AMD Opteron 4274 HE vs Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a remarkably one-sided picture. Across all six recorded Cinebench tests, the AMD Opteron 4274 HE wins outright. The Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 does not claim a single victory in the head-to-head comparison. The margins, however, are consistently narrow, ranging from 1.5% to 1.8%.

The Opteron 4274 HE shows its largest advantage in the single-core Cinebench R23 test, where it scores 693 against the Xeon's 681, a delta of 1.8%. Multi-core results follow a similar pattern: Cinebench R15 multicore shows 494 versus 486 (1.6%), R20 multicore shows 2061 versus 2027 (1.7%), and R23 multicore shows 4909 versus 4827 (1.7%). The single-core deltas in R15 and R20 are 1.5% and 1.7% respectively.

This consistency suggests the Opteron's advantage is systemic rather than workload-specific. It does not win because of a particular cache hierarchy or boost behavior; it wins across every rendering load presented to the database. The Xeon's best relative performance appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it trails by only 1.5%, the smallest margin recorded.

For users prioritizing raw Cinebench throughput, the Opteron 4274 HE is the clear choice. The Xeon E3-1240L v3 offers no benchmark scenario in this dataset where it pulls ahead. The practical difference between a 1.5% and a 1.8% lead is small, but the direction of the result is unambiguous.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing eras. The AMD Opteron 4274 HE belongs to the Opteron 4000 series, built on the Bulldozer architecture with the Valencia codename. It uses a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries, with 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 uses the Haswell architecture with the Haswell-WS codename, manufactured on Intel's 22 nm process. It packs 1,400 million transistors into a 160 mm² die, a higher transistor count in a smaller physical area.

Core counts differ substantially. The Opteron offers 8 cores and 8 threads, double the physical core count of the Xeon's 4 cores and 8 threads. Thread counts are equal at 8, but Hyper-Threading on the Intel part gives it 8 logical processors from just 4 physical cores. The Opteron relies entirely on its physical cores.

Clock behavior is more complex. The Opteron has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The Xeon's base clock is listed at 2000.00 MHz with a boost of 3.00 GHz. The Opteron runs higher at both ends of the frequency range, which helps explain its benchmark edge despite the architectural differences.

Cache layouts reflect the different design choices. The Opteron has 384 KB of L1 cache, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Total L3 is identical at 8 MB, but the L1 and L2 structures are organized per-core on the Intel side versus aggregate capacities on the AMD side.

Both platforms support DDR3 memory with dual-channel buses and 25.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Both also support ECC memory, a key feature for server and workstation deployments. PCIe generations differ: the Opteron uses Gen 2, while the Xeon supports Gen 3 with 16 CPU-only lanes. The Xeon's newer PCIe interface allows for newer add-in cards.

Power envelopes are dramatically different. The Opteron 4274 HE has a TDP of 65 watts despite its 8 cores. The Xeon E3-1240L v3 has a TDP of just 25 watts, a very low figure for a server processor. This makes the Xeon's benchmark results notable: it nearly matches an 8-core chip with a 25 watt power budget. The Opteron uses AMD Socket C32, released in November 2011 with a launch MSRP of $377. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1150, released in May 2014 with a launch MSRP of $278. Both parts are end-of-life and target the server and workstation market segment.

Neither processor includes integrated graphics. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Opteron's part number is OS4274OFU8KGU, and the Xeon's is SR1T8.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion. If Cinebench performance is the primary criterion, the AMD Opteron 4274 HE wins every recorded test. The largest margin is 1.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core, and the smallest is 1.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core. The Opteron also holds a higher average benchmark score of 1420 versus the Xeon's 1396.

The Xeon E3-1240L v3, however, offers a compelling alternative for power-sensitive deployments. Its 25 watt TDP is less than half of the Opteron's 65 watt TDP. The benchmark deltas are small enough that the Xeon's power advantage could be decisive in densely packed server racks or always-on environments. A 1.7% multicore deficit in Cinebench R20, for example, is a modest price to pay for a 40 watt reduction in thermal design power.

