AMD Opteron 4274 HE vs Intel Core i7-3840QM Comparison

The AMD Opteron 4274 HE and Intel Core i7-3840QM are surprisingly close competitors in raw benchmark performance, despite serving entirely different market segments. The data shows the Intel chip wins every head-to-head benchmark, but the margins are razor-thin, making the choice between these two depend almost entirely on platform requirements rather than performance dominance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-3840QM takes all six Cinebench comparisons, yet none of the victories exceed a 1.4% margin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel part scores 498 against the Opteron’s 494, a delta of -0.8% from the AMD chip’s perspective. The single-core R15 test shows a score of 70 versus 69, a 1.4% gap that represents the largest relative difference in the entire benchmark suite.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern repeats. The i7-3840QM posts 2079 in multicore while the Opteron manages 2061, a 0.9% difference. In single-core R20, the scores are 293 and 291 respectively, again a 0.7% gap. The R23 results follow suit: 4952 versus 4909 in multicore and 699 versus 693 in single-core, both showing a 0.9% delta.

What stands out is the consistency of the Intel lead across every workload. The margins are so small that they fall well within typical run-to-run variance for synthetic benchmarks. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: the Opteron 4274 HE averages 1420, while the i7-3840QM averages 1416. That means the Intel chip’s head-to-head wins do not translate into a higher aggregate score — the AMD part actually holds a 0.3% advantage in average benchmark score, despite losing every direct comparison.

Both CPUs sit at the 37th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier. The Opteron’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3720QM (average score 1421, delta -0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-2700K (1419, delta 0.1%). The i7-3840QM’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 2700U (1415, delta 0.1%) and the Intel Core i5-4460 (1415, delta 0.1%). This clustering shows both processors are firmly mid-pack performers.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3840QM wins every measured benchmark, but the victory margins are negligible. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the 1.4% lead is the largest advantage either chip achieves in any test. The multicore R15, R20, and R23 results all show Intel leading by less than 1%. This makes the i7-3840QM the nominal pick for any workload where a single point of benchmark score matters, but the practical difference is essentially zero.

The AMD Opteron 4274 HE does not win a single head-to-head benchmark, yet it posts a higher average benchmark score (1420 versus 1416). This is explained by the fact that the Intel chip has an additional Geekbench score in its benchmark set — 2111 multicore and 628 single-core — which pulls its average down relative to its Cinebench performance. The Opteron’s average is based solely on its six Cinebench scores. So while Intel wins every direct test, the AMD part shows better aggregate consistency across the full benchmark suite.

For server and workstation use, the Opteron’s 8 cores and 8 threads provide a structural advantage in heavily parallel workloads that do not appear in these specific Cinebench runs. The i7-3840QM counters with a 45W TDP versus the Opteron’s 65W, making it the more power-efficient choice for mobile or compact systems. The Intel chip also includes integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, which the Opteron lacks entirely — a meaningful feature for systems without a discrete GPU.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 4274 HE uses the Bulldozer architecture on the Valencia codename, built on a 32nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 1,200 million transistors across a 315 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-3840QM uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a 22nm process at Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a much smaller 160 mm² die. That process advantage explains how Intel fits more transistors into half the die area.

Core counts tell a different story. The Opteron offers 8 physical cores with 8 threads, while the i7-3840QM provides 4 cores with 8 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading. Despite half the physical cores, the Intel chip matches or slightly exceeds the AMD part in every threaded benchmark. Cache configurations also differ: the Opteron has 384 KB L1, 8 MB L2, and 8 MB shared L3, while the Intel chip has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. The L3 capacities are equal, but the per-core L1 and L2 allocations favor Intel’s design.

Clock speeds favor the Intel chip as well. The i7-3840QM runs at a 2.80 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost, compared to the Opteron’s 2.50 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost. Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration, but the Opteron offers ECC memory support while the Intel chip does not. The Opteron uses AMD Socket C32 with PCIe Gen 2, while the i7-3840QM uses Intel BGA 1224 and has no listed PCIe specification. The Opteron’s memory bandwidth is rated at 25.6 GB/s; the Intel chip’s memory bandwidth is not specified.

The launch dates are roughly ten months apart, with the Opteron releasing on 2011-11-13 and the i7-3840QM on 2012-09-02. The Opteron carries a launch MSRP of $377, while the Intel chip has no listed launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are locked to their respective sockets.

The Verdict

The benchmark data makes one thing clear: for pure performance, the Intel Core i7-3840QM wins every single head-to-head test, but the margins are so small that they are effectively meaningless in real-world use. A 0.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore translates to 43 points out of 4952 — well within noise. The Intel chip’s single-core advantage is similarly negligible at 69 versus 70 in R15.

The real differentiators are platform features, not scores. The AMD Opteron 4274 HE is the choice for server and workstation deployments that require ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not support. The Opteron’s 8 physical cores also make it structurally suited for heavily threaded server workloads, even if the Cinebench results do not reflect a clear win. Its 65W TDP is higher than the Intel chip’s 45W, but that is expected for a server part on Socket C32.

The Intel Core i7-3840QM is the mobile part, and it shows its strengths accordingly. The 45W TDP makes it viable in laptops, and the integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in basic display tasks. The 22nm process delivers better transistor density — 1,400 million on 160 mm² versus 1,200 million on 315 mm² — and the higher clock speeds give it a slight edge in single-threaded workloads.

For a server buyer who needs ECC memory and eight physical cores, the Opteron 4274 HE is the correct purchase despite losing all benchmarks. For a mobile user who needs integrated graphics and lower power draw, the i7-3840QM is the only realistic option — the Opteron is not socket-compatible with any mobile platform. If performance is the sole criterion, the data says the Intel chip wins, but the margin is so thin that either processor will deliver comparable results in most applications.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i7-3840QM wins with a score of 4952 against the AMD Opteron 4274 HE’s 4909, a delta of -0.9% from the AMD chip’s perspective.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 4274 HE support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Opteron 4274 HE supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-3840QM does not.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The AMD Opteron 4274 HE has an average benchmark score of 1420, which is 0.3% higher than the Intel Core i7-3840QM’s 1416.

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The AMD Opteron 4274 HE has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i7-3840QM has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-3840QM have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 4274 HE has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP of each chip?

A: The AMD Opteron 4274 HE has a TDP of 65W, while the Intel Core i7-3840QM has a TDP of 45W.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Opteron 4274 HE | Intel Core i7-3840QM |

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

| Cores | 8 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65W | 45W |

| Socket | AMD Socket C32 | Intel BGA 1224 |

| Architecture | Bulldozer | Ivy Bridge |

| Codename | Valencia | Ivy Bridge |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 1,200 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 315 mm² | 160 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 384 KB | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 8 MB | 256 KB (per core) |

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

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

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

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Not specified |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Intel HD 4000 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2011-11-13 | 2012-09-02 |

| Launch MSRP | $377 | Not specified |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | OS4274OFU8KGU | SR0UU |