AMD Opteron 3380 vs Intel Core i7-2760QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the AMD Opteron 3380 across all six shared Cinebench tests. The margins are consistent, ranging from 1.9% to 2.0%, which indicates a stable performance advantage rather than a workload-specific anomaly. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 373 against 366 for the Core i7-2760QM, a 1.9% lead. The single-core test in the same suite shows 52 versus 51, a 2% difference. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the multicore result is 1555 versus 1525 (2% ahead) and the single-core result is 219 versus 215 (1.9% ahead). Cinebench R23 continues the trend: 3704 versus 3631 in multicore and 522 versus 512 in single-core, both representing a 2% edge for the AMD part.

The consistency of these deltas is notable. Every benchmark, regardless of the render workload type, lands within the same narrow band. This suggests the Opteron 3380 delivers a uniform performance uplift over the Intel mobile processor. The largest recorded win is a 2% lead, which appears in four separate tests. There are no tests where the Core i7-2760QM takes the lead. The database records six wins for the AMD Opteron 3380 and zero for the Intel part.

When placed against their nearest rivals, both processors occupy similar average performance territory. The Opteron 3380 has an average benchmark score of 1071, matching the AMD Athlon X4 880K exactly with a 0% delta. It sits 0.1% above the Intel Core i5-5287U and Intel Core i3-4170T, both at 1072, and 0.1% above the Intel Processor N95 at 1070. The Core i7-2760QM averages 1057, which places it 0.1% above the Intel Pentium G4600 at 1056 and 0.1% below the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U and Intel Core i3-4350, both at 1058. The 14-point gap in average score between the two reviewed processors aligns with the consistent Cinebench deltas.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 3380 uses the K10 architecture under the Delhi codename, part of the Opteron 3000 series. The Intel Core i7-2760QM uses Sandy Bridge architecture. Both are built on a 32 nm process node, which puts them on equal footing in lithography. The AMD chip has 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die, while the Intel chip has 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The Intel die is considerably smaller despite a similar transistor count, indicating a denser layout.

Core counts differ substantially. The Opteron 3380 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Core i7-2760QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel processor relies on Hyper-Threading to match thread count, while the AMD chip uses physical cores exclusively. This structural difference explains why the AMD part holds a small but consistent lead in both single and multi-threaded workloads. The base clocks are 2.60 GHz for the AMD chip and 2.40 GHz for the Intel chip. Boost clocks are 3.60 GHz and 3.50 GHz respectively. The AMD part starts higher and finishes higher on the clock scale.

Cache layouts are organized differently. The Opteron 3380 has 384 KB of L1 cache, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i7-2760QM has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. For a quad-core part, the Intel cache totals 256 KB L1 and 1 MB L2. The AMD L3 cache is 2 MB larger, which may contribute to its performance consistency. The AMD processor uses an AMD Socket AM3+ interface, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1224, a socket designed for mobile platforms. The AMD chip supports DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus with 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part also uses dual-channel memory, but the database records no bandwidth figure for it.

The integrated graphics situation differs. The Core i7-2760QM includes Intel HD 3000 graphics directly on the processor. The Opteron 3380 has no integrated graphics of its own; the database notes that graphics are available on certain motherboards as a chipset feature. This is a meaningful distinction for system design, as the Intel part can function without a discrete GPU while the AMD server part requires chipset support for display output. The AMD processor is positioned for the server and workstation market segment, while the Intel chip is a mobile part. Both are end-of-life products. The Opteron 3380 launched on 2012-12-03 with a launch MSRP of $229. The Core i7-2760QM launched earlier, on 2011-09-03, with no MSRP recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 3380 wins in every recorded benchmark category, but the size of that win varies by workload. The largest deltas appear in single-core tests, where the AMD chip leads by 2% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. This is surprising given the architectural differences. The Opteron has a higher base clock (2.60 GHz versus 2.40 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.60 GHz versus 3.50 GHz), which partially explains its single-thread advantage. The Intel part has a smaller L3 cache at 6 MB compared to 8 MB, and the K10 architecture appears to handle these specific workloads efficiently.

