CPU Comparison

# AMD Opteron 3380 vs Intel Core i3-9100HL

The AMD Opteron 3380 dominates this head-to-head across every benchmark recorded, winning all five Cinebench tests with deltas of roughly 19.7% to 19.9%. Despite being a server-class part from 2012 built on a 32 nm process, the eight-core Opteron outperforms the four-core Intel Coffee Lake chip in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. The Intel Core i3-9100HL, however, counters with superior platform features: DDR4 memory support, a much higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, and integrated UHD Graphics 630. The data shows a clear performance winner in the Opteron, yet the i3-9100HL offers a more modern feature set that may matter more for certain deployments.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Opteron 3380 wins all five recorded Cinebench tests, and the margins are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 373 against the i3-9100HL's 311, a 19.9% advantage. That pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Opteron posts 1555 versus 1299, a 19.7% lead. The R23 multi-core test shows the same story: 3704 for AMD against 3094 for Intel, again 19.7% ahead.

Single-core results are equally one-sided. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 219 compared to the i3-9100HL's 183, a 19.7% delta. The R23 single-core test gives the Opteron 522 versus 436, matching that exact 19.7% margin. This consistency across multiple Cinebench versions suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific, the Opteron's eight cores at a 2.60 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost simply outmuscle the i3-9100HL's four cores running at a 1600.00 MHz base and 2.90 GHz boost.

The Intel chip's best showing is still a loss. Its single-core scores, while lower in absolute terms, are proportionally closer to its multi-core numbers than the Opteron's are, but that does not translate into any benchmark win. The data records five wins for the Opteron and zero for the i3-9100HL. Notably, the i3-9100HL has no Cinebench R15 single-core result in the head-to-head data, though its R15 multi-core score of 311 confirms the pattern.

Percentile rankings offer context: both CPUs sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs tracked. The Opteron's average benchmark score is 1071, while the i3-9100HL averages 1065. That 6-point gap is small, yet the head-to-head deltas are all near 20%, meaning the aggregate averages obscure the consistent per-test advantage the Opteron holds.

Architecture Differences

The Opteron 3380 is a K10 architecture part with the codename Delhi, part of AMD's Opteron 3000 series, built on a 32 nm process with 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. It packs eight cores and eight threads, with 384 KB of L1 cache, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR3 over a dual-channel bus, delivering 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported. PCIe is Gen 2, and integrated graphics come only "on certain motherboards" as a chipset feature.

The i3-9100HL is a Coffee Lake part from Intel's Core i3 generation, built on a 14 nm process with a 126 mm² die. It has four cores and four threads, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR4 over dual channels, yielding 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth, roughly 43% higher than the Opteron. ECC memory is supported, a notable server-oriented feature. PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630, which the Opteron cannot match without a chipset-based solution.

The process node gap is significant: 32 nm versus 14 nm. That translates into the i3-9100HL's much lower 25 W TDP against the Opteron's 65 W, despite the Opteron being older and less efficient per clock. The Opteron's socket is AMD Socket AM3+, while the i3-9100HL uses Intel BGA 1440, meaning the Intel part is soldered rather than socketed. The i3-9100HL also lists a foundry of Intel, whereas the Opteron's foundry is not recorded in the data.

The Verdict

Benchmark results indicate the AMD Opteron 3380 is the faster processor in every measured Cinebench test. If raw compute performance is the sole criterion, the Opteron wins decisively, with single-core and multi-core leads of about 19.7% across R20 and R23 versions. That is a substantial margin, roughly one-fifth faster in each test. The eight-core configuration at a 3.60 GHz boost clock clearly outpaces the four-core i3-9100HL at 2.90 GHz boost, even though the Intel chip is seven years newer.

However, the i3-9100HL is not without arguments in its favor. Its 25 W TDP is less than half the Opteron's 65 W, which matters for thermally constrained or power-sensitive systems. It supports ECC memory, a feature the Opteron lacks, and its DDR4 memory with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth provides over 40% more memory throughput than the Opteron's DDR3 at 29.9 GB/s. Integrated UHD Graphics 630 eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic display scenarios, whereas the Opteron relies on motherboard chipset graphics.

The production status for both is end-of-life, so neither is a future-proof investment. The Opteron launched in 2012 with a launch MSRP of $229; the i3-9100HL launched in 2019 with a launch MSRP of $225. For workloads that are compute-bound and can use eight threads, the Opteron is the clear pick. For workloads that are memory-bandwidth-sensitive, power-constrained, or require ECC, the i3-9100HL's platform advantages may outweigh its benchmark deficit.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every specification category. The Opteron has 8 cores and 8 threads; the i3-9100HL has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.60 GHz versus 1600.00 MHz, and boost clocks are 3.60 GHz versus 2.90 GHz. TDP is 65 W versus 25 W. Sockets are AMD Socket AM3+ versus Intel BGA 1440. Architecture is K10 (Delhi) versus Coffee Lake, with process nodes of 32 nm versus 14 nm. Die size is 315 mm² versus 126 mm².

Cache configurations differ structurally. The Opteron has 384 KB L1, 8 MB L2, and 8 MB shared L3. The i3-9100HL has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR3 versus DDR4, both dual-channel, but bandwidth is 29.9 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. ECC memory is false for the Opteron and true for the i3-9100HL. PCIe is Gen 2 versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are chipset-dependent for the Opteron versus UHD Graphics 630 for Intel. Market segments are Server/Workstation versus Desktop. Release dates are 2012-12-03 versus 2019-03-31. Launch MSRPs are $229 versus $225. Part numbers are OS3380OLW8KHK versus SRFEK.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 3380 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-9100HL has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Opteron scores 3704, and the i3-9100HL scores 3094, giving the Opteron a 19.7% advantage.

Q: Does either CPU support ECC memory?

A: The i3-9100HL supports ECC memory; the Opteron 3380 does not.

Q: Which CPU has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The i3-9100HL has 42.7 GB/s with DDR4, compared to the Opteron's 29.9 GB/s with DDR3.

Q: What are the TDPs of the two CPUs?

A: The Opteron has a 65 W TDP, while the i3-9100HL has a 25 W TDP.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each CPU have in the head-to-head data?

A: The Opteron 3380 wins 5 tests, and the i3-9100HL wins 0 tests.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 3380 wins in every scenario where raw compute throughput is the primary requirement. Its eight cores deliver 19.7% to 19.9% higher scores across all Cinebench tests, including single-core workloads where the Intel chip's newer architecture cannot compensate for the Opteron's higher clock speeds. For multi-threaded rendering, compilation, or batch processing, the data shows the Opteron is consistently faster. Its 8 MB of L2 and 8 MB of shared L3 cache also provide substantial on-die storage for working sets.

The Intel Core i3-9100HL wins in scenarios where platform efficiency and memory features take precedence. Its 25 W TDP makes it suitable for compact, passively cooled, or battery-powered designs where the Opteron's 65 W would be prohibitive. ECC memory support is a decisive feature for data-integrity-sensitive applications like file servers or edge compute nodes. The 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth, a 43% improvement over the Opteron's 29.9 GB/s, benefits workloads that stream large datasets. Integrated UHD Graphics 630 provides display output without a discrete GPU, which the Opteron cannot offer without a chipset solution. The i3-9100HL also leverages PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, doubling the interconnect bandwidth of the Opteron's Gen 2. For embedded or workstation deployments where power, memory integrity, and modern I/O matter more than raw Cinebench scores, the i3-9100HL is the data-supported choice.