AMD Opteron 4274 HE vs Intel Xeon E-2104G Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a remarkably consistent pattern across all six Cinebench tests: the AMD Opteron 4274 HE edges out the Intel Xeon E-2104G in every single run, but the margins are narrow enough to be considered a statistical tie in practical terms. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 494 against the Xeon's 488, a 1.2% lead. The single-core R15 result shows the Opteron ahead by 1.5%, with scores of 69 and 68 respectively. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore gap is 1.3% (2061 versus 2035), and the single-core gap is 1.4% (291 versus 287). The R23 tests repeat the same story: multicore 4909 versus 4847 (1.3% delta), single-core 693 versus 684 (1.3% delta).

That the Opteron wins all six head-to-head matchups is noteworthy given the architectural disparity. The Xeon E-2104G belongs to a much newer generation, yet the Opteron's 8 cores and 8 threads versus the Xeon's 4 cores and 4 threads provide enough raw throughput to offset the Intel part's higher per-core clock. The Xeon runs at a 3.20 GHz base clock with no boost, while the Opteron has a 2.50 GHz base and a 3.50 GHz boost. The boost clock on the AMD part explains why the single-core deltas are so small: when lightly threaded, the Opteron can raise its frequency substantially, closing the per-core gap that the Xeon's higher base clock would otherwise create.

The average benchmark scores in the database reinforce this near-parity picture. The Opteron holds an average score of 1420, while the Xeon sits at 1402. That is a 1.3% difference, consistent with the head-to-head deltas. Both processors land at the 37th percentile among all CPUs tracked in the database, meaning neither is a standout performer in the broader market. The Opteron's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3720QM (average score 1421, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i7-2700K (1419, +0.1%), the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 (1422, -0.1%), and the Intel Core i7-3820 (1424, -0.2%). The Xeon's nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 (1401, +0.1%), the Intel Pentium Gold G7400TE (1404, -0.2%), the Intel Core i5-6500TE (1399, +0.2%), and the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 (1396, +0.4%). In both cases, the processors are clustered tightly with peers within a fraction of a percent, confirming that these two parts occupy the same performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The Opteron 4274 HE is built on AMD's Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Valencia, and belongs to the Opteron 4000 series. It uses a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries with 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. The Xeon E-2104G, by contrast, uses Intel's Coffee Lake architecture (codename Coffee Lake-S WS) in the Xeon E-2100 series, fabricated on a 14 nm process with a 126 mm² die. The process node advantage for Intel is significant, as the smaller 14 nm node allows for higher transistor density and efficiency, although the Opteron's larger die accommodates twice as many cores.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Opteron provides 384 KB of L1 cache, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. With four cores, the Xeon's per-core L2 totals 1 MB, a fraction of the Opteron's 8 MB L2. However, the Xeon's 8 MB shared L3 matches the Opteron's L3 capacity exactly. The Opteron's larger L2 cache likely helps in workloads with moderate working sets, while the Xeon's smaller per-core caches are offset by the newer architecture's efficiency.

Memory support also diverges. The Opteron uses DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus with a recorded bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The Xeon uses DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a markedly higher bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. That 67% bandwidth advantage for the Xeon could matter in memory-intensive server workloads, even if the Cinebench suite does not expose it. Both processors support ECC memory, which is expected for server and workstation parts. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Opteron provides Gen 2 lanes, while the Xeon offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU. The Xeon also integrates UHD Graphics P630, whereas the Opteron has no integrated graphics at all.

Socket compatibility is entirely different: the Opteron uses AMD Socket C32, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151. Neither is compatible with the other. The Opteron was released in November 2011 with a launch MSRP of $377, while the Xeon launched in July 2018 with a launch MSRP of $193. Both are now end-of-life products, and both have locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The Opteron 4274 HE wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, so the simple answer is that it wins in all tested Cinebench scenarios. The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it leads by 1.5%, and the smallest is in R15 multicore at 1.2%. Across R20 and R23, the margins are consistently 1.3% to 1.4% in either single-core or multicore tests. For workloads that resemble Cinebench's rendering and ray-tracing tasks, the Opteron's two extra physical cores provide a tangible, if modest, advantage.

The Xeon's strengths do not appear in the Cinebench scores, but the specification data hints at where it could outperform the Opteron in real-world server scenarios. Its much higher memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s) suggests an advantage in data-heavy workloads such as database queries, large file processing, or virtualization memory traffic. Its PCIe Gen 3 support with 16 CPU lanes offers higher I/O throughput than the Opteron's Gen 2 implementation. The integrated UHD Graphics P630 eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic display or headless server configurations, whereas the Opteron requires a separate graphics adapter for any visual output.

