AMD Opteron 4274 HE vs Intel Core i7-3720QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3720QM and AMD Opteron 4274 HE are two processors from different market segments—one a mobile part, the other a server/workstation chip—yet their average benchmark scores place them in a virtual tie. The Intel part holds an average benchmark score of 1421, while the AMD Opteron scores 1420, a difference of only 0.1%. Both processors occupy the 37th percentile of all CPUs in the database, indicating they are near-identical in overall performance despite their architectural and physical differences. However, the head-to-head benchmark results tell a more nuanced story, with the AMD Opteron 4274 HE winning all six direct comparisons, albeit by narrow margins.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Opteron 4274 HE emerges as the winner in every single head-to-head benchmark test, though the margins are consistently narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 494 against the i7-3720QM's 475, a 3.8% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 69 for AMD versus 66 for Intel, a 4.3% lead for the Opteron.

Moving to newer Cinebench versions, the gap remains steady. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Opteron scores 2061 versus 1981 for the Intel chip, a 3.9% delta. The single-core R20 result gives the Opteron 291 points against 279 for Intel, a 4.1% edge. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 4909 for AMD and 4718 for Intel, again a 3.9% difference. The R23 single-core test completes the sweep with 693 for the Opteron and 666 for the i7-3720QM, a 3.9% margin.

The consistency of these deltas is notable. Across all six tests, the AMD processor wins by between 3.8% and 4.3%, with no test where the Intel part closes the gap or takes a lead. This suggests the Opteron's advantage is systemic rather than workload-specific, likely stemming from its higher core count and larger cache hierarchy. However, the absolute differences are small—a 3.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore equates to just 191 points—meaning real-world differences would be subtle in many applications.

The benchmark data also shows the Intel part does have a presence in the Geekbench tests, though these are not part of the head-to-head comparison. The i7-3720QM scores 2457 in Geekbench multicore and 726 in single-core, results that are not matched against the Opteron since the AMD chip lacks corresponding Geekbench entries in the data pack.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divergence between these two chips is substantial. The Intel Core i7-3720QM is built on a 22 nm process node by Intel, featuring 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. It houses 4 cores with 8 threads, a configuration that relies on Hyper-Threading to double its logical processing capability. The base clock is 2.60 GHz with a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, all within a 45 W TDP. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

The AMD Opteron 4274 HE, by contrast, is manufactured on a 32 nm process by GlobalFoundries, with 1,200 million transistors on a significantly larger 315 mm² die. It provides 8 physical cores but only 8 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading—each core handles a single thread. Base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost of 3.50 GHz, and the TDP is higher at 65 W. The cache hierarchy is notably different: 384 KB of L1, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3.

Both processors use dual-channel memory buses, but the Opteron lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s and supports DDR3 memory, while the Intel part's memory bandwidth is not specified in the data. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the Intel mobile part. Socket compatibility diverges completely: the i7-3720QM uses Intel BGA 1224, while the Opteron uses AMD Socket C32.

The Intel processor includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 4000, whereas the AMD Opteron has no integrated graphics—an expected difference given the mobile versus server/ workstation market segmentation. The Intel chip is also unlocked? No, the multiplier is locked for both parts. The Opteron's PCIe interface is Gen 2, while the Intel part's PCIe specification is not listed.

The release dates are close: the Opteron launched on 2011-11-13, and the Intel part on 2012-04-28. The production status for the Opteron is listed as end-of-life, while the Intel part's status is not specified. The Intel chip's architecture is Ivy Bridge, while the Opteron uses Bulldozer under the Valencia codename.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Opteron 4274 HE wins in every measurable compute scenario. Its consistent 3.8% to 4.3% lead across all six Cinebench tests—both multicore and single-core—indicates that the Opteron is the better performer for rendering workloads and CPU-bound tasks that scale with both core count and single-thread efficiency. The 8 physical cores provide a genuine advantage in multicore rendering, while the single-core wins demonstrate that even in lightly threaded tasks, the Opteron holds a slight edge.

The Intel Core i7-3720QM, despite losing all head-to-head tests, still has a role in scenarios where its other characteristics matter more than raw compute. Its 45 W TDP is significantly lower than the Opteron's 65 W, making it more suitable for power-constrained environments—a factor that matters in mobile computing, which is its market segment. The integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics provide a display output capability that the Opteron lacks entirely, meaning the Intel chip can power a system without a discrete GPU.

The Intel part also has a higher boost clock (3.60 GHz versus 3.50 GHz) and a lower base clock (2.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz), though these differences are marginal and did not translate into any benchmark wins. The i7-3720QM's Geekbench scores of 2457 multicore and 726 single-core are the only additional data points for this processor, and they cannot be directly compared to the Opteron since no Geekbench results exist for the AMD chip.

For server and workstation workloads where ECC memory support is critical for data integrity, the Opteron is the clear choice—it supports ECC while the Intel part does not. The Opteron's larger L2 cache (8 MB versus 1 MB total for the i7-3720QM, since it is 256 KB per core across 4 cores) and larger shared L3 (8 MB versus 6 MB) likely contribute to its consistent performance advantage in the Cinebench suite.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 4274 HE is the faster processor in every benchmark where both were tested. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons with deltas ranging from 3.8% to 4.3%, and it does so across multiple versions of Cinebench that stress both multicore rendering and single-thread performance. The Opteron's 8 physical cores, larger cache hierarchy, and ECC support make it the superior choice for server and workstation applications that prioritize raw throughput and data reliability.

The Intel Core i7-3720QM, while consistently slightly slower, is not without merit. Its lower 45 W TDP makes it more energy-efficient, and its integrated graphics eliminate the need for a separate GPU. For mobile systems where power consumption and space are at a premium, the i7-3720QM is a viable option despite its performance deficit. The Intel part also holds a 0.1% average score advantage over the Opteron in the overall benchmark average (1421 versus 1420), though this is within the noise of the measurements and was not replicated in any individual test.

For users who need a processor for rendering, compute-heavy server tasks, or any workload that benefits from 8 physical cores and ECC memory, the AMD Opteron 4274 HE is the data-backed choice. For those building a mobile system where integrated graphics and lower power draw are priorities, the Intel Core i7-3720QM is acceptable but will cede performance to the Opteron in CPU-bound tasks. The launch MSRP for the Opteron was $377; the Intel part has no listed MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core tasks?

A: The AMD Opteron 4274 HE wins all single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 69 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 66 for the Intel Core i7-3720QM, and leads by 4.3% in that test. In R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 291 versus 279 (4.1% lead), and in R23 single-core it scores 693 versus 666 (3.9% lead).

Q: How do the multicore scores compare in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Opteron 4274 HE scores 4909 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM scores 4718. This gives the Opteron a 3.9% advantage, which translates to 191 points.

Q: Does the Intel processor have any advantages over the AMD chip?

A: The Intel Core i7-3720QM has a lower TDP (45 W versus 65 W) and includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4000), which the Opteron lacks. The Intel part also has a higher boost clock (3.60 GHz versus 3.50 GHz) and a higher base clock (2.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz).

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

A: The Intel Core i7-3720QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD Opteron 4274 HE has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning it does not use simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Opteron 4274 HE supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-3720QM does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of these processors?

A: Both processors are at the 37th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core i7-3720QM has an average benchmark score of 1421, and the AMD Opteron 4274 HE has an average score of 1420, a 0.1% difference.