CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5630 and AMD Opteron 4280 are both end-of-life server processors, but they represent fundamentally different design philosophies from their respective manufacturers. The data shows a clear and consistent performance advantage for the AMD Opteron 4280 across all tested Cinebench workloads, with the Intel chip trailing by roughly 15-16% in every single test. While both processors occupy the same percentile ranking (31st) among all CPUs, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, at 1110 for the Intel and 1107 for the AMD, a statistical tie that belies the consistent per-test margin. This analysis will break down the benchmark results, architectural differences, and practical implications for server workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 4280 wins every single head-to-head comparison in the Cinebench suite. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the Opteron scores 385 against the Xeon's 324, a delta of -15.8% from the Intel's perspective. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Opteron posts 1607 versus 1354, a -15.7% gap. The multicore advantage scales consistently, with the Cinebench R23 multicore test showing the Opteron at 3828 and the Xeon at 3226, again a -15.7% difference.

The single-core results tell the same story, which is significant because it indicates the AMD chip's advantage is not merely a function of having more cores. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 226 against the Xeon's 191, a -15.5% delta. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Opteron reaches 540 while the Xeon manages 455, a -15.7% gap. This consistency across both single and multi-threaded tests suggests a per-clock efficiency advantage for the AMD design, not just a raw core-count advantage.

The Intel Xeon E5630's best result is its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 455, which still falls short of the Opteron's 540. The Xeon's highest multicore score is 3226 in Cinebench R23, compared to the Opteron's 3828 in the same test. For context, the Xeon's average benchmark score of 1110 places it in a dead heat with its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-5557U, which also scores 1110 with a 0% delta. The Opteron's average of 1107 ties it with the AMD PRO A12-8870 at a 0% delta. Both chips are firmly in the mid-range of the database, with the 31st percentile ranking indicating that the majority of CPUs outperform them.

Architecture Differences

The two processors could not be more different in their internal design. The Intel Xeon E5630 is a 4-core, 8-thread part built on the Westmere architecture with the Westmere-EP codename. It uses a 32 nm process node manufactured by Intel, with 1,170 million transistors on a 239 mm² die. The AMD Opteron 4280, by contrast, is an 8-core, 8-thread processor based on the Bulldozer architecture with the Valencia codename. It is also built on a 32 nm process, but by GlobalFoundries, using 1,200 million transistors on a significantly larger 315 mm² die.

The cache configurations reveal the design divergence. The Xeon uses a per-core layout with 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus a shared 12 MB L3 cache. The Opteron uses a different approach: 384 KB of L1, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Xeon's larger L3 cache is notable, but the Opteron's higher base and boost clocks (2.80 GHz and 3.50 GHz versus 2.53 GHz and 2.80 GHz) may compensate in many workloads. The Xeon also supports triple-channel DDR3 memory, while the Opteron uses dual-channel DDR3 with a specified memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s; the Xeon's memory bandwidth is not listed in the data.

Both chips support ECC memory and use PCIe Gen 2, and neither has integrated graphics. The Xeon fits the Intel Socket 1366, while the Opteron uses AMD Socket C32. The production status for both is end-of-life, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon was released in March 2010, while the Opteron came later in November 2011, a generational gap that partially explains the performance differences. The Opteron also carries a launch MSRP of $255, while no launch MSRP is available for the Xeon.

Where Each One Wins

Based purely on the benchmark data, the AMD Opteron 4280 wins in every scenario tested. The Cinebench suite covers both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering workloads, and the Opteron leads in all of them. For multi-threaded rendering tasks, the Opteron's 8 physical cores provide a substantial advantage over the Xeon's 4 cores with Hyper-Threading. The Opteron's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 3828 is 18.7% higher than the Xeon's 3226, which is a significant margin for render farms or other heavily parallel workloads.

The single-core results are more surprising, since the Xeon's Westmere architecture was designed for high per-core efficiency. Yet the Opteron still wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 18.7% (540 versus 455). This is likely due to the Opteron's higher clock speeds: a 3.50 GHz boost clock versus the Xeon's 2.80 GHz. The Xeon's larger 12 MB L3 cache might help in some cache-sensitive workloads, but the benchmark data does not reflect any such advantage.

There is no test in the data where the Intel Xeon E5630 comes out ahead. The wins count is 0 for the Xeon and 5 for the Opteron. For users specifically looking for a processor with the highest possible single-thread performance in this pair, the Opteron is the clear choice. For those needing the absolute maximum multi-threaded throughput, the Opteron again prevails. The Xeon's only potential advantage would be in workloads that specifically benefit from triple-channel memory bandwidth or the larger L3 cache, but no benchmark data supports this claim.

Specification Differences

The primary differences between the two processors are stark and numerous. The most obvious is core count: the Xeon has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Opteron has 8 cores and 8 threads. This means the Opteron has double the physical cores but no SMT, while the Xeon relies on Hyper-Threading to reach 8 threads. Clock speeds differ significantly, with the Opteron's base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost of 3.50 GHz both exceeding the Xeon's 2.53 GHz base and 2.80 GHz boost.

The TDP also differs, with the Xeon rated at 80 W and the Opteron at 95 W. The process node is the same (32 nm) but the foundries differ: Intel for the Xeon, GlobalFoundries for the Opteron. The transistor counts are close (1,170 million versus 1,200 million), but the die size is quite different, with the Opteron's 315 mm² being about 32% larger than the Xeon's 239 mm². Cache configurations are entirely different, as detailed earlier, with the Xeon using per-core L1/L2 and a 12 MB shared L3, while the Opteron uses a unified 384 KB L1, 8 MB L2, and 8 MB L3.

Memory support is another key differentiator. The Xeon supports triple-channel DDR3, while the Opteron supports dual-channel DDR3 with a specified bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1366 for the Xeon, AMD Socket C32 for the Opteron. The architectures are named differently (Westmere versus Bulldozer), and the codenames are Westmere-EP versus Valencia. The release dates are about 20 months apart, and the Opteron has a launch MSRP of $255 while the Xeon's is not listed. The part numbers also differ, with the Xeon being SLBVB and the Opteron being OS4280WLU8KGU.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Opteron 4280 wins all three multicore benchmarks. It scores 385 versus 324 in Cinebench R15, 1607 versus 1354 in Cinebench R20, and 3828 versus 3226 in Cinebench R23.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E5630 win any benchmark in this comparison?

A: No. The data shows 0 wins for the Intel Xeon E5630 and 5 wins for the AMD Opteron 4280 across all tested Cinebench workloads.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Xeon E5630 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Opteron 4280 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Opteron has twice the physical cores but no SMT, while the Xeon uses Hyper-Threading to double its thread count.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The AMD Opteron 4280 has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The Intel Xeon E5630 has a base clock of 2.53 GHz and a boost clock of 2.80 GHz.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth specification?

A: The AMD Opteron 4280 supports dual-channel DDR3 with a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The Intel Xeon E5630 supports triple-channel DDR3, but its memory bandwidth is not specified in the data.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E5630 has a larger shared L3 cache of 12 MB, compared to the AMD Opteron 4280's 8 MB shared L3 cache. The Opteron's L2 cache is larger at 8 MB, while the Xeon has 256 KB per core.