AMD Opteron 4226 vs Intel Core i7-2635QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-2635QM across every shared benchmark, though the margins are consistently narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel scores 301 against the AMD Opteron 4226's 291, a 3.4% lead. That gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Intel posts 1257 versus 1213, a 3.6% advantage. The single-core results tell a similar story: 177 to 171 in Cinebench R20 single-core (3.5% lead) and 422 to 408 in Cinebench R23 single-core (3.4% lead).

The largest delta appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel reaches 2995 while the Opteron manages 2890 — again a 3.6% margin. It is notably the Intel also has a Geekbench multi-core score of 1371 and a single-core score of 442, but the Opteron has no corresponding Geekbench entries in the data, so those cannot be compared directly. The overall average benchmark scores are identical at 995 for both parts, and both sit at the 27th percentile among all CPUs. The nearest rival list confirms this parity: the Intel Core i7-2920XM matches the 995 average exactly, and the AMD Opteron 4226 also sits at 995 with a 0.0% deltaPct relative to the Intel. The Intel Core i3-8130U trails by 0.1% at 994, and the Intel Xeon W3565 by 0.2% at 993.

What this means in practice is that neither chip has a decisive performance edge. The Intel wins every head-to-head test by roughly 3.4–3.6%, which is a measurable but not transformative advantage. In threaded workloads, the Intel's 8 threads versus the Opteron's 6 threads likely explains the consistent multi-core edge, even though the Opteron runs higher base and boost clocks. The single-core wins are more surprising given the Opteron's clock advantage, but the Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture clearly extracts more work per clock in these Cinebench iterations.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins the most benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-2635QM wins all 5 shared head-to-head tests. The AMD Opteron 4226 wins none. The win margins range from 3.4% (Cinebench R15 multi-core and R23 single-core) to 3.6% (Cinebench R20 multi-core and R23 multi-core).

Q: Are these two processors performance equals overall?

A: Yes, in aggregate. Both have an average benchmark score of 995 and a 27th percentile ranking across all CPUs. Their nearest rival list is identical, with the Intel Core i7-2920XM at 995 (0.0% delta), the Intel Core i3-8130U at 994 (0.1% delta), and the Intel Xeon W3565 at 993 (0.2% delta).

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 4226 have more cores?

A: Yes. The Opteron has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite having fewer physical cores, the Intel's Hyper-Threading gives it more total threads, which likely contributes to its multi-core benchmark wins.

Q: Which CPU has a higher clock speed?

A: The AMD Opteron 4226. Its base clock is 2700 MHz and boost clock is 3100 MHz, compared to the Intel's 2000 MHz base and 2900 MHz boost. Despite the clock disadvantage, the Intel still wins all shared benchmarks.

Q: What about memory support — do they differ?

A: Yes. The Opteron supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, and it supports ECC memory. The Intel also uses dual-channel memory, but the FACT PACK lists no memory support type or bandwidth for it, and it does not support ECC.

Q: Do both CPUs have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-2635QM includes Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 4226 has no integrated graphics at all, which is typical for a server/workstation part.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-2635QM uses Sandy Bridge architecture built on a 32 nm process by Intel, with a die size of 216 mm² containing 1,160 million transistors. The AMD Opteron 4226 uses Bulldozer architecture (codename Valencia) also on a 32 nm process, but fabricated by GlobalFoundries, with a substantially larger die at 315 mm² and 1,200 million transistors.

Cache configurations diverge sharply. The Intel allocates 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron lists 288 KB of total L1 and 6 MB of total L2, with 8 MB of shared L3. The Opteron's larger L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB) gives it more shared cache, but the Intel's per-core L2 allocation may favor latency-sensitive workloads.

The integrated graphics situation is a major architectural differentiator. The Intel includes Intel HD 3000 graphics, making it a self-contained mobile solution. The Opteron has no integrated graphics, forcing reliance on a discrete GPU — acceptable for a server part but a non-starter for compact builds. The Opteron also supports ECC memory and PCIe Gen 2, while the Intel lists no PCIe version and no ECC support.

Production status is identical — both are end-of-life. But their market segments could not be more different: the Intel is a mobile part (Socket Intel BGA 1224), while the Opteron is a server/workstation part (Socket AMD Socket C32). The Opteron's release date is later (November 2011 vs January 2011), but both are firmly in the same era.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-2635QM | AMD Opteron 4226 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 6 |

| Base clock | 2000 MHz | 2700 MHz |

| Boost clock | 2900 MHz | 3100 MHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1224 | AMD Socket C32 |

| Process node | 32 nm | 32 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

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

| Die size | 216 mm² | 315 mm² |

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

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

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

| Memory support | Not listed | DDR3 |

| Memory bandwidth | Not listed | 25.6 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 2 |

| Integrated graphics | Intel HD 3000 | None |

| Market segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Launch MSRP | None listed | $125 |

The TDP gap is enormous: 45 W versus 95 W. The Intel draws less than half the power of the Opteron while still winning every benchmark. The Opteron's higher clocks (2700 MHz base, 3100 MHz boost) and extra two physical cores do not translate into benchmark victories. Both chips are multiplier-locked and end-of-life, with the Intel carrying part number SR030 and the Opteron OS4226WLU6KGU.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i7-2635QM wins on: Every shared benchmark — Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single- and multi-core variants. It also wins on power efficiency (45 W TDP vs 95 W), integrated graphics (Intel HD 3000 vs none), and thread count (8 vs 6). For a mobile or compact build where power draw and graphics matter, the Intel is the only viable choice here.

AMD Opteron 4226 wins on: Raw core count (6 vs 4), clock speed (2700 MHz base, 3100 MHz boost vs 2000 MHz and 2900 MHz), cache capacity (8 MB L3 vs 6 MB), ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 2 support, and documented memory bandwidth (25.6 GB/s). The Opteron also has a larger die (315 mm² vs 216 mm²) and more transistors (1,200 million vs 1,160 million), and it was released later in 2011.

The use-case split is clear. If the task involves running ECC memory — typical for servers or workstations handling critical data — the Opteron is the only option. If the task involves any form of graphics output without a discrete GPU, the Intel is the only option. For pure compute, the Intel's benchmark wins give it the edge despite the Opteron's hardware advantages on paper.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-2635QM outperforms the AMD Opteron 4226 in every benchmark they share, with margins of 3.4% to 3.6%. The Intel achieves this while drawing 45 W versus the Opteron's 95 W, making it more than twice as power-efficient. It also brings integrated graphics, a feature the Opteron lacks entirely.

However, the Opteron is not without merit. Its 6 physical cores, higher clocks, larger L3 cache, ECC memory support, and PCIe Gen 2 make it a reasonable choice for server or workstation environments where those features matter more than raw Cinebench scores. The identical average benchmark score of 995 and 27th percentile ranking for both parts reinforce that this is a near-tie in overall performance.

Choose the Intel Core i7-2635QM if you need lower power consumption, integrated graphics, or better single-threaded performance in the shared tests. Choose the AMD Opteron 4226 if you need ECC memory support, more physical cores, or are building a server/workstation where its socket and feature set fit the platform. For most general-purpose workloads, the Intel's benchmark sweep makes it the safer pick — but the Opteron's server-oriented features give it a distinct niche that the Intel cannot fill.