AMD Opteron 4284 vs Intel Core i5-3570S Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a clear, though narrow, picture: the Intel Core i5-3570S wins every single recorded head-to-head comparison against the AMD Opteron 4284. Out of six benchmark tests, the Intel part claims all six victories, while the AMD processor records zero wins. The margins, however, are consistently slim, ranging from a 0.0% difference in one single-core test to a maximum advantage of 0.9% in another. This is not a case of one processor dominating another by a wide margin; instead, the Intel chip establishes a small but entirely consistent lead across both multi-core and single-core workloads.

The Intel Core i5-3570S shows its strongest relative advantage in the Cinebench R20 single-core test, where it scores 236 against the Opteron's 234, a 0.9% lead. In multi-core tests, the lead is slightly smaller but still present: the Intel part scores 1676 versus 1665 in Cinebench R20 multi-core (0.7% ahead), 402 versus 399 in Cinebench R15 multi-core (0.8% ahead), and 3991 versus 3965 in Cinebench R23 multi-core (0.7% ahead). The only tie in the entire comparison comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where both processors score exactly 56 points, yet the database still credits the Intel chip with the win due to the recorded delta.

When looking at the broader benchmark averages, the Intel Core i5-3570S holds an average benchmark score of 1169, which places it in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Opteron 4284 averages 1146, sitting in the 32nd percentile. This 2.0% gap in average scores reinforces the pattern seen in the head-to-head results: the Intel processor is consistently, if marginally, ahead. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-2960XM at an identical 1169 average score (0% delta), the AMD Opteron 6220 at 1168 (0.1% behind), and the Intel Core i5-3450 at 1166 (0.2% behind). The AMD Opteron 4284, by contrast, sits alongside the Intel Core i7-2600S at 1146 (0% delta) and trails the Intel Core i5-4430 by 0.3%.

The data suggests that in pure performance terms, the Intel Core i5-3570S is the superior processor for every workload category measured. However, the user's choice may depend on factors beyond raw speed, such as platform features, memory support, and intended use case, which are explored in the following sections.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded measurements, the Intel Core i5-3570S is the better-performing processor. It wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, holds a higher average benchmark score (1169 versus 1146), and sits one percentile point higher in the global ranking (33rd versus 32nd). The margins are narrow, but they are uniform: every single test, from Cinebench R15 to R23, from single-core to multi-core, favors the Intel part.

For users prioritizing raw compute performance in the tested workloads, the Intel Core i5-3570S is the clear choice. Its largest advantage, 0.9% in Cinebench R20 single-core, may not be perceptible in real-world use, but the consistency of its wins across all six tests indicates a reliable, if modest, performance edge. The AMD Opteron 4284, despite having twice the core count (8 versus 4), cannot translate that hardware advantage into a benchmark victory, suggesting that its Bulldozer architecture is less efficient per core in these specific workloads.

However, the AMD Opteron 4284 should not be dismissed outright. It is a server and workstation part, designed for platforms where ECC memory support is critical, and the data confirms it supports ECC memory while the Intel chip does not. It also has a larger total cache (8 MB L2 plus 8 MB shared L3 versus 6 MB shared L3 on the Intel) and a higher TDP (95 watts versus 65 watts), which may indicate a different performance envelope in sustained server workloads not captured by these consumer-oriented benchmarks. The Intel Core i5-3570S, on the other hand, includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500), which the AMD part lacks entirely.

The recommendation, therefore, depends on the platform. For a desktop system where integrated graphics, lower power consumption, and slightly better Cinebench scores matter, the Intel Core i5-3570S is the winner. For a server or workstation environment where ECC memory is a requirement and the larger cache and higher core count may benefit non-benchmarked workloads, the AMD Opteron 4284 has a functional argument, despite its benchmark deficit.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a consistent pattern of narrow Intel victories. The largest margin comes in the Cinebench R20 single-core test, where the Intel Core i5-3570S scores 236 against the AMD Opteron 4284's 234, a 0.9% advantage. This is the only test where the delta exceeds 0.8%, and it highlights the Intel chip's slight superiority in lightly threaded workloads.

In multi-core tests, the Intel processor maintains its lead with slightly smaller margins. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the Intel part at 402 versus 399 for the AMD, a 0.8% difference. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test has the Intel chip at 1676 versus 1665, a 0.7% gap. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test follows the same pattern: 3991 for Intel versus 3965 for AMD, again a 0.7% margin. These results are notable because the AMD Opteron 4284 has twice the core count (8 versus 4), yet it still loses multi-core tests, indicating that the Intel Ivy Bridge architecture extracts more usable performance from each core.

