AMD Opteron 3350 HE vs Intel Core i5-680 Comparison

Intel Core i5-680 and AMD Opteron 3350 HE are two end-of-life desktop and server processors from different architectural eras. The Intel part is a dual-core Westmere chip from the Clarkdale generation, launched in 2010, while the AMD is a quad-core K10 part from the Delhi generation, launched in 2012. Despite the Intel chip having a higher base clock and a much smaller physical footprint, the recorded benchmark data shows the AMD Opteron consistently outperforms the Intel Core i5 across all tested Cinebench workloads, albeit by a narrow 2.2% margin. Both processors sit at the 21st percentile among all CPUs in the database, and their average benchmark scores are close, with the AMD at 789 and the Intel at 772. The following analysis details the architectural differences, specification gaps, and benchmark results recorded in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Core i5-680 has 2 physical cores. Both support 4 threads total, meaning the Intel chip uses Hyper-Threading while the AMD does not.

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

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE has an average benchmark score of 789, while the Intel Core i5-680 has an average score of 772. This places the AMD part about 2.2% higher in overall average performance.

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

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD Opteron 3350 HE scores 323, while the Intel Core i5-680 scores 316. The AMD wins this test by a 2.2% margin.

Q: Which processor has a lower thermal design power (TDP)?

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE has a TDP of 45 watts, which is significantly lower than the Intel Core i5-680's TDP of 73 watts. This makes the AMD part more energy-efficient in terms of rated power draw.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither the Intel Core i5-680 nor the AMD Opteron 3350 HE supports ECC memory according to the database records. Both use standard DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: What is the transistor count difference between the two chips?

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE contains 1,200 million transistors, while the Intel Core i5-680 contains 382 million. The AMD chip also has a much larger die size at 315 mm² compared to Intel's 81 mm².

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-680 is built on the Westmere microarchitecture, specifically the Clarkdale codename, using Intel's 32 nm process node. It is a dual-core chip with 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach that thread count. The die size is a compact 81 mm², and the transistor count is 382 million, reflecting a simpler, more integrated design that includes Intel HD integrated graphics directly on the package. The cache hierarchy is split per core, with 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus a 4 MB shared L3 cache.

The AMD Opteron 3350 HE is based on the K10 architecture, codenamed Delhi, and is manufactured by GlobalFoundries on the same 32 nm process node. It is a true quad-core processor with 4 threads, no SMT technology. The chip is physically much larger, with a die size of 315 mm² and a transistor count of 1,200 million. Its cache layout is different: 192 KB of L1 total, 4 MB of L2 total, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the AMD part a substantial advantage in total cache capacity, especially at the L3 level where it offers double the Intel's 4 MB.

The Intel platform uses Socket 1156, while the AMD uses Socket AM3+. Both support PCIe Gen 2, but the Intel chip specifies 16 lanes from the CPU, whereas the AMD part's PCIe configuration is listed simply as Gen 2 without lane count. The AMD Opteron lacks integrated graphics on the CPU die, relying on the chipset for display output on certain motherboards, while the Intel Core i5-680 has Intel HD graphics built in. These architectural choices shape their respective market positions: the Intel part targets desktop use, while the AMD chip is aimed at the server and workstation segment.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded head-to-head benchmark data, the AMD Opteron 3350 HE wins all five tested Cinebench workloads. This includes both multicore and single-core tests across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The AMD part's advantage is consistent at a 2.2% delta in every single test. Despite having a lower base clock of 2.80 GHz compared to the Intel's 3.60 GHz, the AMD chip's additional two physical cores and larger L3 cache give it a measurable edge in every workload the database tracks.

The Intel Core i5-680 does not record a single benchmark win in the head-to-head comparison. However, its strengths lie elsewhere in the specifications. It has a higher base clock (3.60 GHz vs 2.80 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.87 GHz vs 3.80 GHz). It also includes integrated graphics, which the AMD chip lacks on the CPU itself. For workloads that are highly latency-sensitive or depend on single-thread clock speed, the Intel chip's higher clocks could theoretically be beneficial, but the benchmark data does not support this, as the AMD wins the single-core tests too, albeit by the same narrow margin.

In practical terms, the AMD Opteron 3350 HE is the better choice for any workload represented in the Cinebench suite. The Intel part's only advantage is its integrated graphics and higher clock speeds, which do not translate into benchmark wins in the recorded data. The database shows the AMD winning 5 out of 5 head-to-head tests, making it the clear performance leader in this comparison.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Intel Core i5-680 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Opteron 3350 HE has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: Intel runs at 3.60 GHz, AMD at 2.80 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with Intel at 3.87 GHz and AMD at 3.80 GHz. The TDP difference is substantial, with Intel rated at 73 watts and AMD at 45 watts.

The cache hierarchies are structured differently. Intel uses per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) with a 4 MB shared L3. AMD uses a 192 KB L1 total and 4 MB L2 total, plus an 8 MB shared L3. Process node is the same at 32 nm, but the foundry differs: Intel uses its own fabs, while AMD uses GlobalFoundries. Transistor counts are 382 million for Intel versus 1,200 million for AMD, and die sizes are 81 mm² versus 315 mm².

Memory support is identical in type (DDR3) and channel configuration (dual-channel), but the memory bandwidth differs: Intel lists 21.3 GB/s, AMD lists 29.9 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe support is Gen 2 for both, but Intel specifies 16 CPU lanes while AMD does not list a lane count. Integrated graphics are present on the Intel chip, absent on the AMD. The market segments differ: Intel is Desktop, AMD is Server/Workstation. Release dates are April 2010 for Intel and December 2012 for AMD. The launch MSRP is $294 for the Intel and $125 for the AMD.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records five head-to-head Cinebench tests, and the AMD Opteron 3350 HE wins all five. The margin is uniform at 2.2% in favor of the AMD part across every test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 231 against the Intel's 226, a 5-point difference. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the AMD scores 963 against 942, a 21-point difference. The single-core R20 test shows the AMD at 135 versus the Intel at 132, a 3-point gap.

The largest absolute difference appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the AMD scores 2294 and the Intel scores 2243, a 51-point gap. The single-core R23 test is the closest in percentage terms but still goes to the AMD: 323 versus 316, a 7-point gap. The consistency of the 2.2% delta across all tests suggests a systematic performance advantage for the AMD chip, likely stemming from its extra cores and larger cache, rather than any workload-specific behavior.

The Intel Core i5-680's nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core i7-3687U (avg score 773, delta -0.1%), the Intel Celeron G5920 (avg score 775, delta -0.4%), the Intel Core i3-3250T (avg score 775, delta -0.4%), and the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 (avg score 776, delta -0.5%). The AMD Opteron 3350 HE's nearest rivals are the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 (avg score 789, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 (avg score 790, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i5-4210U (avg score 788, delta 0.1%), and the Intel Core i5-3610ME (avg score 788, delta 0.2%). The AMD chip's average score of 789 places it in a slightly higher performance tier than the Intel Core i5-680's 772, confirming the head-to-head results. The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 3350 HE outperforms the Intel Core i5-680 in every measured metric, with a small but consistent lead.