AMD Opteron 3365 vs Intel Core i5-3550 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous in this matchup. The Intel Core i5-3550 wins every single recorded head-to-head test, taking all five comparisons with a consistent margin of roughly 15 percent. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel part scores 575 against the AMD Opteron 3365's 489, a delta of -15 percent from the AMD's perspective. The smallest gap, at -14.8 percent, appears twice: in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1710 vs 1457) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (4073 vs 3470).

The multi-core results are particularly telling because the Opteron has twice the physical cores (8 versus 4). Despite that core advantage, the Intel chip still leads by nearly 15 percent in every multi-core test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3550 scores 410 while the Opteron 3365 manages 349, a -14.9 percent deficit. The pattern holds across Cinebench R20 multi-core as well, where the Intel part's 1710 outpaces the AMD's 1457.

Single-core performance shows the same story. Beyond the R23 result mentioned above, Cinebench R20 single-core has the i5-3550 at 241 versus 205 for the Opteron, again a -14.9 percent gap. The Intel chip's higher base and boost clocks (3.30 GHz base, 3.70 GHz boost versus 2.30 GHz base, 3.30 GHz boost) clearly contribute to this consistent edge. The data shows no scenario in the recorded benchmarks where the AMD Opteron 3365 takes a win, so the head-to-head tally stands at 5 wins for Intel, 0 for AMD.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 3365 uses the K10 architecture with the "Delhi" codename, built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 8 cores and 8 threads, with a transistor count of 1,200 million on a 315 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-3550 uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, also its codename, built on Intel's 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a much smaller 160 mm² die. The smaller process node gives Intel a density advantage, and the die size difference is stark: 315 mm² for AMD versus 160 mm² for Intel.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Opteron 3365 has 384 KB of L1 cache, 4 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-3550 lists L1 as 64 KB per core and L2 as 256 KB per core, with 6 MB of shared L3. With 4 cores, that works out to 256 KB total L1 and 1 MB total L2, but the per-core L2 allocation is actually smaller on the Intel part (256 KB per core versus 512 KB per core on the AMD, if you divide the 4 MB across 8 cores). The AMD has more total L3 (8 MB versus 6 MB), but the Intel chip still wins in benchmarks.

Memory support is similar on the surface: both use DDR3 with dual-channel memory buses. However, the AMD has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth at 29.9 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s for Intel. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. The PCIe generations differ: the Opteron uses Gen 2, while the i5-3550 uses Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU only. Integrated graphics also differ. The Intel part has Intel HD 2500 built in, while the AMD's graphics are described as "On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)", meaning it relies on the AM3+ platform rather than an integrated GPU in the CPU itself.

The market segments reflect their intended roles. The Opteron 3365 is a Server/Workstation part in the Opteron 3000 series, while the i5-3550 is a Desktop chip in the Core i5 series. Both are end-of-life products, but the Intel part has a recorded release date of 2012-04-28, while the AMD's release date is not listed. The Intel chip also has a launch MSRP of $194, though pricing is not the focus here.

The Verdict

The data is clear: the Intel Core i5-3550 is the faster processor in every benchmark recorded. It leads by roughly 15 percent across all tests, both single-core and multi-core. The Opteron 3365's 8 cores do not overcome the i5-3550's architectural efficiency, higher clocks, and superior single-thread performance. If the task is purely about benchmark scores, the i5-3550 is the pick without qualification.

That said, the Opteron 3365 is a server/workstation part, and the i5-3550 is a desktop part. The AMD chip's role in the Opteron 3000 series suggests it targets multi-socket or low-power server environments, where its 65 W TDP versus the Intel's 77 W TDP might matter in dense deployments. But the recorded data does not include power efficiency benchmarks, so any such advantage is inferred from the TDP figures alone. For raw compute, the Intel wins. For a desktop user, the i5-3550 is the obvious choice. For a server workload that specifically favors AMD's platform features, the Opteron has its niche, but the benchmark scores do not show any performance reason to choose it.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 wins every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 4073 against the Opteron 3365's 3470, a -14.8 percent deficit for AMD. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the gap is identical at -14.8 percent (1710 vs 1457).

Q: Does the Opteron's 8-core count give it an advantage?

A: No, not in these benchmarks. Despite having twice the cores (8 versus 4), the Opteron 3365 loses all multi-core tests by about 15 percent. The i5-3550's higher clocks and architecture efficiency overcome the core deficit.

Q: What about single-core performance?

A: The i5-3550 also wins single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 575 versus 489 for the Opteron, a -15 percent gap. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the scores are 241 and 205, respectively, a -14.9 percent difference.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No, neither supports ECC memory. Both memory controllers are listed with ECC memory set to false.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The AMD Opteron 3365 has a 65 W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-3550 has a 77 W TDP. The AMD part consumes less power on paper, though no thermal or power benchmarks are recorded in the database.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, compared to 3.30 GHz for the AMD Opteron 3365. The Intel chip also has a higher base clock at 3.30 GHz versus 2.30 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3550 wins in all five recorded benchmark categories: Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core. Its margins are consistent, ranging from -14.8 percent to -15 percent relative to the Opteron. This means for any Cinebench-based rendering or CPU-bound workload, the i5-3550 is the faster part.

The AMD Opteron 3365 does not win a single benchmark in the head-to-head data. However, it has structural advantages that may matter outside pure Cinebench scores. It has 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus 6 MB on Intel, a higher theoretical memory bandwidth (29.9 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s), and a lower TDP (65 W versus 77 W). It also uses AMD Socket AM3+, which may be relevant for existing platform compatibility. The PCIe Gen 2 interface is older than Intel's Gen 3, but the server/workstation segment might value the Opteron's multi-core density even if the benchmarks show it losing.

For a desktop user running Cinebench or similar workloads, the i5-3550 is the clear winner. For a server environment where lower power draw (65 W TDP) and more L3 cache (8 MB) are prioritized, the Opteron 3365 has qualitative appeal, but the recorded performance data does not back it up in any compute test.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ across most major specifications. The AMD Opteron 3365 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3550 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.30 GHz for AMD and 3.30 GHz for Intel, with boost clocks of 3.30 GHz and 3.70 GHz, respectively. TDP differs: 65 W for AMD versus 77 W for Intel. Sockets are different: AMD Socket AM3+ for the Opteron, Intel Socket 1155 for the i5-3550.

Architecturally, the AMD uses K10 (codename Delhi) on a 32 nm GlobalFoundries process, while Intel uses Ivy Bridge on a 22 nm process. Transistor counts are 1,200 million for AMD and 1,400 million for Intel, with die sizes of 315 mm² and 160 mm², respectively. Cache layouts differ: AMD has 384 KB L1, 4 MB L2, and 8 MB shared L3; Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3.

Memory support is DDR3 for both, but AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s versus Intel's 25.6 GB/s. Neither supports ECC. PCIe generation differs: Gen 2 for AMD, Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) for Intel. Integrated graphics are present on the Intel part (Intel HD 2500) but only "on certain motherboards (Chipset feature)" for AMD. The Opteron has a part number of OS3365OLW8KHK, while the i5-3550 has part number SR0P0. The Intel chip has a release date of 2012-04-28 and a launch MSRP of $194; the AMD has no release date or MSRP listed. Both are end-of-life, have locked multipliers, and are not unlocked.