AMD Opteron 4274 HE vs Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data paints a remarkably consistent picture across all six recorded Cinebench tests: the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 wins every single matchup, but the margins are uniformly narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel part scores 507 against AMD's 494, a 2.6% advantage. The single-core test in R15 shows a similar story: 71 versus 69, a 2.9% edge for Intel. These are not decisive victories, but they are victories nonetheless, and they repeat across every generation of the Cinebench suite.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds almost exactly. The multicore result gives Intel 2115 points to AMD's 2061, again a 2.6% delta. Single-core in R20 shows 298 against 291, a 2.4% gap. The consistency is striking: regardless of workload generation or thread scaling, the Intel processor maintains a lead that hovers between 2.4% and 2.9% in every test.

Cinebench R23, the newest benchmark in the database, continues the trend. The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 posts 5036 multicore points versus 4909 for the AMD Opteron 4274 HE, a 2.6% difference. In single-core, the scores are 711 and 693, again a 2.6% gap. What stands out here is that the relative advantage does not shrink or grow with newer benchmark versions. The Intel part's lead is essentially constant, suggesting a fundamental per-thread efficiency advantage rather than a scaling benefit from its lower core count.

The Opteron 4274 HE has twice as many physical cores (8 versus 4), yet it cannot convert that hardware advantage into a multicore win. In fact, the multicore deltas are identical to the single-core deltas in R20 and R23, which implies the AMD chip's extra cores are not contributing meaningful additional throughput in these workloads. The Intel Xeon's 8 threads, paired with a 2.80 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost clock, outperform the Opteron's 8 threads at 2.50 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost. The average benchmark score reinforces this: Intel averages 1456 across all recorded tests, while AMD averages 1420.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database provides context for where these two sit in the broader landscape. The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 has an average score of 1456, putting it 0.3% behind the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE (1461), 0.4% behind the Intel Core i3-7350K (1462), and 0.6% ahead of both the Intel Core i5-7300HQ (1448) and AMD Opteron 6378 (1447). The Opteron 4274 HE, with its 1420 average, sits 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-3720QM (1421), 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-2700K (1419), 0.1% behind the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 (1422), and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-3820 (1424). In percentile terms, the Intel chip ranks at the 38th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the AMD chip sits at the 37th percentile. The gap between these two parts is real but small, and both occupy a similar tier of overall performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in every benchmark test recorded here?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. The margins range from 2.4% to 2.9%, with the largest advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core (2.9%) and the smallest in Cinebench R20 single-core (2.4%).

Q: Does the AMD Opteron's higher core count help in multicore workloads?

A: No. Despite having 8 cores versus Intel's 4, the Opteron 4274 HE loses every multicore test. The multicore deltas in R20 and R23 are both 2.6%, identical to the single-core deltas in those same tests, indicating the extra cores provide no measurable benefit in Cinebench.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 is within 0.6% of four nearby CPUs, trailing the Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE by 0.3% and the Core i3-7350K by 0.4%, while leading the Core i5-7300HQ and Opteron 6378 by 0.6%. The Opteron 4274 HE sits within 0.2% of four rivals, with the closest being the Core i7-2700K at 0.1% ahead.

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

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 has an average benchmark score of 1456, while the AMD Opteron 4274 HE averages 1420. That is a 36-point difference, roughly 2.5% on average.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 boosts to 3.70 GHz, while the AMD Opteron 4274 HE boosts to 3.50 GHz. The Intel part also has a higher base clock at 2.80 GHz versus 2.50 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 and the AMD Opteron 4274 HE support ECC memory, which is expected for their server/workstation market segment.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark. It wins all six head-to-head tests, achieves a higher average benchmark score (1456 versus 1420), and holds a better percentile ranking (38th versus 37th). For any workload that resembles Cinebench rendering, the Intel part is the correct choice.

However, the margins are slim. A 2.6% multicore advantage and a 2.9% single-core advantage in R15 do not represent a generational leap. The Intel part wins through architectural efficiency rather than overwhelming brute force. Its 14 nm Skylake design, with 4 cores and 8 threads, outperforms AMD's 32 nm Bulldozer design with 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel chip also carries a 45 W TDP against AMD's 65 W TDP, meaning it delivers more performance while consuming less power budget.

