CPU Comparison

AMD Opteron 3380 vs Intel Core i5-2380P: a server-class eight-core part from AMD’s Opteron 3000 series against a desktop quad-core from Intel’s Sandy Bridge generation. Both chips sit at the 29th percentile of all CPUs in the database, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, 1071 for the Opteron versus 1063 for the Core i5. Yet the head-to-head benchmark data tells a more decisive story: the Opteron wins all five recorded comparisons, with margins that are surprisingly consistent. This analysis walks through those numbers, the architectural reasons behind them, and which use cases favor each processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Opteron 3380, but the margins are what matter. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 373 against the Core i5’s 311, a 19.9% advantage. That same 19.9% delta repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Opteron posts 1555 versus 1297. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multi-core: 3704 for the Opteron, 3090 for the Intel part, again a 19.9% gap. Three different multi-threaded tests, three nearly identical percentage leads. This consistency suggests the difference is structural, not workload-specific.

Single-core results follow the same script, albeit with slightly smaller deltas. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 219 against 183 for the Core i5, a 19.7% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 522 versus 436, also a 19.7% margin. Even in the one test where the Core i5’s higher base clock might be expected to help, single-threaded workloads, the Opteron remains ahead by roughly the same proportion as in multi-threaded tests. This is a notable outcome: the Intel chip has a 3.10 GHz base clock versus 2.60 GHz for the Opteron, yet still loses single-core performance by nearly 20%.

The absence of a single Intel win is worth emphasizing. The head-to-head table lists five tests, and the AMD Opteron 3380 wins all five. No test favors the Core i5, not even marginally. The closest margin is 19.7% in single-core tests; the widest is 19.9% in multi-core. For a benchmark comparison, this is an unusually uniform result, the Opteron is faster across the board, and the performance gap is essentially constant regardless of thread count or test version.

Where Each One Wins

Given the head-to-head sweep, the use-case split is lopsided. The AMD Opteron 3380 wins every benchmark in the comparison set, meaning it is the stronger choice for both multi-threaded and single-threaded rendering workloads. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, the Opteron’s 19.9% lead translates directly to faster completion times for tasks that scale across cores. Its eight cores and eight threads provide a clear advantage over the Core i5’s four cores and four threads in heavily parallel workloads.

The single-core wins are more surprising and more consequential for everyday responsiveness. The Opteron leads by 19.7% in both R20 and R23 single-core tests, suggesting that even in lightly threaded applications, such as older software, scripting, or UI-heavy tasks, the AMD part is faster. The Core i5’s higher base clock (3.10 GHz versus 2.60 GHz) does not compensate for the architectural differences. The Opteron’s boost clock of 3.60 GHz versus 3.40 GHz for the Intel chip likely contributes, but the gap is larger than the 0.20 GHz boost difference alone would predict.

The Core i5-2380P has no benchmark where it comes out ahead. Its only potential advantages lie outside the recorded tests: it supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, whereas the Opteron uses PCIe Gen 2. This matters for add-in cards that require Gen 3 bandwidth, but no benchmark in the data captures that effect. Similarly, the Core i5 is a desktop part with no integrated graphics listed, while the Opteron’s integrated graphics are described as a chipset feature available on certain motherboards, not a meaningful differentiator for rendering workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 3380 uses the K10 architecture, codenamed Delhi, part of the Opteron 3000 series. It is built on a 32 nm process and packs 1,200 million transistors into a 315 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-2380P uses Sandy Bridge architecture, also on a 32 nm process, with 1,160 million transistors on a smaller 216 mm² die. Both use the same process node, but the Opteron allocates its extra silicon to more cores and cache.

Core counts differ significantly: the Opteron has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Core i5 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither chip supports simultaneous multithreading, so cores equal threads in both cases. Cache layouts also diverge. The Opteron has 384 KB of L1 cache, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i5 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Total L2 for the Opteron is 8 MB; for the Core i5, it is 1 MB (256 KB × 4). The Opteron’s larger cache hierarchy, particularly the 8 MB L2 and 8 MB L3, helps explain its consistent benchmark advantage.

Memory support is another differentiator. Both support DDR3 and dual-channel memory buses, but the Opteron lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Core i5 has no bandwidth figure in the data. Neither chip supports ECC memory, despite the Opteron’s server/workstation market segment. The Opteron uses AMD Socket AM3+, while the Core i5 uses Intel Socket 1155. PCIe support differs: the Opteron is Gen 2, the Core i5 is Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The Opteron’s integrated graphics are listed as a chipset feature on certain motherboards, whereas the Core i5 has no integrated graphics listed at all.