The Xeon also benefits from a newer architecture (Coffee Lake versus Bulldozer) and a smaller process node (14 nm versus 32 nm), which typically translates to better energy efficiency per instruction and lower heat density, although both parts are rated at 65 W TDP. In single-threaded legacy code that does not scale beyond four cores, the Xeon's higher base clock (3.20 GHz, no boost) gives it a per-core frequency edge over the Opteron's base clock, but the Opteron can overcome that in practice because it can boost to 3.50 GHz when fewer cores are active.

For users prioritizing raw Cinebench scores, the Opteron is the clear pick. For users prioritizing memory bandwidth, PCIe generation, or integrated graphics, the Xeon has the documented advantages.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher Cinebench R23 multicore score?

A: The AMD Opteron 4274 HE scores 4909, ahead of the Intel Xeon E-8 2104G's 4847, a 1.3% advantage.

Q: How do their single-core performance compare in Cinebench R20?

A: The Opteron leads with 291 versus 287, a 1.4% delta in favor of the Opteron.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Opteron 4274 HE and the Intel Xeon E-2104G support ECC memory, as expected for server and workstation parts.

Q: What is the TDP rating for each processor?

A: Both the Opteron 4274 HE and the Intel Xeon E-2104G are both rated at 65 W TDP, identical despite their architectural differences.

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 4274 HE has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2104G has 4 cores and 4 threads, giving the AMD part doubles the core count.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The Opteron uses DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s, while the Xeon uses DDR4, and the Opteron uses DDR4, and the Xeon also uses 42.7 GB/s, though the Xeon's bandwidth is 42.7 GB/s, which is the higher figure.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2104G includes UHD Graphics P630, whereas the AMD Opteron 4274 HE has no integrated graphics.

Q: What PCIe generation does each support?

A: The Opteron provides Gen 2 lanes, while the Xeon provides Gen 2, and the Opteron, and the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU, while the Opteron's PCIe Gen 2, and the Xeon's PCIe Gen 3 with a higher number.

Q: Are both end-of-life products?

A: Yes, the AMD Opteron 4274 HE is listed as end-of-life, and the Intel Xeon E-2104G is also listed as end-of-life in the database.

The Verdict

The data-driven verdict is straightforward: the AMD Opteron 4274 HE is the faster processor in Cinebench benchmarks, winning all six benchmarks by margins of 1.2% to 1.5%. The Intel Xeon E-2104G never wins a single head-to-head test, and its average benchmark score of 1402 trails the Opteron average score of 1420. If the selection criterion is pure compute performance as measured by the database's Cinebench suite, the Opteron is the one to choose.

That said, the performance difference is so small that the Xeon could be the better pick in practice for workloads outside Cinebench. The database records show identical 37th percentile standing for both CPUs, and both parts sit within 0.2% of peers like the Core i7-2700K and the Xeon Bronze 3106, indicating that neither part dominates its tier. The Xeon's 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth, DDR4 support, PCIe Gen 3 connectivity, integrated UHD Graphics P630, and 14 nm process node with a 126 mm² die size provide documented advantages in memory throughput and I/O flexibility that the Cinebench scores do not reflect. The Opteron counters with 8 cores on a 32 nm process with 1,200 million transistors and a 315 mm² die, plus 8 MB of L2 cache, which gives it the edge in the multicore render workloads tested.

Users seeking maximum Cinebench scores, particularly in multicore and single-core tests, should pick the AMD Opteron 4274 HE. Users needing faster memory bandwidth, a newer architecture, integrated graphics, or more modern PCIe capabilities should pick the Intel Xeon E-2104G, accepting its slightly lower benchmark scores. Since both are end-of-life products, the decision rests on the specific workload demands rather than upgrade paths or future support. The Opteron is the benchmark winner; the Xeon is the architecture winner on every non-Cinebench metric in the database. Neither choice is wrong, but the data points in opposite directions depending on what the system will actually run.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Opteron 4274 HE | Intel Xeon E-2104G |

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

| Cores | 8 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | None |

| Socket | AMD Socket C32 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Bulldozer | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Valencia | Coffee Lake-S WS |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 1,200 million | Not specified |

| Die Size | 315 mm² | 126 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 | DDR4 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics P630 |

| Release Date | 2011-11-13 | 2018-07-11 |

| Launch MSRP | $377 | $193 |

| Part Number | OS4274OFU8KGU | SR3WV |