AMD Opteron 4284 vs Intel Core i3-8145UE Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8145UE is a 15-watt mobile processor built on Intel's 10 nm Whiskey Lake architecture, while the AMD Opteron 4284 is a 95-watt server chip from the older 32 nm Bulldozer generation. Despite the Opteron's age and end-of-life status, benchmark data shows it consistently outperforms the Core i3 across all tested Cinebench workloads, though the power and platform differences between these two parts are substantial.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 4284 has 8 cores, while the Intel Core i3-8145UE has only 2 cores. The Opteron also runs 8 threads, whereas the Core i3 supports 4 threads via Hyper-Threading.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core i3-8145UE has an average benchmark score of 1154, placing it in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs. The Opteron 4284 scores 1146 on average, which puts it in the 32nd percentile. The difference is less than 1%.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Opteron 4284 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i3-8145UE does not offer ECC support.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-8145UE boosts to 3.90 GHz, which is higher than the Opteron 4284's 3.70 GHz boost clock. However, the Opteron has a higher base clock at 3.00 GHz versus 2.20 GHz.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Core i3-8145UE provides 38.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth with DDR4 support, while the Opteron 4284 delivers 25.6 GB/s using DDR3 memory. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Is the Opteron 4284 still in production?

A: No. The AMD Opteron 4284 is marked as end-of-life, while the Intel Core i3-8145UE is listed as active production.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 4284 wins decisively in every single benchmark category recorded in the data. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 399 versus 337 for the Core i3, a 15.5% advantage. The R20 multicore test shows a similar gap: 1665 for the Opteron against 1408 for Intel. The pattern holds in single-core tests too, where the Opteron leads by 15.4% in both R20 (234 vs 198) and R23 (559 vs 473). Even in R23 multicore, the Opteron's 3965 outpaces the Core i3's 3354 by 15.4%.

However, the Intel Core i3-8145UE wins in areas that matter for mobile and embedded deployments. It consumes just 15 watts of power, compared to 95 watts for the Opteron. The Core i3 also features integrated UHD Graphics 620, which the Opteron lacks entirely. The Intel chip runs on a newer 10 nm process versus the Opteron's 32 nm node, and it supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the Opteron only has PCIe Gen 2.

For users needing raw multi-threaded performance in a server context, the Opteron is the clear pick. For those prioritizing power efficiency, integrated graphics, and modern platform features, the Core i3 is the better choice despite losing every benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is vast. The Intel Core i3-8145UE uses the Whiskey Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. It is a dual-core design with 4 threads, featuring 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, plus 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The chip is built for mobile platforms on the Intel BGA 1528 socket.

The AMD Opteron 4284 comes from the Bulldozer generation, codenamed Valencia, and uses a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It packs 8 cores and 8 threads with 384 KB of L1 cache, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron uses the AMD Socket C32 and targets server and workstation workloads. It contains 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die, while the Core i3's transistor count and die size are not listed.

The Core i3 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Opteron supports DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on the Opteron but not the Core i3. The Intel chip includes integrated UHD Graphics 620, while the Opteron has no integrated graphics. PCIe support differs as well: the Core i3 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Opteron only provides Gen 2.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The Core i3-8145UE has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Opteron 4284 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 2.20 GHz for Intel and 3.00 GHz for AMD, but boost clocks favor Intel at 3.90 GHz versus 3.70 GHz.

Power consumption is a major differentiator: 15 watts for the Core i3 versus 95 watts for the Opteron. The sockets are incompatible (BGA 1528 vs C32), and the process nodes differ (10 nm vs 32 nm). Cache configurations are completely different, with the Intel chip using per-core L1 and L2 allocations, while the Opteron uses larger shared pools.

Memory support splits by generation: DDR4 for Intel, DDR3 for AMD. Memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s. ECC support is present only on the Opteron. The Core i3 has integrated graphics; the Opteron does not. PCIe generations differ (Gen 3 vs Gen 2). Market segments are mobile versus server/workstation. Production status shows active for Intel and end-of-life for AMD. The Opteron carries a launch MSRP of $316, while the Core i3 has no listed launch price. Release dates are 2018-09-30 for Intel and 2011-11-13 for AMD.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 4284 wins all five recorded comparisons. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the Opteron scores 399 against the Core i3's 337, a 15.5% lead. The R20 multicore test shows 1665 versus 1408, a 15.4% gap. Single-core results follow the same trajectory.

In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 234 while the Core i3 manages 198, again a 15.4% difference. The R23 single-core test produces 559 for AMD and 473 for Intel, another 15.4% gap. The R23 multicore test rounds out the sweep: 3965 for the Opteron versus 3354 for the Core i3, with a 15.4% delta.

These consistent margins suggest the Opteron's 8-core design provides a sustained advantage across both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads. The Core i3's higher boost clock (3.90 GHz vs 3.70 GHz) does not translate into a single-core win in any test, indicating that the Opteron's older architecture still executes instructions efficiently enough in these benchmarks.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The Core i3-8145UE averages 1154, with its nearest rival being the AMD Opteron 4334 at 1155 (a 0.1% difference). The Opteron 4284 averages 1146, closely matching the Intel Core i7-2600S at 1146. Both chips sit in the low 30s percentile-wise, meaning they are statistically equivalent in overall performance despite the Opteron's clean sweep in head-to-head tests.

The Verdict

The data directs different buyers to different chips. If raw performance is the only metric, the AMD Opteron 4284 is the clear winner, beating the Intel Core i3-8145UE by 15.4% to 15.5% in every recorded benchmark. The Opteron's 8 cores and 8 threads provide a substantial multi-threaded advantage, and its single-core performance also leads despite the Core i3's higher boost clock.

But performance is not the only consideration. The Core i3-8145UE operates at 15 watts, a 6.3x reduction in power consumption compared to the Opteron's 95 watts. It also includes integrated UHD Graphics 620, supports DDR4 memory with higher bandwidth, and uses a modern 10 nm process. The Opteron is end-of-life, uses DDR3, and requires a discrete GPU.

The Opteron 4284 suits server or workstation builds where performance per watt is less critical and ECC memory support is required. It offers a 15.4% performance advantage in all tested workloads and comes with a launch MSRP of $316. The Core i3-8145UE fits mobile or embedded systems where power efficiency, integrated graphics, and PCIe Gen 3 support matter more than raw compute. Its average benchmark score of 1154 is virtually identical to the Opteron's 1146, so the overall performance class is the same, but the Opteron consistently edges ahead in actual workload tests.

For a builder prioritizing multi-core throughput and ECC, the Opteron 4284 is the data-backed choice. For a builder needing a low-power chip with modern memory support and integrated graphics, the Core i3-8145UE is the practical option. The benchmark results favor AMD, but the platform differences may outweigh that advantage depending on the use case.