AMD Opteron 4226 vs Intel Core i3-8130U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Opteron 4226 averages 995 points across all benchmark tests, while the Intel Core i3-8130U averages 994 points. The difference is a mere 0.1% in favor of the Opteron, placing both processors at the 27th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-8130U scores 2995 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD Opteron 4226 scores 2890. This gives Intel a 3.5% lead in that specific test, despite the Opteron having 6 cores and 6 threads versus the i3's 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

A: The AMD Opteron 4226 features 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel Core i3-8130U has 2 cores and 4 threads, enabled by Hyper-Threading technology. The Opteron offers triple the physical core count, yet the benchmark results show the Intel part keeps pace or edges ahead.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 4226 supports ECC memory, which is typical for its server/workstation market segment. The Intel Core i3-8130U does not support ECC memory, reflecting its mobile consumer orientation.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two chips?

A: The AMD Opteron 4226 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the Intel Core i3-8130U has a TDP of 15 watts. This represents a 6.3x difference in thermal design power, making the Intel part dramatically more power-efficient.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i3-8130U includes Intel UHD 620 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 4226 has no integrated graphics, which is standard for server processors that rely on discrete graphics or headless operation.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-8130U wins every head-to-head benchmark recorded in the data. Across five Cinebench tests—R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core—the Intel chip takes all five victories. The margin is consistent, ranging from 3.3% to 3.5% depending on the specific test.

The AMD Opteron 4226's only "win" is in the aggregate average benchmark score, where it edges out the i3-8130U by 0.1% (995 vs 994). This is essentially a statistical tie, and the Opteron also matches the average scores of the Intel Core i7-2635QM and Intel Core i7-2920XM, both at 995 points.

The Opteron's advantage lies in its server-oriented feature set: ECC memory support, dual-channel DDR3 memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, and the AMD Socket C32 platform designed for multi-socket server configurations. The i3-8130U counters with integrated UHD 620 graphics, DDR4 memory support, and a 15-watt TDP that enables fanless or ultra-thin laptop designs.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 4226 is built on the Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Valencia, using a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It packs 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-8130U uses the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically Kaby Lake-R (Kaby Lake-U Refresh), fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process with a 123 mm² die size.

The cache hierarchies reflect their different design philosophies. The Opteron has 288 KB of L1 cache, 6 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-8130U specifies 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, with 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron's larger aggregate cache is characteristic of a server chip designed to handle many concurrent workloads.

The Opteron uses AMD Socket C32 and supports DDR3 memory with ECC capability. The i3-8130U uses Intel BGA 1356 (soldered, not socketed) and supports DDR4 memory without ECC. The Opteron's PCIe Gen 2 support and server-grade memory controller target it at enterprise workloads, while the i3's integrated UHD 620 graphics make it a complete mobile solution.

The production status differs significantly: the Opteron 4226 is end-of-life, released in November 2011, while the i3-8130U is still active, launched in February 2018. This roughly six-year gap in release dates explains the architectural generational leap from 32 nm to 14 nm process technology.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ substantially: 6 cores and 6 threads for the AMD Opteron 4226 versus 2 cores and 4 threads for the Intel Core i3-8130U. The base clock favors AMD at 2.70 GHz versus Intel's 2.40 GHz, but the boost clock favors Intel at 3.40 GHz versus AMD's 3.10 GHz.

The TDP difference is stark: 95 watts for the Opteron versus 15 watts for the i3-8130U. The Opteron uses AMD Socket C32, while the i3 uses Intel BGA 1356. The Opteron supports DDR3 memory and ECC, while the i3 supports DDR4 without ECC. The Opteron has a dual-channel memory bus delivering 25.6 GB/s bandwidth; the i3's memory bus and bandwidth are not specified in the data.

The integrated graphics situation is binary: the i3-8130U includes UHD 620 graphics, while the Opteron has none. The market segments differ too: Server/Workstation for AMD versus Mobile for Intel. The Opteron carries a launch MSRP of $125, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the i3-8130U. Both processors have locked multipliers, and neither supports overclocking.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i3-8130U wins all five head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but the margins are remarkably tight. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3 scores 301 against the Opteron's 291, a 3.3% difference. This is notable because the Opteron has 6 physical cores while the i3 has only 2 cores with 4 threads.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i3 scores 1257 versus 1213 for the Opteron, a 3.5% margin. The single-core R20 test shows 177 for Intel versus 171 for AMD, a 3.4% edge. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result gives the i3 a 2995 score against 2890 for the Opteron, again 3.5% apart. The R23 single-core test shows 422 versus 408, a 3.3% Intel advantage.

The consistency of the margin—always between 3.3% and 3.5%—suggests a systematic architectural efficiency advantage for the Kaby Lake design rather than a test-specific quirk. The i3's higher boost clock (3.40 GHz versus 3.10 GHz) and modern 14 nm process likely contribute to this consistent edge across both single-core and multi-core workloads.

The Opteron's 6-core design cannot overcome the per-core efficiency of the i3-8130U. The i3 also has additional benchmark data points not available for the Opteron: Geekbench multi-core at 1762 and Geekbench single-core at 898. These scores further confirm the Intel chip's balanced performance across older and newer benchmark suites.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-8130U outperforms the AMD Opteron 4226 in every direct comparison, with margins between 3.3% and 3.5%. The average benchmark scores are essentially tied at 995 versus 994, but the individual test results show consistent Intel superiority.

For users prioritizing single-threaded performance, the i3-8130U is the clear choice. Its R23 single-core score of 422 exceeds the Opteron's 408 by 3.3%, and its higher boost clock of 3.40 GHz provides a tangible advantage in lightly-threaded applications.

For multi-threaded workloads, the Opteron's 6 physical cores might seem advantageous, but the data shows otherwise. The i3-8130U still wins multi-core tests by 3.5% margins, demonstrating that modern architecture and higher per-core IPC can compensate for fewer cores.

The decision ultimately depends on platform requirements rather than raw performance. The Opteron 4226 offers ECC memory support, server-grade DDR3 with dual-channel bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, and the AMD Socket C32 ecosystem—features essential for enterprise servers needing error-correcting memory. The i3-8130U targets mobile devices with its 15-watt TDP, integrated UHD 620 graphics, and compact BGA 1356 form factor.

Users building or upgrading a server should consider the Opteron for its ECC capability and server platform features, despite its older architecture and end-of-life status. Mobile users or those building low-power systems should select the i3-8130U, which offers better performance, active production status, and dramatically lower power consumption. The data shows the i3-8130U as the stronger processor overall, but the Opteron retains a niche for ECC-dependent server deployments.