The Xeon's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i5-6500TE with an average score of 1399, the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 at 1401, and the Intel Xeon E-2104G at 1402. These deltas range from -0.2% to -0.4%, indicating the Xeon sits in a tightly clustered performance tier. The Opteron's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3720QM at 1421, the Intel Core i7-2700K at 1419, and the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 at 1422, all within 0.2% of the Opteron's average.

The Opteron's percentile rank among all CPUs is 37, and the Xeon's is also 37. They occupy the same percentile tier overall. The average benchmark score difference is 1420 versus 1396, a 1.8% gap in favor of AMD.

Who should pick which? Users who need maximum Cinebench throughput per socket should select the Opteron 4274 HE. Users constrained by power budgets, or those who value Gen 3 PCIe and a smaller die, should select the Xeon E3-1240L v3, accepting the consistent but minor performance deficit. The Xeon's 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die also suggests better manufacturing efficiency per area.

The database shows the Xeon E3-1240L v3 performs below the Opteron in all measured categories, with deltas too small to materially affect most workloads in the benchmark suite.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench multicore tests?

A: The AMD Opteron 4274 HE wins all three multicore tests in the database. Cinebench R15 multicore shows 494 versus 486, R20 multicore shows 2061 versus 2027, and R23 multicore shows 4909 versus 4827.

Q: What are the single-core benchmark results for these two CPUs?

A: The Opteron scores 69 in Cinebench R15 single-core, 291 in R20 single-core, and 693 in R23 single-core. The Xeon scores 68, 286, and 681 in the same tests respectively.

Q: How do their power consumptions compare?

A: The Opteron 4274 HE has a TDP of 65 watts. The Xeon E3-1240L v3 has a TDP of 25 watts. The Xeon draws less than half the power of the Opteron.

Q: What memory and ECC support do they share?

A: Both support DDR3 memory with dual-channel buses and 25.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Both also support ECC memory.

Q: What are their average benchmark scores?

A: The Opteron 4274 HE has an average benchmark score of 1420. The Xeon E3-1240L v3 has an average score of 1396. The difference is 1.8% in favor of the Opteron.

Q: Do they have integrated graphics?

A: No. Neither the AMD Opteron 4274 HE nor the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 includes integrated graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six head-to-head results in the database are all wins for the AMD Opteron 4274 HE. The margins are small but consistent across both single-core and multi-core workloads.

Cinebench R15 multicore shows the Opteron scores 494 against the Xeon's 486, a delta of 1.6%. In the single-core version of the same test, the Opteron scores 69 to 68, a 1.5% difference. Cinebench R20 multicore shows a 1.7% delta (2061 to 2027), and the single-core version shows 291 to 286, a 1.7% delta. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 4909 to 4827, 1.7% higher, and the single-core version shows 693 to 681, 1.1% higher. The largest single delta in the entire comparison is 1.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core.

The Opteron's biggest wins relative to the Xeon are in Cinebench R23 single-core at 1.8% and Cinebench R23 multicore at 1.7%. The Xeon's closest margins are in Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core tests at 1.5% and 1.8% respectively.

These numbers reinforce the average benchmark scores. The Opteron averages 1420, with nearest rival Intel Core i7-3720QM at 1421, a delta of -0.1%. The Xeon averages 1396, with nearest rival Intel Core i5-6500TE at 1399, a delta of -0.2%. The Opteron's rival tier includes the Intel Core i7-2700K at 1419 and the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 at 1422, all within 0.2% of the Opteron. The Xeon's tier includes the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 at 1401 and the Intel Xeon E-2104G at 1402, within 0.6% of the Xeon.

The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep. No test in the database records a win for the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3. The AMD part's 8 physical cores and higher boost clock of 3.50 GHz versus 3.00 GHz on the Xeon appear to drive these results. The Xeon's lower TDP of 25 watts does not translate into benchmark victories in this dataset, but it does position the chip as a power-efficient alternative with competitive Cinebench scores.