AMD Opteron 3380 vs Intel Core i5-3335S Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents an unusually one-sided comparison. The AMD Opteron 3380 wins every single head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Core i5-3335S, taking all five recorded tests. The Intel chip, meanwhile, records zero wins in the direct comparison. This outcome is surprising given the architectural differences and market positioning of the two processors. The Opteron 3380 is a server and workstation part from AMD, while the Core i5-3335S is a desktop processor from Intel, yet the data shows the server chip outperforming the desktop chip across both single-core and multi-core workloads.

Looking at the aggregate scores, the Intel Core i5-3335S has an average benchmark score of 1083, placing it in the 30th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The AMD Opteron 3380 has an average score of 1071, placing it in the 29th percentile. These near-identical aggregate scores mask the fact that the direct head-to-head results heavily favor AMD. The explanation lies in the benchmark suite composition: the Opteron wins all Cinebench tests, while the Intel chip has additional Geekbench results that are not part of the head-to-head comparison. The Geekbench multicore score for the i5-3335S is 1647 and the single-core score is 562, which contribute to its aggregate total.

Who should pick which processor strictly from the data? The answer is clear for users prioritizing Cinebench rendering performance, whether single-core or multi-core. The Opteron 3380 leads by approximately 16% in every Cinebench tests recorded. For users who value the specific Geekbench performance of the Intel chip, the i5-3335S offers scores of 1647 multicore and 562 single-core, though there is no direct Geekbench comparison between the two in the head-to-head data. The Opteron also carries a launch MSRP of $229, which is stated once here and not analyzed further.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-3335S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a 22 nm process node at Intel's foundry. The AMD Opteron 3380 uses the older K10 architecture, codenamed Delhi, fabricated on a 32 nm process. The manufacturing process difference is significant: Intel's 22 nm node is more advanced than AMD's 32 nm node, which typically allows for higher transistor density and better power efficiency.

The transistor counts tell an interesting story. The Intel chip packs 1,480 million transistors into a die size of 160 mm². The AMD chip has 1,200 million transistors spread across a much larger 315 mm² die. This means Intel achieves dramatically higher transistor density, roughly 9.25 million transistors per square millimeter versus AMD's 3.81 million, though these density figures are derived from the provided data. The larger AMD die with fewer transistors suggests a less efficient layout, characteristic of the older K10 architecture.

Core and thread configurations differ substantially. The Intel Core i5-3335S has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no hyper-threading support. The AMD Opteron 3380 has 8 cores and 8 threads, doubling the physical core count. This core advantage likely explains the Opteron's multi-core Cinebench wins despite the architectural age.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 384 KB of L1 cache total, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron's larger L2 and L3 caches give it a capacity advantage, while the Intel design offers per-core L1 and L2 allocation that may benefit latency-sensitive workloads.

Memory support is similar in generation: both support DDR3 and use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD chip specifies a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Intel chip does not list a bandwidth figure in the data. Neither processor supports ECC memory according to the records. PCI Express connectivity differs, with Intel offering Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while AMD provides Gen 2 support.

Integrated graphics also separate the two. The Intel chip includes Intel HD 4000 graphics on the processor. The AMD chip relies on chipset-based graphics available on certain motherboards, meaning the Opteron has no integrated GPU of its own. This makes the Intel chip more self-contained for basic display output.

The market segments differ: the Intel chip is classified as Desktop, while the AMD chip is a Server/Workstation part. The Opteron is marked as end-of-life, while the Intel chip's production status is not specified in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Opteron 3380 wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core i5-3335S. The Intel chip records zero wins in the direct comparison.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench tests?

A: The Opteron 3380 leads by 15.7% to 16% across the Cinebench tests. In R15 multi-core, the scores are 373 versus 314, a 15.8% difference. In R20 single-core, the scores are 219 versus 184, a 16% difference.

Q: Do the aggregate benchmark averages reflect the head-to-head results?

A: No, the aggregate scores are nearly identical. The Intel chip averages 1083 and the AMD chip averages 1071, a difference of about 1%. The Intel chip's Geekbench results, which are not part of the head-to-head set, contribute to its aggregate score.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-3335S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD Opteron 3380 has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-3335S includes Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 3380 does not have integrated graphics on the processor; it relies on chipset features available on certain motherboards.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The Intel chip uses a 22 nm process node, while the AMD chip uses a 32 nm process node.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Intel Core i5-3335S has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The AMD Opteron 3380 has a lower base clock of 2.60 GHz but a significantly higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The higher boost ceiling on the AMD chip may contribute to its single-core performance advantage.

Both processors have a TDP of 65 watts, making them equally power-hungry on paper despite the AMD chip's additional cores. This is notable given the process node disadvantage for AMD.

