CPU Comparison

The AMD Opteron 4226 and Intel Xeon W5590 are both end-of-life server processors that deliver nearly identical benchmark results, but the AMD chip wins every single head-to-head test in the data. The Opteron 4226 takes all five Cinebench comparisons, with margins ranging from 0.7% to 1.2%. The Xeon W5590, despite its higher clock speeds and triple-channel memory, never surpasses the AMD part in any measured workload. For anyone choosing strictly from this data, the AMD Opteron 4226 is the clear pick, though the differences are so small that the decision may come down to platform familiarity rather than performance.

The Verdict

The benchmark data leaves no ambiguity: the AMD Opteron 4226 is the faster processor in every recorded test. It wins the Cinebench R15 multicore test with a score of 291 against the Xeon W5590's 288, a 1% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Opteron scores 1213 versus 1204, a 0.7% lead. The single-core tests tell the same story, with the Opteron ahead by 1.2% in Cinebench R20 single-core (171 vs 169) and by 1% in Cinebench R23 single-core (408 vs 404). The largest margin is just 1.2%, so neither chip dominates the other in any meaningful way.

The averaged benchmark scores reflect this near-parity. The Opteron 4226 has an average benchmark score of 995, while the Xeon W5590 sits at 986. Both processors land in the 27th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same performance tier. The Opteron's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-2635QM and Core i7-2920XM, both with identical average scores of 995, while the Xeon W5590's closest competitor is the Core i7-875K at 984, just 0.2% behind.

Given these results, the choice depends on other factors. The Opteron 4226 offers six cores and six threads, while the Xeon W5590 provides four cores and eight threads. The AMD part also has a lower TDP of 95 watts versus 130 watts for the Intel chip, which could matter in densely packed server chassis. The Opteron launches at an MSRP of $125, a figure worth noting once, while the Xeon's launch MSRP is $1600. For new deployments, the Opteron 4226 wins on performance and power efficiency, while the Xeon W5590 only makes sense if the platform already exists.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 4226 is built on the Bulldozer architecture with the Valencia codename, fabricated on a 32 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It packs 1,200 million transistors into a 315 mm² die. The Intel Xeon W5590 uses the older Nehalem architecture with the Gainestown codename, built on a 45 nm process at Intel's own fabs. The Intel chip has 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die, reflecting its older and less dense manufacturing node.

The core configurations diverge significantly. The Opteron 4226 has six physical cores with six threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The Xeon W5590 has four physical cores but eight threads, using Hyper-Threading to double the logical thread count. This means the Intel chip relies on thread-level parallelism to compete with the AMD part's extra physical cores.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Opteron 4226 has 288 KB of L1 cache and 6 MB of L2 cache, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon W5590 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, also with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip's larger aggregate L1 and L2 caches may contribute to its slight performance edge, while the Intel part's per-core cache design is typical of the Nehalem architecture.

Memory support shows another architectural split. Both support DDR3 and ECC memory, but the Opteron 4226 uses a dual-channel memory bus with 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Xeon W5590 uses a triple-channel configuration with 32.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Despite the Intel chip's higher theoretical memory bandwidth, the AMD part still wins all benchmarks, suggesting that memory bandwidth is not the limiting factor in these tests. Both processors support PCIe Gen 2, and neither has integrated graphics.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Opteron 4226 wins all multi-core benchmarks. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 291 versus the Xeon W5590's 288, a 1% lead. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Opteron scores 1213 against the Xeon's 1204, a 0.7% margin. The Cinebench R23 multicore test shows the Opteron ahead with 2890 versus 2867, a 0.8% advantage.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Opteron 4226 also leads in single-core tests. It scores 171 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus 169 for the Xeon W5590, a 1.2% difference. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Opteron scores 408 against the Xeon's 404, a 1% lead.

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

A: The AMD Opteron 4226 has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Xeon W5590 has 4 cores and 8 threads, using Hyper-Threading to achieve twice as many threads as physical cores.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Opteron 4226 and the Intel Xeon W5590 support ECC memory. Both also support DDR3 memory, though the AMD chip uses a dual-channel bus while the Intel chip uses triple-channel.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The AMD Opteron 4226 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the Intel Xeon W5590 has a TDP of 130 watts. This gives the AMD processor a 35-watt thermal advantage, which can be significant in multi-socket servers.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Xeon W5590 has a base clock of 3.33 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The AMD Opteron 4226 has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz, making the Intel chip faster in raw clock speed.

