AMD Opteron 4226 vs Intel Core i5-2405S Comparison

The AMD Opteron 4226 and Intel Core i5-2405S are two end-of-life processors from 2011 that, despite very different designs and target markets, deliver nearly identical benchmark results. The data shows that in every shared Cinebench test, both CPUs produce exactly the same scores, making this a rare head-to-head where architectural philosophy matters more than raw performance output.

FAQ

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Opteron 4226 has an average benchmark score of 995, while the Intel Core i5-2405S scores 991. This places both processors in the 27th percentile of all CPUs, with the AMD part holding a razor-thin 0.4 percent advantage in aggregate performance.

Q: What are the core and thread configurations?

A: The AMD Opteron 4226 features 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core i5-2405S has 4 cores and 4 threads. Despite having 50 percent more cores, the AMD chip does not translate that advantage into higher multi-threaded scores in the tested workloads.

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speeds?

A: The AMD Opteron 4226 has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz. The Intel Core i5-2405S runs at a lower 2.50 GHz base but boosts higher to 3.30 GHz. The Intel part's higher boost clock helps it compensate for having fewer cores.

Q: What is the power consumption difference between them?

A: The AMD Opteron 4226 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the Intel Core i5-2405S is rated at 65 watts. The Intel desktop chip draws significantly less power despite achieving matching performance, which reflects its more efficient Sandy Bridge architecture.

Q: Do either of these CPUs include integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-2405S includes integrated graphics, featuring Intel HD 3000. The AMD Opteron 4226 has no integrated graphics, which is typical for a server-focused processor that expects a discrete GPU or no display output at all.

Q: What do the nearest rival comparisons show for each chip?

A: The Opteron 4226 sits exactly level with the Intel Core i7-2635QM and i7-2920XM, both at 995 points with 0 percent delta. The i5-2405S trails the Intel Core i7-960 and i7-965 by 0.2 percent, with those rivals scoring 993.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 4226 is built on the Bulldozer architecture with the Valencia codename, part of the Opteron 4000 series. It uses a 32 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, with 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. The i5-2405S uses Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture, also on a 32 nm node but fabricated in-house by Intel, with 1,160 million transistors on a considerably smaller 216 mm² die.

Cache layouts reveal fundamental design differences. The Opteron 4226 has 288 KB of L1 cache, 6 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-2405S positions its cache per core: 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3. This means the AMD chip has more total L3, but the Intel part's per-core L2 allocation can be more responsive for single-threaded workloads.

Memory support diverges in one critical area for server use: the Opteron 4226 supports ECC memory, while the i5-2405S does not. Both use DDR3 with dual-channel memory buses, but the Opteron lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the Intel part does not provide a bandwidth figure in the data. The Opteron also uses PCIe Gen 2, while the i5-2405S supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The sockets are completely incompatible: the AMD chip uses Socket C32 for server platforms, and the Intel chip uses Socket 1155 for desktop motherboards. The market segments reflect this: the Opteron targets Server/Workstation, while the i5-2405S is a Desktop part. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier, and both are end-of-life products. The Opteron carries a launch MSRP of $125, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the i5-2405S.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints an unusual picture: these two processors are performance twins in every measured metric. Across five Cinebench tests spanning R15 through R23, both single-core and multi-core, the scores are identical to the point. The AMD Opteron 4226 is credited with 5 wins in the head-to-head, but every one of those wins is by a 0 percent delta — a statistical tie rather than a victory.

For a server or workstation buyer, the Opteron 4226 is the clear choice based on platform features alone. It offers ECC memory support, which is non-negotiable for many reliability-focused deployments. Its 6 cores provide more parallel processing capacity on paper, even if Cinebench does not show a benefit. The Socket C32 platform also aligns with enterprise infrastructure.

For a desktop user, the Intel Core i5-2405S makes more sense given its integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU. Its lower 65-watt TDP means less heat and lower cooling requirements. The higher 3.30 GHz boost clock gives it a slight clock-speed edge that may matter in lightly threaded tasks not captured in these benchmarks.

The data does not support choosing either chip for raw performance supremacy, since both deliver identical results. The decision rests entirely on platform requirements: ECC and more cores versus integrated graphics and lower power draw. Those needing server-grade memory correction should pick the Opteron 4226; those building a compact desktop should pick the i5-2405S.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Opteron 4226 | Intel Core i5-2405S |

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

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 6 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket C32 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Bulldozer | Sandy Bridge |

| Codename | Valencia | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 32 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

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

| Die Size | 315 mm² | 216 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 288 KB | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 6 MB | 256 KB (per core) |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | Not specified |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Intel HD 3000 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Launch MSRP | $125 | Not specified |

| Part Number | OS4226WLU6KGU | SR0BB |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkable for their uniformity. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, both processors score exactly 291 points. The AMD Opteron 4226 is listed as the winner, but with a 0 percent delta, meaning neither chip outperforms the other. This is not a case of one architecture being faster; it is a case of both delivering identical throughput.

Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the pattern holds perfectly. Both chips score 1213 points, again with a 0 percent delta. This is particularly interesting because the Opteron has 6 cores versus the i5-2405S's 4 cores. The data suggests that the Intel chip's higher boost clock of 3.30 GHz fully compensates for its two fewer cores in this workload, or that the Bulldozer architecture's core efficiency lags Sandy Bridge significantly.

Single-core performance tells the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, both CPUs score 171 points. The i5-2405S has a 200 MHz boost clock advantage, yet the Opteron matches it exactly. This could indicate that the Opteron's architecture extracts more instruction-level parallelism, or that the benchmark is not sensitive enough to small clock differences at this performance level.

Cinebench R23 results continue the trend. Multi-core scores are 2890 for both processors, and single-core scores are 408 for both. The consistency across five different benchmark versions, from the older R15 to the more demanding R23, suggests these two CPUs have genuinely equivalent computational throughput despite their different designs.

The Intel Core i5-2405S does have additional benchmark data that the Opteron lacks: Geekbench scores of 1425 for multi-core and 541 for single-core. However, since the Opteron has no corresponding Geekbench results in the data, these scores cannot be used for a head-to-head comparison. They simply provide additional context for where the i5-2405S sits in the broader performance landscape.

The verdict from these numbers is unambiguous: in Cinebench workloads, neither processor holds any advantage whatsoever. The AMD Opteron 4226's 5 credited wins are all by 0 percent margins, making this the most evenly matched comparison in the dataset. System builders should base their choice on platform features, power requirements, and ecosystem compatibility rather than performance, because the performance is identical.