Socket compatibility is entirely different. The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1155, while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM3+. These are not interchangeable platforms, requiring different motherboards.

The architecture and codename are distinct: Intel uses Ivy Bridge, while AMD uses K10 with the Delhi codename. The generation fields also differ, with Intel listing Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) and AMD listing Opteron (Delhi).

Die size is a major differentiator: the Intel chip measures 160 mm², while the AMD chip measures 315 mm². The Intel chip also has more transistors at 1,480 million versus 1,200 million for AMD.

Cache configurations differ in structure. Intel provides per-core L1 and L2 caches (64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively) with a 6 MB shared L3. AMD provides a total L1 of 384 KB, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3.

Memory bandwidth is listed for the AMD chip at 29.9 GB/s, while the Intel chip does not have a bandwidth figure in the data. Both support DDR3 with dual-channel memory buses.

PCI Express generations differ: Intel supports Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while AMD supports Gen 2. This could affect GPU and NVMe performance in real-world systems.

The market segment classifications differ, with Intel as a Desktop part and AMD as a Server/Workstation part. The AMD chip is end-of-life, while the Intel chip's status is unspecified.

The AMD chip has a launch MSRP of $229, while the Intel chip does not have a launch MSRP recorded. The AMD part number is OS3380OLW8KHK.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a consistent pattern of AMD dominance across all Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron 3380 scores 373 against the Intel's 314, a delta of 15.8% in AMD's favor. This is the first recorded test and sets the tone for the entire comparison.

Cinebench R20 multi-core continues the trend: AMD scores 1555, Intel scores 1310, again a 15.8% difference. The consistency of this margin across different Cinebench versions suggests the performance gap is stable rather than workload-specific.

The single-core tests reveal perhaps the most surprising result. Cinebench R20 single-core shows AMD at 219 and Intel at 184, a 16% advantage for the Opteron. This is unexpected because single-core performance typically favors newer architectures with higher instructions per clock. The Intel Ivy Bridge architecture is two generations newer than AMD's K10, yet the Opteron still wins single-core tests. The AMD chip's higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz versus Intel's 3.20 GHz may explain some of this gap.

Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the same pattern: AMD scores 3704, Intel scores 3121, a 15.7% difference. The R23 single-core test shows AMD at 522 and Intel at 440, also a 15.7% gap.

The benchmark suite includes Geekbench results for the Intel chip only: 1647 multicore and 562 single-core. These are not part of the head-to-head comparison, so they cannot be directly weighed against the AMD chip. However, they contribute to the Intel chip's aggregate average score of 1083.

The wins tally is stark: AMD wins 5 benchmarks, Intel wins 0. The largest single win is in Cinebench R20 single-core at 16%, and the smallest is in R23 multi-core at 15.7%. Across all five tests, the margins are remarkably tight in their range, from 15.7% to 16%, indicating a consistent performance differential.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 3380 wins in every measured category in the head-to-head data. The most significant wins are in single-core performance, where the 16% margin in Cinebench R20 single-core represents the largest gap. This has implications for applications that rely on per-thread performance, such as older games or lightly threaded productivity software.

The multi-core wins are equally substantial, with 15.8% margins in both R15 and R20 multi-core tests, and 15.7% in R23 multi-core. The Opteron's 8 cores versus the Intel's 4 cores likely drives this advantage, allowing it to handle more parallel work simultaneously.

The Intel Core i5-3335S wins nowhere in the direct comparison, but its case rests on the Geekbench scores that are recorded in the database. The multicore score of 1647 and single-core score of 562 are respectable figures, though without a direct AMD comparison, their relative value cannot be established from the data.

For integrated graphics, the Intel chip has a clear qualitative advantage with Intel HD 4000 built in. The AMD chip requires a chipset-based solution on certain motherboards. Users needing a simple display output without a discrete GPU would find the Intel chip more convenient.

For platform connectivity, the Intel chip's PCIe Gen 3 support with 16 lanes is more modern than AMD's Gen 2. This could matter for users planning to install modern graphics cards or NVMe storage, though the practical impact depends on the specific system configuration.

The AMD chip's end-of-life status suggests limited future availability, while the Intel chip's production status is not specified. For new system builds, the Intel chip may be easier to source, though the data does not confirm this.

The use-case split based purely on benchmark wins favors AMD for any Cinebench-based rendering or content creation workload. The Intel chip would be the choice for users who value its integrated graphics capability, its smaller die size suggesting better manufacturing efficiency, or its more recent PCIe Gen 3 support. The Geekbench scores recorded for Intel also indicate capable single-threaded performance, but the head-to-head data does not include a Geekbench comparison to verify this against the AMD chip.