CPU Comparison

The AMD Opteron 3365 and Intel Core i3-4170 are both end-of-life processors that land within 0.1% of each other in average benchmark score, yet they achieve this parity through fundamentally different designs. The Opteron 3365, an 8-core server/workstation part on AMD’s 32nm K10 architecture, posts an average score of 1194, while the Core i3-4170, a 2-core/4-thread desktop chip on Intel’s 22nm Haswell architecture, averages 1193. Benchmark results show the AMD part winning all five shared Cinebench tests by margins between 13.9% and 14.3%, but the Intel chip counters with a significantly higher base clock and a smaller process node. The data reveals a clear split: the Opteron dominates multi-threaded workloads, while the i3’s architectural efficiency and integrated graphics serve different use cases.

FAQ

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare between the AMD Opteron 3365 and Intel Core i3-4170?

A: The AMD Opteron 3365 has an average benchmark score of 1194, while the Intel Core i3-4170 scores 1193. This places the Opteron 0.1% ahead of the i3 in the nearestRivals data, with the i3 listed as 0.1% behind the Opteron.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The AMD Opteron 3365 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 349 vs 306 in Cinebench R15 (14.1% ahead), 1457 vs 1275 in R20 (14.3% ahead), and 3470 vs 3038 in R23 (14.2% ahead).

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-4170 win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. According to the head-to-head benchmark data, the AMD Opteron 3365 wins all 5 tests, with the Intel Core i3-4170 recording 0 wins. The i3’s only advantage appears outside the shared Cinebench suite, where it has additional Geekbench scores.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Opteron 3365 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-4170 has 2 cores and 4 threads. Despite the i3 having fewer physical cores, its Hyper-Threading (implied by 4 threads on 2 cores) allows it to process more threads than cores.

Q: How do the single-core Cinebench scores compare?

A: The AMD Opteron 3365 also wins single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 205 vs 180 for the i3 (13.9% ahead), and in R23 single-core it scores 489 vs 429 (14% ahead). This is notable because the i3 has a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz compared to the Opteron’s 2.30 GHz.

Q: What are the process node and foundry differences?

A: The AMD Opteron 3365 uses a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries with 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-4170 uses a 22 nm process from Intel with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die, making it both a newer node and denser design.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear benchmark winner: the AMD Opteron 3365 outperforms the Intel Core i3-4170 in every shared test, with consistent 14% margins across both single-core and multi-core Cinebench workloads. However, the verdict depends entirely on the intended use case.

For server or workstation deployments where multi-threaded throughput matters, the Opteron 3365 is the only choice. Its 8 physical cores deliver 14.3% higher Cinebench R20 multi-core scores and 14.2% higher R23 multi-core scores, which translates directly to faster rendering and compilation in heavily threaded applications. The Opteron’s market segment is explicitly Server/Workstation, and its benchmark results justify that positioning.

For desktop users who need integrated graphics or a smaller footprint, the Intel Core i3-4170 becomes more relevant despite losing every benchmark. It includes Intel HD 4400 integrated graphics, whereas the Opteron relies on chipset features on certain motherboards. The i3 also has a 54W TDP versus 65W for the Opteron, and its 3.70 GHz base clock (with no boost) provides predictable single-thread performance.

The reality is that these processors are separated by 0.1% in average score, which means their overall performance is statistically equivalent. The Opteron wins on raw compute, while the i3 wins on platform integration and power efficiency. Buyers choosing between them should let their workload dictate the pick: multi-core-heavy tasks favor AMD, while desktop convenience and lower power draw favor Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a consistent pattern: the AMD Opteron 3365 wins every test by a margin of approximately 14%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 349 against the i3’s 306, a 14.1% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows 1457 vs 1275, a 14.3% gap, and R23 multi-core shows 3470 vs 3038, a 14.2% gap.

The single-core results are surprisingly similar in margin. Cinebench R20 single-core has the Opteron at 205 vs 180 (13.9% ahead), and R23 single-core has it at 489 vs 429 (14% ahead). This is counterintuitive given the i3’s much higher base clock of 3.70 GHz compared to the Opteron’s 2.30 GHz. The i3 has no boost clock, while the Opteron boosts to 3.30 GHz, but that still leaves a 0.40 GHz clock disadvantage for AMD. The Opteron’s 14% single-core win suggests its K10 architecture extracts more instructions per clock at lower frequencies, or the Cinebench workload favors its memory subsystem.

The largest delta in the dataset is 14.3% in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Opteron’s 8 cores provide a substantial throughput advantage over the i3’s 2 cores and 4 threads. The smallest delta is 13.9% in R20 single-core, which still represents a decisive win for AMD. Across all 5 tests, the average delta is roughly 14.1%, showing remarkable consistency in relative performance.

