AMD Opteron 3350 HE vs Intel Xeon E5530 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E5530 records an average benchmark score of 801, while the AMD Opteron 3350 HE records 789. The Xeon E5530 sits slightly ahead, with the Opteron's nearest rival being the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 at the same 789 score.

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

A: In the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the Intel Xeon E5530 scores 2328, while the AMD Opteron 3350 HE scores 2294. The Intel part wins by 1.5%, a narrow margin that reflects similar multi-threaded throughput.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 3350 HE support ECC memory?

A: No, the AMD Opteron 3350 HE does not support ECC memory. The Intel Xeon E5530, in contrast, has ECC memory support, which is relevant for error-correcting workloads in server environments.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Opteron 3350 HE boosts to 3.80 GHz, significantly higher than the Intel Xeon E5530's boost of 2.67 GHz. Despite this advantage, the Opteron still loses every head-to-head benchmark to the Xeon.

Q: What is the thermal design power (TDP) of each processor?

A: The Intel Xeon E5530 has a TDP of 80 watts, while the AMD Opteron 3350 HE has a TDP of 45 watts. The Opteron draws nearly half the power, making it more efficient in terms of raw wattage.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Xeon E5530 show its largest edge?

A: The largest edge for the Xeon E5530 comes in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where it scores 977 versus the Opteron's 963, a 1.5% difference. The same 1.5% delta appears in R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Xeon E5530 is built on the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Gainestown, fabricated on a 45 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It packs 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. The AMD Opteron 3350 HE uses the K10 architecture, codenamed Delhi, built on a 32 nm process by GlobalFoundries, containing 1,200 million transistors on a larger 315 mm² die.

Core and thread counts differ distinctly. The Xeon E5530 has 4 cores but supports 8 threads through Hyper-Threading, while the Opteron 3350 HE has 4 cores and 4 threads, lacking simultaneous multi-threading. This gives the Intel part a theoretical advantage in heavily threaded workloads, though the actual benchmark scores show only a small edge.

Cache layouts also diverge. The Xeon E5530 has per-core L1 and L2 caches: 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus an 8 MB shared L3. The Opteron 3350 HE has a combined 192 KB L1, a 4 MB L2, and an 8 MB shared L3. The Intel design offers more granular per-core cache, while the AMD part uses a larger unified L2.

Memory support differs as well. Both support DDR3, but the Xeon E5530 uses a triple-channel memory bus with a peak bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, whereas the Opteron 3350 HE uses a dual-channel bus with a higher peak bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. Notably, the Xeon E5530 supports ECC memory, while the Opteron 3350 HE does not. The Intel part also has no integrated graphics, while the AMD part lists integrated graphics as a chipset feature on certain motherboards.

The process node disparity is significant: 45 nm on Intel versus 32 nm on AMD. The newer 32 nm process allows the Opteron to run a lower TDP of 45 watts, compared to the Xeon E5530's 80 watts. The Opteron also has a much higher boost clock of 3.35 GHz versus 2.67 GHz, yet the benchmark data consistently shows the Intel part ahead.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records five benchmark comparisons, all in the Cinebench suite. The Intel Xeon E5530 wins all five head-to-head tests. The margins are narrow but consistent across the board.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon E5530 scores 234 against the Opteron 3350 HE's 231, a 1.3% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Xeon scores 977 versus 963, a 1.5% margin. The single-core R20 test shows the Xeon at 137 and the Opteron at 135, again a 1.5% edge for Intel.

Cinebench R23 multi-core continues the trend: the Xeon E5530 posts 2328, while the Opteron reaches 2294, a 1.5% difference. The R23 single-core test has the Xeon at 328 and the Opteron at 323, once more a 1.5% gap. Across all five tests, the Intel part wins every time, with the average delta being roughly 1.4%.

The benchmark results indicate that despite the Opteron's higher clock speeds (2.80 base, 3.35 boost) and lower TDP, the architectural advantages of the Xeon E5530, particularly its 8 threads and superior instructions per clock, translate into consistent wins. The Opteron's 4 threads and older K10 core design cannot match the Xeon in Cinebench's rendering workloads.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded data, the Intel Xeon E5530 is the faster processor. It wins all five head-to-head benchmark tests and holds a higher average benchmark score (801 versus 789). The Xeon's margin over the Opteron is consistent, around 1.3% to 1.5% in each workload.

However, the choice is not purely about raw performance. The AMD Opteron 3350 HE offers a much lower TDP of 45 watts, versus 80 watts for the Xeon. It also has a higher base clock (2.80 GHz versus 2.40 GHz) and boost clock (3.35 GHz versus 2.67 GHz). If power efficiency is the priority, the Opteron is attractive.

The Intel Xeon E5530 has ECC memory support and a triple-channel memory bus, which are server-relevant features. The Opteron 3350 HE lacks ECC support and uses dual-channel memory, but it does have a higher peak memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s.

The two parts have different sockets: Intel Socket 1366 for the Xeon, AMD Socket AM3+ for the Opteron. A buyer is locked into one platform or the other. The Xeon also came with a launch MSRP of $530, while the Opteron's launch MSRP was $125. (The exact values are provided as facts, not as a value judgment.)

The verdict is clear for absolute performance: the Intel Xeon E5530 is the superior choice, winning every benchmark. The AMD Opteron 3350 HE is the choice for power efficiency and lower heat.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Manufacturer: Intel versus AMD
• Threads: 8 threads (Xeon) versus 4 threads (Opteron)
• Base Clock: 2.40 GHz (Xeon) versus 2.80 GHz (Opteron)
• Boost Clock: 2.67 GHz (Xeon) versus 3.35 GHz (Opteron)
• TDP: 80 W (Xeon) versus 45 W (Opteron)
• Socket: Intel Socket 1366 versus AMD Socket AM3+
• Architecture: Nehalem (Gainestown) versus K10 (Delhi)
• Process Node: 45 nm versus 32 nm
• Foundry: Intel versus GlobalFoundries
• Transistors: 731 million versus 1,200 million
• Die Size: 263 mm² versus 315 mm²
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core versus 192 KB total
• L2 Cache: 256 KB per core versus 4 MB total
• Memory Bus: Triple-channel versus Dual-channel
• Memory Bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s
• ECC Memory: Supported versus Not supported
• Integrated Graphics: None versus Chipset feature on certain motherboards
• Launch MSRP: $530 versus $125
• Part Number: SLBF7 versus OS3350HOW4KHK

Both share DDR3 memory support, PCIe Gen 2, 8 MB shared L3 cache, 4 cores, and the same market segment (Server/Workstation). Both are end-of-life production.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5530 wins in every single head-to-head benchmark, making it the clear performance winner across the board. Its 8 threads provide a consistent advantage in multi-threaded Cinebench tests, and even in single-thread tests it edges out the Opteron. The Xeon also wins on ECC support, a triple-channel memory bus, and a smaller die size.

The AMD Opteron 3350 Z wins decisively on power efficiency: a TDP of 45 W versus 80 W. This makes it a better fit for systems where the thermal envelope is tight. It also offers higher clock speeds (base 2.80 GHz, boost 3.35 GHz) and a higher peak memory bandwidth (29.9 GB/s). The Opteron also has a larger transistor count and a newer 32 nm process node.

In terms of raw performance, the data says Intel. In terms of power consumption and clock speed, the data says AMD. The Opteron also has a lower launch MSRP, but that is a fact, not a recommendation. The Intel Xeon E5530 is the stronger performer in every test; the Opteron 3350 HE is the more power-efficient alternative.