Specification Differences

The specification tables show clear differences between the two processors. The AMD Opteron 4226 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Xeon W5590 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The base clock differs substantially: 2.70 GHz for the AMD part versus 3.33 GHz for the Intel part. The boost clock also favors Intel, at 3.60 GHz compared to 3.10 GHz for AMD.

The TDP is another major difference, with the AMD chip rated at 95 watts and the Intel chip at 130 watts. The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket C32 for the Opteron 4226 versus Intel Socket 1366 for the Xeon W5590. The process nodes differ as well, with AMD using 32 nm and Intel using 45 nm. The transistor counts are 1,200 million for AMD and 731 million for Intel, while the die sizes are 315 mm² and 263 mm² respectively.

Cache configurations differ in structure. The AMD part has 288 KB of L1 cache and 6 MB of L2 cache, while the Intel part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. Both share 8 MB of L3 cache. The memory bus is dual-channel for AMD and triple-channel for Intel, resulting in 25.6 GB/s versus 32.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The release dates place the AMD chip in November 2011 and the Intel chip in August 2009, with launch MSRPs of $125 and $1600 respectively. The part numbers are OS4226WLU6KGU for AMD and SLBGE for Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The five head-to-head benchmark results all favor the AMD Opteron 4226, but the margins are consistently narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 291 against the Xeon W5590's 288, giving AMD a 1% win. This is the largest percentage margin in the multi-core tests. The Cinebench R20 multicore test shows a closer race, with the Opteron at 1213 and the Xeon at 1204, a 0.7% difference. The Cinebench R23 multicore test continues the pattern, with the Opteron scoring 2890 and the Xeon scoring 2867, an 0.8% advantage.

The single-core results follow the same trend. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 171 versus 169 for the Xeon, a 1.2% lead that stands as the largest margin across all tests. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows the Opteron at 408 and the Xeon at 404, a 1% difference. In every case, the AMD processor wins by roughly one percentage point, which is within the range of run-to-run variation but consistent across all five tests.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the head-to-head results. The Opteron 4226 has an average score of 995, placing it in the 27th percentile of all CPUs. The Xeon W5590 has an average score of 986, also in the 27th percentile. The Opteron's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-2635QM at 995, with zero percent difference, while the Xeon's closest competitor is the Core i7-875K at 984, just 0.2% behind the Xeon's score.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 4226 wins every benchmark category recorded, making its case straightforward. It leads in all three multi-core tests (Cinebench R15, R20, and R23) and all two single-core tests (Cinebench R20 and R23). The wins range from 0.7% to 1.2%, so the performance advantage is real but modest. For workloads that rely on Cinebench-style rendering performance, the Opteron 4226 is the better choice. Its lower TDP of 95 watts versus 130 watts also makes it more attractive for power-constrained environments.

The Intel Xeon W5590 does not win any benchmark in the data, but it has compensating characteristics. Its higher base clock of 3.33 GHz and boost clock of 3.60 GHz give it a clock-speed advantage that could matter in latency-sensitive applications that favor raw frequency over core count. The triple-channel memory bus provides 32.0 GB/s of bandwidth, 25% more than the Opteron's 25.6 GB/s, which could benefit memory-intensive workloads not represented in the Cinebench tests. The Xeon also offers 8 threads from 4 cores, which may be more efficient for workloads that scale well with thread-level parallelism rather than physical core count.

The choice ultimately depends on the workload. For Cinebench-style rendering, the Opteron 4226 wins. For applications that respond to high clock speeds or memory bandwidth, the Xeon W5590's specifications suggest it could be competitive, though the benchmark data does not confirm this. The Opteron's lower TDP and launch MSRP of $125 make it the more economical option, while the Xeon's launch MSRP of $1600 reflects its premium positioning at release. Both processors are end-of-life, so platform availability and existing infrastructure will likely drive the final decision.