AMD Opteron 3365 vs Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data in this comparison is unambiguous. The Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 wins every recorded head-to-head test against the AMD Opteron 3365, taking all 5 benchmark comparisons. The largest margins appear in multi-core workloads, where the Intel part leads by 22.8% to 22.9% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 is the clear choice for any workload where raw Cinebench performance matters, especially multi-threaded rendering tasks. The AMD Opteron 3365, despite having twice the core count, trails in every test due to its older K10 architecture and significantly higher power envelope. For server or workstation deployments where the recorded performance deltas are acceptable, the Xeon offers a more efficient path. However, the Opteron 3365 remains a functional alternative if the platform requires AMD Socket AM3+ compatibility and the user prioritizes core count over per-core efficiency, though the data does not favor it in any benchmark. Both processors sit at the 34th percentile of all CPUs in the database, indicating they occupy a similar overall performance tier, but the Intel chip consistently outperforms its rival within that tier.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 is built on the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-DT codename, using a 14 nm process node from Intel. It packs 1,750 million transistors into a 122 mm² die. The AMD Opteron 3365 uses the older K10 architecture with the Delhi codename, manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 32 nm process. This chip contains 1,200 million transistors spread across a much larger 315 mm² die. The process node difference alone explains a substantial portion of the performance and efficiency gap. The Intel part runs at a base clock of 2.00 GHz with a boost clock of 3.00 GHz, while the Opteron starts at 2.30 GHz and boosts to 3.30 GHz. Despite the Opteron's higher clock speeds, the Xeon still wins all benchmarks, indicating that the Skylake architecture's instructions-per-clock advantage outweighs the raw frequency deficit.

The cache layouts differ notably. The Xeon E3-1235L v5 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron 3365 offers 384 KB of L1 cache total, 4 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel design provides per-core L2 that scales with core count, whereas the AMD chip has a fixed L2 allocation. Memory support also diverges: the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration with 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Opteron is limited to DDR3 with 29.9 GB/s. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a critical feature for server workloads, while the Opteron does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well, with the Xeon offering Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Opteron provides only Gen 2. The Intel chip includes integrated HD Graphics P530, whereas the Opteron relies on chipset-based graphics on certain motherboards. The Xeon has a TDP of 25 watts, dramatically lower than the Opteron's 65 watts. The Opteron also has a different generation designation, listed as Opteron (Delhi), and belongs to the Opteron 3000 series.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 3365 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Despite this core advantage, the Xeon wins all recorded multi-core benchmarks.

Q: How do the power requirements compare?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 has a TDP of 25 watts, while the AMD Opteron 3365 has a TDP of 65 watts. The Xeon delivers higher benchmark scores while consuming less than half the power budget.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest recorded deltas are 22.9%, occurring in Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R20 single-core, and Cinebench R23 single-core. The Xeon leads in all of these tests.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 supports ECC memory, but the AMD Opteron 3365 does not. This makes the Xeon more suitable for error-sensitive server workloads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Opteron 3365 has a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, compared to the Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5's boost clock of 3.00 GHz. The Xeon still wins all single-core benchmarks despite the lower boost frequency.

Q: What are the production statuses of these chips?

A: Both processors are listed as end-of-life in the database. No release date is recorded for the Opteron 3365, while the Xeon E3-1235L v5 has a recorded release date.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Opteron 3365 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ: 2.00 GHz for the Xeon versus 2.30 GHz for the Opteron. Boost clocks also differ: 3.00 GHz for the Xeon versus 3.30 GHz for the Opteron. The TDP is a major differentiator, with the Xeon at 25 watts and the Opteron at 65 watts. The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1151 for the Xeon versus AMD Socket AM3+ for the Opteron. The architectures are entirely different generations: Skylake for the Intel part versus K10 for the AMD part. Process nodes differ at 14 nm for Intel versus 32 nm for GlobalFoundries. Transistor counts are 1,750 million for the Xeon and 1,200 million for the Opteron. Die sizes are 122 mm² for the Xeon and 315 mm² for the Opteron.

Cache configurations show clear divergence. The Xeon has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, while the Opteron has 384 KB total L1 and 4 MB total L2. Both have 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support differs: the Xeon supports DDR3 and DDR4, while the Opteron supports only DDR3. Memory bandwidth favors the Xeon at 34.1 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s for the Opteron. ECC memory is supported on the Xeon but not the Opteron. PCIe generations differ: Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the Xeon versus Gen 2 on the Opteron. Integrated graphics are present on the Xeon as HD Graphics P530, while the Opteron has graphics only as a chipset feature on certain motherboards. The Xeon has a recorded launch MSRP of $250, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the Opteron. The market segment for both is Server/Workstation. The Xeon's part number is SR2LM, while the Opteron's is OS3365OLW8KHK.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a consistent and decisive advantage for the Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 across all five Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 429 against the Opteron's 349, a delta of 22.9%. This is the largest percentage margin in the multi-core category. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Xeon scores 1789 versus 1457, a 22.8% advantage. The pattern continues in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon scores 4261 against 3470, again a 22.8% lead. These results are notable because the Opteron has twice the core count, yet the Xeon's architectural efficiency and higher memory bandwidth overcome that disadvantage. The score differences translate to roughly 80 points in R15, 332 points in R20, and 791 points in R23, all favoring the Intel chip.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 252 versus 205 for the Opteron, a 22.9% delta. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Xeon scores 601 against 489, again a 22.9% margin. The Opteron's higher base and boost clocks do not help it close the gap, demonstrating the Skylake architecture's superior per-clock performance. The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this: the Xeon averages 1232 points, while the Opteron averages 1194 points, a 3.2% overall advantage for the Intel part. The nearest rival data places the Xeon between the Intel Core i5-2500 (1220, 1% slower) and the Intel Core i7-3610QM (1244, 1% faster), with the Intel Core i3-8109U and Intel Pentium Gold G6600 both at 1235, essentially tied at -0.2%. The Opteron sits in a similarly narrow band, with the AMD Athlon PRO 300U and Intel Core i3-4170 both at 1193 (0.1% delta), the Intel Core i7-8665UE also at 1193 (0.1% delta), and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B at 1196 (-0.1% delta). Both processors land at the 34th percentile of all CPUs, but the Xeon consistently finishes ahead of the Opteron in every recorded benchmark, making the performance hierarchy clear within this comparison.