CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2310 and AMD Opteron 3380 are two end-of-life processors from different eras and market segments, yet their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, 1073 for the Intel versus 1071 for the AMD. However, the data shows that this statistical tie masks a clear performance hierarchy: the AMD Opteron 3380 wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the Cinebench suite, often by a consistent margin of roughly 16%. This makes the choice between them largely dependent on whether you prioritize the specific architectural features of one platform over the raw multi-threaded and even single-threaded performance of the other.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 3380 is the outright winner in every benchmark category recorded in the data. It does not just edge out the Intel chip; it beats it decisively across all tested workloads, both multi-core and single-core. In multi-threaded rendering tasks, the Opteron’s eight physical cores give it a substantial advantage, as seen in its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 3704 versus the i5-2310’s 3118. The gap is even more pronounced in older Cinebench versions, where the Opteron scores 373 in R15 multi-core compared to the Intel’s 314. Surprisingly, the Opteron also wins in single-threaded tests, posting a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 522 against the i5-2310’s 440. This is notable because the i5-2310 has a higher base clock (2.90 GHz versus 2.60 GHz), but the Opteron’s higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz appears to carry the day in these burst workloads.

The Intel Core i5-2310, therefore, has no benchmark victories to claim in this matchup. Its wins are purely structural: it features a smaller die size at 216 mm² versus 315 mm², a lower transistor count at 1,160 million versus 1,200 million, and a more modern PCIe Gen 3 interface compared to the Opteron’s Gen 2. For a desktop user, the i5-2310’s integrated Intel HD 2000 graphics provide a functional display output without a discrete GPU, which the Opteron lacks as a native feature. However, in terms of pure compute performance as measured by the provided benchmarks, the Opteron 3380 is the clear and only winner.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-2310 is built on the Sandy Bridge architecture, manufactured on a 32 nm process by Intel, with a die size of 216 mm² and 1,160 million transistors. It features four physical cores and four threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. Its cache layout is split into 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The memory support is dual-channel DDR3, and it uses the Intel Socket 1155.

In contrast, the AMD Opteron 3380 uses the K10 architecture (codename Delhi) on the same 32 nm process node, but with a larger die size of 315 mm² and 1,200 million transistors. It doubles the core count to eight cores and eight threads, running at a lower base clock of 2.60 GHz but a higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Its cache structure is markedly different: 384 KB of L1, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Opteron also uses dual-channel DDR3 memory but specifies a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, a figure not provided for the Intel chip. It sits on the AMD Socket AM3+ with PCIe Gen 2 support. The Opteron is marketed for the server/workstation segment, while the i5-2310 is a desktop part, and the Opteron carries a launch MSRP of $229. The integrated graphics situation also differs: the i5-2310 has Intel HD 2000 built-in, whereas the Opteron only offers graphics through a chipset feature on certain motherboards.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 3380 wins all five recorded head-to-head comparisons. Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 373 against the i5-2310’s 314, a delta of -15.8% (meaning the Intel chip is that much slower). The same -15.8% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Opteron scores 1555 and the i5-2310 scores 1309. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the pattern holds with the Opteron at 3704 versus the i5-2310’s 3118, again a -15.8% gap.

Single-threaded performance tells a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 219 while the i5-2310 scores 184, a -16.0% delta. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows the Opteron at 522 and the i5-2310 at 440, a -15.7% delta. Across the board, the Opteron’s advantage is remarkably consistent, hovering around 15.8% to 16.0% in every test. This consistency suggests that the Opteron’s performance lead is not workload-specific but rather a general throughput advantage, likely stemming from its higher boost clock and additional cores. The i5-2310 never closes the gap in any test, and there is no benchmark in the data where the Intel chip posts a higher score.

The Verdict

Strictly from the data, the AMD Opteron 3380 is the superior processor for anyone who needs raw compute performance. It wins every single benchmark, both multi-core and single-core, by a nearly uniform margin of about 16%. If you are running multi-threaded workloads like rendering or encoding, the Opteron’s eight cores provide a decisive edge. Even in single-threaded tasks, where the i5-2310’s higher base clock might suggest an advantage, the Opteron’s higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz wins out. The Opteron also does this with a lower TDP of 65 watts compared to the i5-2310’s 95 watts, making it more power-efficient for the performance delivered.

The Intel Core i5-2310 is not without merit, but its advantages are not in benchmark scores. It has a smaller die, a more recent PCIe Gen 3 interface, and integrated graphics, which could be essential for a basic desktop build without a discrete GPU. However, the data shows that the i5-2310 loses every performance test by a significant margin. For a builder prioritizing benchmark results, the Opteron 3380 is the clear choice. Its average benchmark score of 1071 is nearly identical to the i5-2310’s 1073, but that average is skewed by the Opteron’s inclusion of additional single-core tests where it also wins. In a direct head-to-head, the Opteron is faster in every measurable way.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Opteron 3380 scores 3704 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i5-2310 scores 3118, giving the Opteron a 15.8% lead.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-2310 win any benchmark against the AMD Opteron 3380?

A: No. The data shows the Opteron 3380 wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, including both multi-core and single-core tests. The i5-2310 has zero wins in the recorded data.

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance between the two?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Opteron 3380 scores 522 versus the i5-2310’s 440, a 15.7% difference. The Opteron also wins the R20 single-core test with 219 versus 184.

Q: How do their core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-2310 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD Opteron 3380 has 8 cores and 8 threads, which explains its consistent multi-core advantage.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-2310 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the AMD Opteron 3380 has a TDP of 65 watts, making the Opteron more power-efficient despite being faster.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Yes, both support dual-channel DDR3 memory. However, the AMD Opteron 3380 lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is provided for the Intel chip.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-2310 | AMD Opteron 3380 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | AMD Socket AM3+ |

| Codename | Sandy Bridge | Delhi |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 1,160 million | 1,200 million |

| Die Size | 216 mm² | 315 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 29.9 GB/s |

| PCIe Version | Gen 3 | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2000 | On certain motherboards (Chipset feature) |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $229 |