AMD Opteron 4274 HE vs Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a remarkably consistent picture across all six Cinebench tests: the AMD Opteron 4274 HE wins every single head-to-head matchup against the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5. The margins are narrow, but they are uniform. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 494 against Intel's 488, a 1.2% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story: 69 versus 68, a 1.5% lead for AMD.

Moving to newer workloads, Cinebench R20 multi-core puts the Opteron at 2061 and the Xeon at 2034, a 1.3% gap. The single-core R20 result is 291 versus 287, a 1.4% margin. Cinebench R23, the most demanding test in the set, shows the Opteron ahead by 1.3% in both multi-core (4909 versus 4845) and single-core (693 versus 684). The database records six wins for AMD and zero for Intel.

These margins are small enough to raise questions about real-world significance. A 1.2% to 1.5% difference in synthetic rendering scores could easily be within run-to-run variance. Yet the consistency across all six tests is notable. The Opteron never loses, even in single-threaded workloads where Intel's newer architecture would typically be expected to dominate. The Skylake-based Xeon should theoretically have a substantial per-core advantage over a Bulldozer-based part from 2011, but the data does not show that.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar tale. The Opteron's average is 1420, while the Xeon's is 1401. This places the AMD part roughly 1.4% ahead on average. Both processors sit at the 37th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are statistically equivalent in overall positioning despite the Opteron's consistent edge in these specific tests.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the AMD Opteron 4274 HE wins all six recorded benchmarks, the use-case split is straightforward: the Opteron holds the advantage in every workload category tested. Multi-threaded rendering favors the AMD part, with its 8 cores and 8 threads delivering 494, 2061, and 4909 points across R15, R20, and R23 respectively. The Xeon's 4 cores and 4 threads produce 488, 2034, and 4845 points in the same tests.

The single-core results are more surprising. The Opteron's 69, 291, and 693 points edge out the Xeon's 68, 287, and 684 points. This contradicts the expectation that a 14nm Skylake core with a 3.00 GHz base clock would beat a 32nm Bulldozer core with a 2.50 GHz base clock. Both processors boost to 3.50 GHz, which likely explains the near-parity in single-threaded performance. The IPC advantage that Skylake should possess is apparently offset by the Opteron's comparable boost frequency and perhaps the specific characteristics of the Cinebench workload.

For users who prioritize rendering performance, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, the data points to the Opteron. The Xeon's sole advantage lies in its newer platform features, which are not reflected in these benchmark scores. The database does not record any test where the Intel part wins, so no use case emerges from the measurements where the Xeon is the stronger performer.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 4274 HE outperforms the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 in every recorded test. The margins are slim, ranging from 1.2% to 1.5%, but they are consistent across six different workload configurations. The Opteron's 8-core design provides a small but real advantage in multi-threaded rendering, while its boost clock of 3.50 GHz matches the Xeon's and keeps single-core scores competitive.

The Intel part's newer architecture, 14nm process node, and higher memory bandwidth (34.1 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s) do not translate into benchmark wins. The data suggests that for Cinebench workloads specifically, the Opteron is the better choice. Its average benchmark score of 1420 versus 1401 reinforces this conclusion.

However, the overall percentile ranking is identical at 37, meaning both CPUs occupy the same performance tier in the broader database. The Xeon E3-1220 v5 is not a weak processor; it simply loses to the Opteron in these specific tests. For users choosing between these two end-of-life server/workstation parts, the data supports selecting the AMD Opteron 4274 HE if rendering performance is the primary criterion. The Intel Xeon would only be preferable if other factors, such as platform compatibility or power consumption, take precedence, though the database does not provide comparative measurements for those attributes.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 4274 HE has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds of these two CPUs?

A: Both the AMD Opteron 4274 HE and the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 have a boost clock of 3.50 GHz.

Q: How much does the Opteron lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Opteron scores 4909 versus the Xeon's 4845, a 1.3% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Opteron 4274 HE and the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 support ECC memory.

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

A: The Opteron has an average benchmark score of 1420, while the Xeon averages 1401, a difference of 19 points in favor of AMD.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: No, both are marked as end-of-life in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 4274 HE uses the Bulldozer architecture on a 32nm process node, manufactured by GlobalFoundries. It is built around 8 cores in a module-based design, with 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 uses the Skylake architecture on a 14nm node, manufactured by Intel, with 1,750 million transistors on a much smaller 122 mm² die.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The Opteron has 384 KB of L1 cache, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. With 4 cores, the Xeon's total L2 is 1 MB, a fraction of the Opteron's 8 MB. The identical shared L3 size suggests similar cache hierarchies for the last level, but the distribution of lower-level caches reflects their different core counts.

Memory support diverges. The Opteron supports only DDR3 with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, with a higher memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. PCIe generation also differs: the Opteron provides Gen 2, while the Xeon offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Opteron's socket is AMD Socket C32, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151.

The release dates are separated by nearly four years. The Opteron launched on November 13, 2011, while the Xeon arrived on October 18, 2015. The process node advantage for Intel is substantial, with 14nm versus 32nm, which typically implies better power efficiency and higher transistor density. However, the Xeon's TDP is higher at 80 watts versus the Opteron's 65 watts, an interesting inversion given the newer process node.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights the key specification differences between the two processors, based only on the recorded data.

| Specification | AMD Opteron 4274 HE | Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 |

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

| Cores | 8 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 80 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket C32 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Bulldozer | Skylake |

| Codename | Valencia | Skylake-DT |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 1,200 million | 1,750 million |

| Die Size | 315 mm² | 122 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, DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

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

| Release Date | 2011-11-13 | 2015-10-18 |

| Launch MSRP | $377 | $203 |

| Part Number | OS4274OFU8KGU | SR2LG |

The Opteron offers double the cores and threads, a lower TDP, and a larger cache pool overall. The Xeon counters with a higher base clock, newer architecture, smaller process node, higher transistor count, more memory bandwidth, and faster PCIe generation. The launch MSRP differs considerably, with the Opteron priced at $377 and the Xeon at $203, though the database does not provide current market pricing. Both processors are end-of-life, both support ECC memory, and neither has integrated graphics or an unlocked multiplier.