The AMD Opteron 4274 HE is not without merit. Its 8 physical cores could theoretically benefit workloads that scale perfectly with core count, but the Cinebench data shows no such benefit materializing. The Opteron's 8 MB of L3 cache matches Intel's 8 MB shared L3, and its 8 MB L2 cache is substantially larger than Intel's per-core 256 KB arrangement. Yet these cache advantages do not translate into benchmark wins.

For server and workstation buyers choosing between these two end-of-life parts, the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the stronger performer in every measured category. The Opteron 4274 HE is only preferable if the platform requires AMD's Socket C32 infrastructure or if the larger physical core count is needed for some specific software that the Cinebench suite does not represent.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Opteron 4274 HE has 8 cores and 8 threads. Intel's base clock is 2.80 GHz versus AMD's 2.50 GHz, and Intel's boost clock is 3.70 GHz versus AMD's 3.50 GHz. The TDP differs significantly: Intel draws 45 W, AMD draws 65 W.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses BGA 1440, AMD uses Socket C32. Memory support also diverges, with Intel supporting both DDR3 and DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, while AMD supports only DDR3 on a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe generation differs as well: Intel provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 2 without a lane count specified.

Integrated graphics represent a major distinction. The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 includes Iris Pro Graphics P580, while the AMD Opteron 4274 HE has no integrated graphics. The release dates are separated by over four years: Intel launched in January 2016, AMD in November 2011. The launch MSRP for Intel is $489, while AMD's is $377. Both are end-of-life products with locked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is substantial. Intel's Skylake-H architecture, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry, contains 2,300 million transistors on a 171 mm² die. AMD's Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Valencia, uses a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries with 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. The transistor density difference is stark: Intel packs roughly 13.5 million transistors per square millimeter, while AMD manages about 3.8 million.

Cache organization differs fundamentally. Intel allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 384 KB of L1 total, 8 MB of L2 total, and 8 MB of shared L3. The per-core cache distribution on Intel is more generous for individual thread performance, while AMD's larger aggregate L2 could favor certain reuse patterns.

The memory controllers reflect their respective generations. Intel's dual-channel controller supports both DDR3 and DDR4, achieving 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. AMD's dual-channel controller supports only DDR3, achieving 25.6 GB/s. This 33% bandwidth advantage for Intel likely contributes to its consistent single-core wins, as memory latency and throughput directly impact Cinebench results.

The foundry split is notable: Intel fabricates its own silicon, while AMD relies on GlobalFoundries. The process node advantage (14 nm versus 32 nm) explains Intel's lower TDP despite higher clock speeds. The Intel part also integrates graphics directly on the die, a feature absent from the AMD design, which requires a discrete GPU for any display output.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 wins every benchmark in the database, so its strengths are easy to enumerate. It leads in single-core performance across all three Cinebench versions, which indicates better per-thread execution efficiency, higher clock speeds, and superior memory bandwidth. It also wins multicore tests despite having half the physical cores, demonstrating that its architectural efficiency outweighs AMD's core count advantage. The 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth versus 25.6 GB/s gives Intel a clear edge in memory-bound workloads. Its integrated Iris Pro Graphics P580 adds functionality that AMD cannot offer. The lower 45 W TDP makes it more suitable for power-constrained server environments.

The AMD Opteron 4274 HE's advantages are more circumstantial. It has 8 physical cores to Intel's 4, which could benefit software specifically designed to use physical cores without hyper-threading. Its larger L2 cache (8 MB total versus 256 KB per core) might help workloads with high cache reuse. The Socket C32 platform could be preferable in existing AMD server infrastructure. The launch MSRP of $377 is lower than Intel's $489, though pricing discussions are outside the scope of this analysis. For workloads outside the Cinebench suite, the extra physical cores might find use, but the recorded data shows no scenario where the Opteron outperforms the Xeon.

In the database's terms, this is a 6-0 sweep for Intel. The closest margins appear in R20 single-core (2.4%) and the widest in R15 single-core (2.9%). The consistency of the 2.6% delta across R20 multicore, R23 multicore, and R23 single-core suggests a systemic performance ceiling for the AMD part relative to Intel. Buyers needing the best measured Cinebench performance should choose the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5. Buyers locked into AMD's C32 platform or requiring eight physical cores for non-Cinebench software would look to the Opteron 4274 HE, but the benchmark data provides no performance justification for that choice.