AMD Opteron 3380 vs Intel Pentium G4600 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data places the AMD Opteron 3380 ahead of the Intel Pentium G4600 in every recorded Cinebench test, both multi-core and single-core. The Opteron 3380 wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 17.0% to 17.4% across the tests. The average benchmark score confirms this pattern: the Opteron 3380 records 1071, while the Pentium G4600 records 1056, a gap of roughly 1.4%. Both processors sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they belong to the same performance tier despite the Opteron’s consistent edge.

The Pentium G4600 is a dual-core, four-thread desktop part built on Intel’s Kaby Lake architecture with a 14 nm process. The Opteron 3380 is an eight-core, eight-thread server and workstation processor using AMD’s older K10 architecture on a 32 nm process. The Opteron’s raw core count advantage translates directly into higher multi-threaded scores, but its single-core results also surpass the Pentium, which is notable given the Pentium’s higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus the Opteron’s 2.60 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost.

Who should pick which? The data suggests that for workloads that can use more than two cores, the Opteron 3380 is the stronger choice. Its eight cores deliver 17.1% to 17.2% higher multi-core scores across R15, R20, and R23. Even in single-core tests, where the Pentium’s newer architecture and higher base clock might be expected to dominate, the Opteron leads by 17.0% to 17.4%. The Pentium G4600 has no benchmark win in this comparison. However, the Pentium offers integrated graphics (Intel HD 630), a feature the Opteron lacks unless the motherboard chipset provides it, and the Pentium remains an active production part while the Opteron is end-of-life. For a system requiring a standalone GPU and a modern, actively supported desktop platform, the Pentium is the practical option. For raw compute throughput, the Opteron is the data-backed winner.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Pentium G4600 uses the Kaby Lake microarchitecture, built on a 14 nm process at Intel’s foundry. It has 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and no boost clock listed. Its cache layout is per-core: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. The memory controller supports DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, with a theoretical memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. The PCIe interface is Gen 3 with 16 lanes available from the CPU. Integrated graphics are present in the form of Intel HD 630. The part number is SR35F, and it was released in January 2017.

The AMD Opteron 3380 belongs to the Opteron 3000 series and uses the K10 architecture with the codename Delhi. It is manufactured on a 32 nm process, significantly older and larger than Intel’s 14 nm node. The die size is 315 mm², and the transistor count is listed as 1,200 million. It has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The base clock is 2.60 GHz, with a boost clock up to 3.60 GHz. Cache is organized differently: 384 KB of L1 total, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR3 in dual-channel mode, with a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, lower than the Pentium’s DDR4 figure. ECC memory is not supported. The PCIe interface is Gen 2, a generation behind the Pentium’s Gen 3. There is no dedicated integrated graphics; the database notes that graphics come “on certain motherboards (Chipset feature).” The part number is OS3380OLW8KHK, and it was released in December 2012.

The process node difference is stark: 14 nm versus 32 nm. That gap explains why the Pentium achieves comparable average performance with only 2 cores while the Opteron needs 8 cores to pull ahead by a modest margin. The Opteron’s larger die and older transistor technology also contribute to its higher TDP of 65 watts versus the Pentium’s 51 watts, despite the Pentium having fewer cores. The socket platforms are incompatible: Intel Socket 1151 for the Pentium, AMD Socket AM3+ for the Opteron.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Opteron 3380 records an average benchmark score of 1071, while the Intel Pentium G4600 records 1056. The Opteron’s average is higher by 15 points, roughly 1.4%.

Q: Does the Intel Pentium G4600 win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. In the five recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests, the AMD Opteron 3380 wins all five. The Pentium G4600 has zero wins, and the Opteron has five.

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

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Opteron 3380 scores 522 against the Pentium’s 433, a delta of 17.0%. In R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 219 against 181, a delta of 17.4%. In both tests, the Opteron leads by roughly 17%.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: The Opteron leads in all three multi-core tests. In R15, it scores 373 versus 309 (17.2% ahead). In R20, it scores 1555 versus 1289 (17.1% ahead). In R23, it scores 3704 versus 3070 (17.1% ahead). The margin is consistent across all tests.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Pentium G4600 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Opteron 3380 supports DDR3 memory with dual-channel bus and 29.9 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Intel Pentium G4600 has a production status of “Active.” The AMD Opteron 3380 is marked as “End-of-life.”

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The most obvious difference is core count: the Pentium G4600 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Opteron 3380 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The base clocks differ as well: the Pentium runs at 3.60 GHz, while the Opteron runs at 2.60 GHz with a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The Pentium has no boost clock listed. TDP is lower on the Pentium at 51 watts, versus 65 watts for the Opteron.