The Opteron is marked end-of-life, released in December 2012 with a launch MSRP of $229. The Core i5 has no production status listed and was released in January 2012, roughly ten months earlier. Both chips have locked multipliers, so neither is intended for overclocking. The Opteron’s TDP is 65 watts, lower than the Core i5’s 95 watts, despite having twice the cores, a notable efficiency advantage for the AMD part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The AMD Opteron 3380 wins all three multi-core tests by exactly 19.9%. It scores 373 versus 311 in Cinebench R15, 1555 versus 1297 in R20, and 3704 versus 3090 in R23.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-2380P win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Opteron winning all five recorded tests. The Core i5 has zero wins, with the smallest deficit being 19.7% in single-core tests.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Opteron has an average benchmark score of 1071, while the Core i5 scores 1063. Both sit at the 29th percentile of all CPUs. The Opteron’s nearest rival is the AMD Athlon X4 880K with a 0% delta, while the Core i5’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-4570TE with a 0.1% delta.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Opteron has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Core i5 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither chip supports hyper-threading or SMT, so core count equals thread count for both.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Opteron 3380 and the Core i5-2380P have ECC memory support listed as false, despite the Opteron being aimed at the server/workstation segment.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Opteron has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Core i5 has a TDP of 95 watts. The Opteron draws less power despite having twice as many cores.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 3380 outperforms the Intel Core i5-2380P in every recorded test. The 19.9% multi-core lead and 19.7% single-core lead are consistent across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, making this a comprehensive victory rather than a workload-specific fluke. The Opteron achieves this with eight cores versus four, more cache (8 MB L2 and 8 MB L3 versus 1 MB L2 and 6 MB L3), and a lower TDP of 65 watts versus 95 watts.

The Core i5-2380P’s only advantages are outside the benchmark suite: PCIe Gen 3 support with 16 CPU lanes (versus Gen 2 for the Opteron) and a smaller die size (216 mm² versus 315 mm²). Neither of these factors shows up in Cinebench scores. For rendering, multi-threaded productivity, or any workload captured by these tests, the Opteron is the clear choice. For a desktop system that needs PCIe Gen 3 bandwidth, the Core i5 may be preferable, but the data provides no performance metric where it wins.

Users should pick the AMD Opteron 3380 if they prioritize raw compute performance in multi-threaded and single-threaded tasks, value lower power consumption, or need eight cores for parallel workloads. The Intel Core i5-2380P is only defensible in scenarios requiring PCIe Gen 3 connectivity, where its 16 CPU lanes and newer PCIe standard give it a structural advantage that benchmarks do not capture. On the evidence available, the Opteron dominates.

Specification Differences

• Cores: AMD Opteron 3380: 8; Intel Core i5-2380P: 4
• Threads: AMD Opteron 3380: 8; Intel Core i5-2380P: 4
• Base Clock: AMD Opteron 3380: 2.60 GHz; Intel Core i5-2380P: 3.10 GHz
• Boost Clock: AMD Opteron 3380: 3.60 GHz; Intel Core i5-2380P: 3.40 GHz
• TDP: AMD Opteron 3380: 65 W; Intel Core i5-2380P: 95 W
• Socket: AMD Opteron 3380: AMD Socket AM3+; Intel Core i5-2380P: Intel Socket 1155
• Architecture: AMD Opteron 3380: K10 (Delhi); Intel Core i5-2380P: Sandy Bridge
• Die Size: AMD Opteron 3380: 315 mm²; Intel Core i5-2380P: 216 mm²
• Transistors: AMD Opteron 3380: 1,200 million; Intel Core i5-2380P: 1,160 million
• L1 Cache: AMD Opteron 3380: 384 KB total; Intel Core i5-2380P: 64 KB per core
• L2 Cache: AMD Opteron 3380: 8 MB total; Intel Core i5-2380P: 256 KB per core
• L3 Cache: AMD Opteron 3380: 8 MB shared; Intel Core i5-2380P: 6 MB shared
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD Opteron 3380: 29.9 GB/s; Intel Core i5-2380P: not listed
• PCIe: AMD Opteron 3380: Gen 2; Intel Core i5-2380P: Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated Graphics: AMD Opteron 3380: On certain motherboards (chipset feature); Intel Core i5-2380P: none listed
• Release Date: AMD Opteron 3380: December 2012; Intel Core i5-2380P: January 2012
• Production Status: AMD Opteron 3380: End-of-life; Intel Core i5-2380P: not listed