hyper-Threading, are sufficient for typical mobile work. However, the AMD is the choice strictly based on the benchmark scores and the raw core count. Both are close, but the Opteron's 5-0 head-to-head lead, however small, is the only unbeaten result in the database.