It is importantly the Intel Core i3-4170 has additional Geekbench scores not shared with the Opteron: 2033 in multi-core and 1090 in single-core. These scores cannot be directly compared to the Opteron because the Opteron lacks Geekbench results in the the benchmark database, but they do appear in the i3’s individual benchmark list.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The AMD Opteron 3365 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-4170 has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.30 GHz for AMD and 3.70 GHz for Intel, with the Opteron offering a boost clock of 3.30 GHz and the i3 having no boost capability.

Thermal design power differs by 11W: the Opteron draws 65W, while the i3 draws 54W. Sockets are incompatible: the Opteron uses AMD Socket AM3+, while the i3 uses Intel Socket 1150. Memory support is DDR3 for both with dual-channel buses, but the Opteron has a higher memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s for the i3.

PCIe support also differs: the Opteron has Gen 2, while the i3 has Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are handled differently: the Opteron relies on chipset features on certain motherboards, while the i3 includes Intel HD 4400 built in. The Opteron does not support ECC memory, and neither does the i3.

Cache configurations are fundamentally different. The Opteron has 384 KB L1, 4 MB L2, and 8 MB shared L3. The i3 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3. Transistor counts and die sizes diverge sharply: the Opteron packs 1,200 million transistors on 315 mm², while the i3 fits 1,400 million on just 177 mm². The market segments also differ: the Opteron targets Server/Workstation, while the i3 targets Desktop. The i3 has a release date of 2014-04-30, while the Opteron’s release date is null in the data.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 3365 is built on the K10 architecture with the codename Delhi, part of the Opteron (Delhi) generation. It uses a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries with 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. Its cache hierarchy is designed for multi-threaded server workloads: 8 MB of shared L3 cache and 4 MB of L2 provide ample staging for 8 concurrent threads.

The Intel Core i3-4170 uses the Haswell architecture with the same codename, part of the Core i3 (Haswell) generation. It is built on Intel’s 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The die is significantly smaller yet packs more transistors, reflecting the denser process node. The i3 has 3 MB of shared L3 cache, which is less than half the Opteron’s 8 MB, but its per-core L1 and L2 caches are larger relative to its core count.

The architecture philosophies diverge: AMD’s K10 uses a simpler design with more physical cores, while Intel’s Haswell uses a more complex core with higher clock speeds and Hyper-Threading to double thread count from 2 to 4. The Opteron’s boost clock of 3.30 GHz partially compensates for its lower base clock, but both processors are locked (multiplierUnlocked is false for both).

The process node advantage belongs to Intel: 22 nm versus 32 nm allows for higher transistor density and lower power consumption per transistor. The Opteron’s larger die area (315 mm² vs 177 mm²) makes it less efficient in terms of silicon area per unit of performance, yet it still wins benchmarks. The i3’s integrated graphics (Intel HD 4400) are a functional architecture difference, while the Opteron’s graphics depend on the motherboard chipset.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 3365 wins in every measured benchmark category within the shared test suite. Its 8 physical cores provide a clear advantage in multi-threaded workloads: Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all show the Opteron leading by 14.1% to 14.3%. This makes it the superior choice for rendering, video encoding, scientific computing, and any other workload that scales across cores. Its higher memory bandwidth (29.9 GB/s vs 25.6 GB/s) also contributes to better performance in memory-intensive tasks. The Opteron’s server/workstation market segment aligns with these strengths.

The Intel Core i3-4170 wins in areas not captured by the head-to-head Cinebench tests. It has integrated Intel HD 4400 graphics, which the Opteron lacks entirely, the Opteron requires a discrete GPU or chipset-based graphics on certain motherboards. The i3’s lower TDP of 54W makes it more energy-efficient for desktop builds. Its smaller die (177 mm²) and denser process node suggest lower manufacturing costs per unit, though pricing data is limited to the i3’s launch MSRP of $117. The i3’s higher base clock of 3.70 GHz provides consistent, predictable single-thread performance without boost variability.

In practical terms: the Opteron 3365 is the choice for multi-threaded server tasks where its 8 cores can be fully utilized. The Core i3-4170 is the choice for desktop systems needing integrated graphics, lower power draw, or a smaller physical footprint. The i3’s Geekbench scores (2033 multi-core, 1090 single-core) offer additional data points for its performance profile, but without comparable Opteron Geekbench results, they serve only as a reference for i3-specific workloads. The 0.1% average score difference between the two means that for mixed workloads, the user’s platform requirements will likely decide the winner more than raw compute performance.