Multi-core tests show nearly identical margins. The Opteron leads by 1.9% in Cinebench R15 multicore and by 2% in both R20 and R23 multicore. With twice the physical cores, the AMD chip might be expected to dominate more decisively in threaded workloads. The data does not support that expectation. Instead, the 8-core Opteron edges past the 4-core, 8-thread Intel part by roughly the same margin it achieves in single-core tests. This suggests the Sandy Bridge architecture in the Intel chip is highly efficient per core, compensating for the core count deficit. The database does not record any Geekbench results for the AMD part, while the Intel chip shows a Geekbench multicore score of 1625 and a single-core score of 534. Without comparable AMD data, the Cinebench suite remains the only cross-reference point.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The Opteron 3380 averages 1071, while the Core i7-2760QM averages 1057, a 14-point gap that aligns with the Cinebench deltas. Both processors sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for each confirm that neither processor is an outlier in its performance class. The Opteron matches the AMD Athlon X4 880K exactly, and the Core i7-2760QM sits between the Pentium G4600 and the Ryzen 5 2500U. These reference points indicate that while the Opteron wins the head-to-head, both chips occupy a similar performance tier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 3380 has 8 physical cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i7-2760QM has 4 physical cores and 8 threads, using Hyper-Threading to match the thread count.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Opteron 3380 scores 3704 in multicore and 522 in single-core. The Intel Core i7-2760QM scores 3631 in multicore and 512 in single-core. The AMD part leads by 2% in both tests.

Q: Do both processors use the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both are fabricated on a 32 nm process node. The AMD chip contains 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die, while the Intel chip contains 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-2760QM includes Intel HD 3000 graphics. The AMD Opteron 3380 does not have integrated graphics; display support depends on a chipset feature available on certain motherboards.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Opteron 3380 has an average benchmark score of 1071. The Intel Core i7-2760QM has an average score of 1057. Both processors rank at the 29th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What memory bandwidth does the AMD processor support?

A: The AMD Opteron 3380 supports DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus with 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part also uses dual-channel memory, but no bandwidth figure is recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to the AMD Opteron 3380 as the stronger performer in every recorded test. The consistency of the 1.9% to 2.0% margins across six Cinebench benchmarks indicates a reliable, if modest, advantage over the Intel Core i7-2760QM. The AMD chip delivers this lead with 8 physical cores, a 2.60 GHz base clock, a 3.60 GHz boost clock, and 8 MB of L3 cache. The Intel chip counters with 4 cores, 8 threads, a 2.40 GHz base clock, a 3.50 GHz boost clock, and 6 MB of L3 cache. The core count difference is the most obvious structural gap, yet the Intel part stays close in every test, which highlights the efficiency of the Sandy Bridge architecture.

For multi-threaded rendering workloads, the Opteron 3380 holds a 2% edge in Cinebench R20 and R23 multicore tests. For single-threaded tasks, it also holds a 2% edge. The Intel part is a mobile processor with a 45 W TDP, while the AMD part is a server and workstation chip with a 65 W TDP. The Opteron also requires chipset-based graphics, whereas the Core i7-2760QM includes Intel HD 3000. The data favors the AMD part for raw compute performance, but the Intel chip offers integrated graphics and a lower TDP. The average scores, 1071 versus 1057, reinforce the same conclusion: the AMD Opteron 3380 is ahead, but not by a wide margin. Users prioritizing processor performance in Cinebench-style workloads would select the Opteron 3380 based on the recorded results. Users needing integrated graphics or lower power consumption would find the Core i7-2760QM more suitable, based on the TDP and feature data.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Opteron 3380 | Intel Core i7-2760QM |

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

| Cores | 8 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM3+ | Intel BGA 1224 |

| Architecture | K10 | Sandy Bridge |

| Codename | Delhi | Sandy Bridge |

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

| Die Size | 315 mm² | 216 mm² |

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

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

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

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

| Integrated Graphics | Chipset feature on certain motherboards | Intel HD 3000 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2012-12-03 | 2011-09-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $229 | Not recorded |