The socket and platform are entirely different. The Pentium uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Opteron uses AMD Socket AM3+. The architectures are from different families: Kaby Lake for the Pentium, K10 (codename Delhi) for the Opteron. Process nodes differ significantly: 14 nm for Intel, 32 nm for AMD. The Opteron lists its transistor count at 1,200 million and die size at 315 mm²; the Pentium does not list either figure in the database.

Cache structures are not directly comparable. The Pentium has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3. The Opteron has 384 KB total L1, 8 MB L2, and 8 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: DDR4 for the Pentium, DDR3 for the Opteron. Memory bandwidth is higher for the Pentium at 38.4 GB/s, versus 29.9 GB/s for the Opteron. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe generation differs: Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the Pentium, Gen 2 for the Opteron.

Integrated graphics are present on the Pentium (Intel HD 630) but not on the Opteron, which relies on chipset features on certain motherboards. The market segments differ: Desktop for the Pentium, Server/Workstation for the Opteron. Release dates are over four years apart: January 2017 for the Pentium, December 2012 for the Opteron. The Opteron has a launch MSRP of $229, while the Pentium has no recorded launch MSRP. The multiplier is locked on both, and neither is marked as unlocked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records five head-to-head Cinebench tests, and the AMD Opteron 3380 wins every one. The margin is remarkably consistent across all tests, hovering near 17%. This consistency suggests a stable performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 373 against the Pentium’s 309. The delta is 17.2% in favor of the Opteron. This test typically scales with core count, and the Opteron’s 8 cores versus 2 cores explains the result. However, the margin is smaller than the raw core ratio might suggest, indicating that the Pentium’s newer architecture and higher clock speed partially compensate for its lower core count.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Opteron scores 1555 against 1289, a delta of 17.1%. The pattern holds across the newer R20 workload, which is more demanding and better optimized for modern CPUs. The Opteron’s lead is nearly identical to the R15 result, suggesting that the performance gap is stable across different rendering workloads.

The single-core tests are more surprising. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 219 against the Pentium’s 181, a delta of 17.4%. This is the largest margin in any test. The Pentium has a base clock of 3.60 GHz, which matches the Opteron’s boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Yet the Opteron still wins single-core by a wide margin. This could indicate that the K10 architecture’s single-core efficiency at equal clock speeds is higher than expected, or that the Pentium’s performance is limited by its dual-core design even in single-threaded tasks due to thermal or power management.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Opteron scores 3704 against 3070, a delta of 17.1%. In R23 single-core, the Opteron scores 522 against 433, a delta of 17.0%. The R23 single-core margin is the smallest of the five tests, but still a clear win for the Opteron.

The average benchmark scores reflect this pattern: the Opteron averages 1071, the Pentium averages 1056. The Opteron’s nearest rival is the AMD Athlon X4 880K with an identical average score of 1071 and a delta of 0%. The Pentium’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-2760QM at 1057, a delta of -0.1%. Both processors sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are in the lower half of the database’s performance distribution.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 3380 wins in every benchmark category recorded. It leads in multi-core tests by 17.1% to 17.2%, and in single-core tests by 17.0% to 17.4%. The data shows no workload where the Pentium G4600 outperforms the Opteron. This makes the Opteron the clear choice for any application that can utilize its eight cores, such as rendering, compilation, or server-side workloads. The Opteron’s server and workstation market segment aligns with this strength: it is designed for throughput-oriented tasks.

The Opteron also wins single-core, which is less expected given the Pentium’s higher base clock and newer architecture. This suggests that the Opteron’s boost clock of 3.60 GHz is effective, and that the K10 architecture delivers competitive single-threaded performance despite its age. For users who need the highest Cinebench scores in the database, the Opteron is the superior part.

The Intel Pentium G4600 has no benchmark wins, but it does have advantages outside of raw performance. It is an active production part, while the Opteron is end-of-life. It includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 630), which means a system built around the Pentium does not require a discrete GPU for basic display output. The Opteron has no integrated graphics and relies on chipset features on certain motherboards. The Pentium supports DDR4 memory with higher bandwidth (38.4 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s), and it uses a newer PCIe Gen 3 interface versus the Opteron’s Gen 2. These features make the Pentium a more modern platform choice, even if its compute performance is lower.

For a desktop user building a new system today, the Pentium’s active status, integrated graphics, and DDR4 support are practical benefits. For a user with an existing AM3+ platform or a workload that scales with cores, the Opteron’s consistent 17% performance lead across all recorded tests is the decisive factor. The data does not support choosing the Pentium for raw speed; it only supports choosing it for platform features and availability.