AMD Opteron 4274 HE vs Intel Core i5-4570S Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Opteron 4274 HE has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4570S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Opteron doubles the core and thread count.

Q: Do both processors have the same TDP?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-4570S and the AMD Opteron 4274 HE are rated at 65W TDP, making them comparable in power envelope despite their architectural differences.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Opteron 4274 HE supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-4570S does not list ECC support in its specifications.

Q: What are the release dates of these two processors?

A: The AMD Opteron 4274 HE was released on 2011-11-13, while the Intel Core i5-4570S was released later on 2013-06-01. The Opteron is older and has a production status of "End-of-life."

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570S has an average benchmark score of 1426, while the AMD Opteron 4274 HE scores 1420. The Intel part is 0.5% ahead in average score, but both sit at the 37th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570S boosts to 3.60 GHz, while the AMD Opteron 4274 HE boosts to 3.50 GHz. The Intel part has a 0.10 GHz higher boost clock.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is significant. The Intel Core i5-4570S is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node manufactured by Intel, while the AMD Opteron 4274 HE uses the Bulldozer architecture (codename Valencia) on a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The node advantage gives Intel a smaller die size of 177 mm² compared to AMD's 315 mm², even though Intel packs more transistors — 1,400 million versus 1,200 million.

Cache layouts differ fundamentally. The Intel chip provides 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Opteron offers 384 KB total L1, 8 MB L2, and 8 MB shared L3. The Opteron's larger L3 pool is shared across 8 cores, whereas Intel's 6 MB is shared across 4 cores, giving each Intel core more L3 per thread.

Memory support shows both use DDR3 with dual-channel buses, but the Opteron lists a specific memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s and includes ECC support, a key server feature. The Intel part has no listed bandwidth figure and lacks ECC. PCIe generation differs too: Intel uses Gen 3, while AMD is limited to Gen 2. The Intel chip also includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), while the Opteron has none, reflecting its server/workstation market segment.

The Opteron's socket is AMD Socket C32, and it belongs to the Opteron 4000 series with the Valencia generation. Intel's i5-4570S uses Intel Socket 1150 and is part of the Haswell generation. Both are multiplier-locked, but the Opteron carries a launch MSRP of $377, while the Intel chip has no launch MSRP listed.

The Verdict

The data points decisively toward the AMD Opteron 4274 HE. In every single head-to-head benchmark, the Opteron wins — 6 wins to 0 for the Intel Core i5-4570S. The margin is consistent and substantial: the Opteron leads by roughly 13% across all Cinebench tests, whether single-core or multi-core. This is not a case of one chip winning on multithreading while losing on single-threaded tasks; the Opteron beats the i5 in both categories.

For a PC builder choosing between these two, the Opteron's 8 cores provide a clear throughput advantage in threaded workloads, and its ECC memory support makes it the only option for server or workstation reliability requirements. The Intel chip's advantages are architectural — smaller process node, more transistors, Gen 3 PCIe, and integrated graphics — but these do not translate into benchmark wins in the data provided.

The Intel i5-4570S is not a poor performer; its average score of 1426 sits just above the Opteron's 1420, and it matches the Opteron's 37th percentile ranking. But in direct comparison, the Opteron wins every measured test. If the workload is Cinebench-style rendering or any multithreaded application, the Opteron is the pick. The i5's only saving grace in the data is its newer release date and integrated GPU, but neither affects benchmark performance here.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the Intel Core i5-4570S and AMD Opteron 4274 HE are as follows:

• Cores: 4 (Intel) vs 8 (AMD)
• Threads: 4 (Intel) vs 8 (AMD)
• Base Clock: 2.90 GHz (Intel) vs 2.50 GHz (AMD)
• Boost Clock: 3.60 GHz (Intel) vs 3.50 GHz (AMD)
• Process Node: 22 nm (Intel) vs 32 nm (AMD)
• Transistors: 1,400 million (Intel) vs 1,200 million (AMD)
• Die Size: 177 mm² (Intel) vs 315 mm² (AMD)
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core (Intel) vs 384 KB total (AMD)
• L2 Cache: 256 KB per core (Intel) vs 8 MB (AMD)
• L3 Cache: 6 MB shared (Intel) vs 8 MB shared (AMD)
• Memory Bandwidth: Not listed (Intel) vs 25.6 GB/s (AMD)
• ECC Memory: Not supported (Intel) vs Supported (AMD)
• PCIe: Gen 3 (Intel) vs Gen 2 (AMD)
• Integrated Graphics: Intel HD 4600 (Intel) vs None (AMD)
• Socket: Intel Socket 1150 (Intel) vs AMD Socket C32 (AMD)
• Release Date: 2013-06-01 (Intel) vs 2011-11-13 (AMD)
• Production Status: Not listed (Intel) vs End-of-life (AMD)
• Market Segment: Desktop (Intel) vs Server/Workstation (AMD)

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably one-sided. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Opteron 4274 HE scores 494 against the Intel Core i5-4570S's 428, a 13.4% advantage for AMD. The single-core R15 test shows the same pattern: 69 for the Opteron versus 60 for the i5, a 13% lead.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Opteron maintains its edge. Multi-core scores are 2061 for AMD versus 1787 for Intel, a 13.3% difference. Single-core R20 shows 291 versus 252, also 13.4% in favor of AMD. The consistency is striking — every deltaPct falls between -13.0% and -13.4%, meaning the Opteron's advantage is uniform across all tested workloads.

Cinebench R23 confirms the trend. The Opteron scores 4909 multi-core and 693 single-core, while the i5 manages 4256 and 600 respectively. Both deltas sit at -13.3% and -13.4%. This uniformity suggests the Opteron's 8-core architecture provides a steady performance multiplier over the i5's 4 cores, regardless of the specific benchmark generation.

Notably, the Intel i5-4570S has Geekbench scores (2945 multi-core, 1083 single-core) that are not matched by equivalent Opteron results in the data. The Opteron has no Geekbench scores listed, so comparisons are limited to Cinebench tests. Across all six head-to-head benchmarks, the Opteron wins all six with no Intel victories.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 4274 HE wins every benchmark category in the head-to-head data. It is faster in single-core Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23) by approximately 13%, and equally faster in multi-core tests by the same margin. This means the Opteron is the better choice for any workload represented by these benchmarks — rendering, 3D modeling, CPU-bound content creation, or any multithreaded compute task.

The Opteron also wins on server-relevant features: ECC memory support is present, memory bandwidth is specified at 25.6 GB/s, and the 8-core/8-thread configuration suits heavily parallel server workloads. Its market segment is server/workstation, and its larger L3 cache (8 MB shared) benefits multi-threaded data sharing.

The Intel Core i5-4570S's wins are not in benchmark scores but in platform characteristics. It has a newer process node (22 nm vs 32 nm), more transistors (1,400 million vs 1,200 million) in a smaller die (177 mm² vs 315 mm²), and supports PCIe Gen 3, which offers double the bandwidth of Gen 2 for compatible add-in cards. The integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics means a discrete GPU is not strictly required for basic display output, an advantage for desktop builds without dedicated graphics.

The i5 also has a higher base clock (2.90 GHz vs 2.50 GHz) and boost clock (3.60 GHz vs 3.50 GHz), but these frequency advantages do not translate into benchmark wins against the Opteron's higher core count. For gaming or lightly threaded desktop use, the i5's newer architecture and integrated graphics could be preferable, but the data shows the Opteron winning even the single-core tests. The Opteron's production status is end-of-life, so availability may be a practical concern, but from a pure performance standpoint, the Opteron dominates this matchup.