AMD Opteron 3380 vs Intel Core i3-4350 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unusually one-sided. Across every recorded Cinebench test, the AMD Opteron 3380 finishes ahead of the Intel Core i3-4350. The database shows five head-to-head comparisons, and the Opteron wins all five. The margins are remarkably consistent, hovering around 20% in every test.

The multicore results tell a clear story. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 373 against Intel's 309, a 20.7% advantage. The R20 multicore run repeats the pattern: 1555 for AMD versus 1291 for Intel, a 20.4% gap. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Opteron posts 3704 while the Core i3 manages 3076, again a 20.4% difference. These are not small margins; they represent a consistent and substantial performance lead across all three multicore workloads.

What is more surprising is the single-core picture. The Opteron wins those too, despite being an eight-core server part with a lower base clock. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 219 against Intel's 182, a 20.3% advantage. In R23 single-core, the Opteron records 522 versus 434 for the Core i3, also 20.3% ahead. The base clock difference is significant, 2.60 GHz for the Opteron against 3.60 GHz for the Core i3, yet the Opteron still manages to outrun Intel in single-threaded workloads. The boost clock of 3.60 GHz on the AMD part likely explains much of this, as it matches the Intel chip's fixed clock.

The consistency of the delta is notable. Every single test, whether single-core or multicore, lands within a narrow band of 20.3% to 20.7%. This suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific. The Opteron does not merely win in tasks that favor many cores; it wins everywhere. There are no benchmark results where the Core i3 takes the lead. The wins column shows 5 for AMD and 0 for Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The data does not leave much room for an Intel-favorable use case. The Core i3-4350 loses every recorded benchmark. However, the nature of the two processors suggests different practical strengths based on the surrounding system context, even if raw compute scores favor AMD.

The Opteron 3380 wins in all-thread workloads. Its eight physical cores and eight threads give it a structural advantage in heavily parallel tasks such as rendering, compilation, or server-side processing. The R15, R20, and R23 multicore scores all reflect this. For a workload that can use all cores, the Opteron is consistently 20% faster. The single-core wins also mean that even lightly threaded tasks are not a weakness. There is no scenario in the recorded data where the Core i3 catches up.

The Core i3-4350 has its own strengths, but they are not visible in the compute benchmarks. It runs on a 54 W TDP versus 65 W for the Opteron, so it draws less power. It also includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, while the Opteron relies on a chipset feature on certain motherboards. The Core i3 uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Opteron is limited to Gen 2. These are platform-level advantages. If the task involves a system without a discrete GPU, the Core i3 is the more complete package. If the workload is purely CPU-bound and multi-threaded, the Opteron is the better compute choice.

The nearest-rival data puts both parts in similar overall performance territory. The Opteron's average benchmark score is 1071, with rivals like the AMD Athlon X4 880K at 1071 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-5287U at 1072 (-0.1%). The Core i3-4350 averages 1058, sitting alongside the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U at 1058 (0%) and the Intel Core i7-2760QM at 1057 (0.1%). Both processors land at the 29th percentile of all CPUs, so in the broader market they are peers. The head-to-head gap of about 20% is therefore meaningful within that peer group.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different design philosophies and eras. The Opteron 3380 is part of AMD's Opteron 3000 series, codename Delhi, built on the K10 architecture. It uses a 32 nm process node and packs 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. The Core i3-4350 is a Haswell part, built on Intel's 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. Intel's process node is smaller and the die is much smaller, but the transistor count is higher, indicating a denser design.

The core configurations could not be more different. The Opteron has 8 cores and 8 threads, with no hyper-threading style trickery. The Core i3 has 2 cores and 4 threads, using Intel's simultaneous multi-threading to double thread count. Despite having four times the physical cores, the Opteron only leads by about 20% in multicore tests. That speaks to the efficiency of Intel's Haswell cores per clock, though the Opteron's higher boost clock compensates somewhat.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Opteron has 384 KB of L1, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Core i3 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Opteron has double the L3 capacity and a much larger L2 pool. For data-heavy workloads, the AMD part has more on-chip storage to feed its eight cores.

