AMD Opteron 4284 vs Intel Core i5-3330S Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents an unusually one-sided matchup. The AMD Opteron 4284 wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core i5-3330S, with margins ranging from 19.1% to 19.4%. If your workload is Cinebench rendering, the Opteron 4284 is the clear choice from a pure performance standpoint. It delivers approximately 19% higher scores in both single-core and multi-core tests across R15, R20, and R23.

However, the Intel Core i5-3330S is not without its own merits. It consumes less power (77W TDP versus 95W), runs on a smaller 22nm process node versus 32nm, and includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500), which the Opteron lacks entirely. For a desktop user who needs a simple, low-power system with built-in display output, the i5-3330S makes sense despite losing every benchmark. The Opteron 4284 targets server and workstation environments where raw compute throughput matters more than power efficiency or integrated graphics.

The database places both processors at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy similar overall performance tiers. Their average benchmark scores are close: 1146 for the Opteron versus 1128 for the i5. Yet the head-to-head results show the Opteron consistently ahead in Cinebench workloads. The verdict: choose the Opteron 4284 for multi-threaded server tasks where every percentage point counts, and choose the i5-3330S for a compact desktop build where lower power draw and integrated graphics simplify the platform.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 4284 uses the Bulldozer architecture on the Valencia codename, built on a 32nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 8 cores and 8 threads in a single package, with 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. The cache hierarchy consists of 384 KB of L1, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a server-oriented part designed for throughput-heavy workloads.

The Intel Core i5-3330S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a 22nm process at Intel. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a much smaller 133 mm² die size. The cache layout differs significantly: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Intel's design emphasizes higher per-core efficiency, while AMD's Bulldozer approach prioritizes raw core count and aggregate throughput.

Memory support shows another divergence. Both support DDR3 and dual-channel memory buses, but the Opteron 4284 supports ECC memory and lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-3330S does not support ECC and has no bandwidth figure recorded. The Opteron also uses PCIe Gen 2, whereas the i5-3330S features PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Opteron has no integrated graphics; the i5 includes Intel HD 2500. Socket compatibility differs completely: AMD Socket C32 for the Opteron, Intel Socket 1155 for the i5.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 4284 wins in every recorded Cinebench test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 399 versus 335 for the i5, a 19.1% advantage. In R20 multi-core, the Opteron scores 1665 against 1396, a 19.3% lead. The R23 multi-core test shows 3965 versus 3326, a 19.2% margin. Even in single-core tests, where Intel usually excels, the Opteron leads: R20 single-core 234 versus 196 (19.4% ahead), and R23 single-core 559 versus 469 (19.2% ahead). The Opteron wins all five head-to-head comparisons.

The Intel Core i5-3330S wins in categories not covered by the benchmark suite. It has a lower TDP of 77W versus 95W, making it more power-efficient. It includes integrated graphics, which the Opteron lacks entirely. It uses a more advanced 22nm process, which typically translates to better thermal characteristics. The i5 also supports PCIe Gen 3, offering faster I/O bandwidth than the Opteron's Gen 2. For desktop users who value low power consumption, integrated display output, and modern PCIe connectivity, the i5-3330S is the practical pick despite losing all compute benchmarks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 4284 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3330S has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-3330S support ECC memory?

A: No. The i5-3330S does not support ECC memory. The AMD Opteron 4284 does support ECC memory, which is typical for server platforms.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-3330S has integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD 2500. The AMD Opteron 4284 has no integrated graphics at all.

Q: How much faster is the Opteron 4284 in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Opteron scores 3965 versus 3326 for the i5, which is a 19.2% advantage.

Q: Are these processors similar in overall performance?

A: Yes, the database shows both at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs. Their average benchmark scores are 1146 for the Opteron and 1128 for the i5, a difference of only 1.6%.

Q: Which CPU has a lower power draw?

A: The Intel Core i5-3330S has a TDP of 77W, which is lower than the AMD Opteron 4284's 95W TDP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkable for their consistency. Across five different Cinebench tests, the AMD Opteron 4284 wins every single one with margins between 19.1% and 19.4%. This uniformity suggests a fundamental performance gap rather than workload-specific quirks.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 399 against the i5's 335. That is a 19.1% lead. Moving to R20 multi-core, the Opteron posts 1665 versus 1396, a 19.3% advantage. The R23 multi-core test shows 3965 versus 3326, again a 19.2% margin. These results align with the Opteron's double the core count (8 versus 4), though the per-core performance advantage is less obvious.

Single-core results are more surprising. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 234 versus 196, a 19.4% lead. In R23 single-core, it scores 559 versus 469, a 19.2% margin. The Opteron's base clock is 3.00 GHz with a boost of 3.70 GHz, while the i5 runs at 2.70 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. The higher clock speeds partially explain the single-core advantage, but the consistency of the 19% delta across both single and multi-core tests points to a general performance superiority in Cinebench workloads.

The i5-3330S does have a Geekbench result recorded: 1625 multi-core and 549 single-core. The Opteron has no Geekbench scores in the database, so no direct comparison is possible there. The i5's average benchmark score of 1128 sits close to the Opteron's 1146, but the head-to-head Cinebench data tells a different story. The Opteron wins all five comparisons, and the i5 wins none.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The AMD Opteron 4284 features 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3330S has 4 cores and 4 threads. Clock speeds favor the Opteron: 3.00 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost versus 2.70 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. TDP favors the i5 at 77W versus 95W for the Opteron.

Socket types are incompatible: AMD Socket C32 for the Opteron, Intel Socket 1155 for the i5. Architecture and codename differ completely: Bulldozer/Valencia for AMD, Ivy Bridge for Intel. Process node is 32nm for the Opteron and 22nm for the i5. The Opteron's die size is 315 mm² with 1,200 million transistors; the i5's die is 133 mm² with no transistor count recorded.

Cache configurations reflect the different core counts. The Opteron has 384 KB L1, 8 MB L2, and 8 MB shared L3. The i5 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Both support DDR3 with dual-channel memory buses, but the Opteron lists 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth while the i5 has no figure recorded. ECC memory support exists only on the Opteron. PCIe generation differs: Gen 2 for the Opteron, Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the i5. Integrated graphics exist only on the i5 (Intel HD 2500). The Opteron targets server and workstation segments, while the i5 is a desktop part. Release dates are roughly a year apart: the Opteron launched in November 2011, the i5 in September 2012.