Memory support is similar in type, both use DDR3 in a dual-channel configuration. The Opteron lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s; the Core i3 does not have a recorded bandwidth figure in the database. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: the Opteron uses Gen 2, the Core i3 uses Gen 3. The Core i3 also integrates Intel HD 4600 graphics, which the Opteron lacks as a direct feature, instead relying on a chipset-level option on certain motherboards.

The Opteron is a server and workstation part, launched in December 2012 with an end-of-life production status. The Core i3 is a desktop part launched in April 2014. The Opteron's launch MSRP was $229. The Core i3 has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. The Opteron uses AMD Socket AM3+, the Core i3 uses Intel Socket 1150. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The choice is straightforward if the workload is compute-heavy and multi-threaded. The AMD Opteron 3380 wins every benchmark in the database. It is 20% faster in multicore and 20% faster in single-core. There is no test where the Intel Core i3-4350 takes the lead. For rendering, encoding, or any task that scales across cores, the Opteron is the stronger processor.

The Core i3-4350 is not without reasons for consideration, but those reasons are not found in raw performance. It consumes less power, 54 W versus 65 W. It includes integrated graphics, which the Opteron lacks. It uses PCIe Gen 3, which is more modern than the Opteron's Gen 2. It is also a desktop part, so it may fit into a more familiar motherboard ecosystem with Intel Socket 1150.

A builder who already has an AM3+ board and wants maximum CPU throughput for parallel tasks should pick the Opteron. A builder who needs a low-power desktop chip with integrated graphics and does not need the extra cores should pick the Core i3. The data shows that the Opteron is the faster CPU in every measured dimension, but the Core i3 offers platform advantages that matter in specific system builds.

The average benchmark scores confirm the close overall standing of both parts. The Opteron's 1071 average and the Core i3's 1058 average are within 1% of each other. The head-to-head deltas, however, consistently favor AMD. The Opteron is the stronger compute engine; the Core i3 is the more efficient, more integrated package.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Opteron 3380 wins all single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 219 against Intel's 182, a 20.3% lead. In R23 single-core, it scores 522 versus 434, also 20.3% ahead.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-4350 win any benchmark?

A: No. The database records five head-to-head benchmarks, and the AMD Opteron 3380 wins all five. Intel's wins column is 0.

Q: What is the core and thread difference?

A: The Opteron has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Core i3 has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Opteron has four times the physical cores, yet only leads by about 20% in multicore scores.

Q: How do their cache sizes compare?

A: The Opteron has 384 KB L1, 8 MB L2, and 8 MB shared L3. The Core i3 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The Opteron has double the L3 capacity.

Q: Do both support ECC memory?

A: No. Neither CPU supports ECC memory, according to the database.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Opteron runs at 65 W, while the Core i3 runs at 54 W. The Intel part draws less power.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

| Specification | AMD Opteron 3380 | Intel Core i3-4350 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 2 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base clock | 2.60 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.60 GHz | None |

| TDP | 65 W | 54 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM3+ | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | K10 | Haswell |

| Codename | Delhi | Haswell |

| Process node | 32 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | Not listed | Intel |

| Transistors | 1,200 million | 1,400 million |

| Die size | 315 mm² | 177 mm² |

| L1 cache | 384 KB | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 8 MB | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 8 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3 |

| Integrated graphics | On certain motherboards (chipset feature) | Intel HD 4600 |

| Market segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Production status | End-of-life | Not listed |

| Release date | December 2012 | April 2014 |

| Launch MSRP | $229 | Not listed |

The Opteron has more cores, more cache, and a higher boost clock. The Core i3 has a higher base clock, smaller process node, more transistors on a smaller die, and integrated graphics. The Opteron uses older PCIe Gen 2, while the Core i3 uses Gen 3. The Opteron was released about a year and a half earlier and is now end-of-life. Both use DDR3 memory and dual-channel buses, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.