The single-core results are even more telling. In Cinebench R15 single-core, both processors score exactly 56, a perfect tie. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel chip scores 236 versus 234, a 0.9% win. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel part scores 563 versus 559, a 0.7% win. The AMD Opteron 4284's 8-core design cannot match the Intel chip's per-thread performance, which is a critical weakness given that many workloads, including the Cinebench suite, still depend heavily on single-thread efficiency.

Overall, the Intel Core i5-3570S wins six benchmarks, loses none, and ties on one test (though it is still credited with the win). The AMD Opteron 4284 has zero wins. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: Intel at 1169 versus AMD at 1146, a 2.0% gap that is larger than any individual head-to-head margin, suggesting that the Intel chip's consistency across a broader range of tests gives it a more substantial overall advantage than any single comparison shows.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-3570S leads in two of the three single-core tests. It scores 236 versus 234 in Cinebench R20 single-core (0.9% ahead) and 563 versus 559 in Cinebench R23 single-core (0.7% ahead). In Cinebench R15 single-core, both score exactly 56, a tie.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 4284 win any benchmark?

A: No. According to the recorded head-to-head data, the AMD Opteron 4284 wins zero of the six benchmark tests. The Intel Core i5-3570S wins all six, including the one test where scores were equal.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-3570S has an average benchmark score of 1169, placing it in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Opteron 4284 has an average score of 1146, placing it in the 32nd percentile.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 4284 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-3570S does not support ECC memory, according to the database records.

Q: Does either processor have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-3570S includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500). The AMD Opteron 4284 has no integrated graphics, which is typical for its server/workstation segment.

Q: What are the closest rivals to each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-3570S's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-2960XM with an identical average score of 1169 (0% delta), followed by the AMD Opteron 6220 at 1168 (0.1% delta). The AMD Opteron 4284's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-2600S at 1146 (0% delta), with the Intel Core i5-4430 at 1149 (0.3% ahead).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different architectural lineages. The Intel Core i5-3570S is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, using a 22 nm process node manufactured by Intel. It has a die size of 133 mm². The AMD Opteron 4284 uses the Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Valencia, built on a 32 nm process node by GlobalFoundries. Its die size is significantly larger at 315 mm², and it packs 1,200 million transistors.

The core configurations are starkly different. The Intel chip has 4 cores and 4 threads, a straightforward one-thread-per-core design. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 8 threads. Despite having double the core count, the AMD processor cannot outperform the Intel chip in any benchmark, indicating that the Bulldozer architecture's modules are less efficient per core than Ivy Bridge's traditional cores.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Intel Core i5-3570S has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Opteron 4284 has a total of 384 KB of L1 cache, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part's larger L2 and L3 caches do not translate into benchmark wins, suggesting that the Intel memory hierarchy is more effective for the tested workloads.

The integrated graphics situation is another major architectural difference. The Intel chip includes Intel HD 2500 graphics, while the AMD Opteron 4284 has no integrated graphics at all. This makes the Intel part a self-contained desktop solution, whereas the AMD part requires a discrete GPU.

Platform features also diverge. The Intel Core i5-3570S uses an Intel Socket 1155 with PCIe Gen 3, supporting 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD Opteron 4284 uses an AMD Socket C32 with PCIe Gen 2. The Intel chip's newer PCIe generation may offer higher bandwidth for compatible devices, though the database does not provide specific bandwidth figures for the Intel part.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The Intel Core i5-3570S has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Opteron 4284 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are close: the Intel chip runs at 3.10 GHz, the AMD chip at 3.00 GHz. Boost clocks are similarly close: 3.80 GHz for Intel versus 3.70 GHz for AMD.

Power consumption differs significantly. The Intel Core i5-3570S has a TDP of 65 watts, while the AMD Opteron 4284 is rated at 95 watts. This 30-watt difference makes the Intel chip more power-efficient, which is notable given that it still outperforms the AMD part in every benchmark.

Memory support is identical in type and bus width: both support DDR3 and use a dual-channel memory bus. However, the AMD Opteron 4284 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the Intel chip has no bandwidth figure in the database. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not.

Socket and platform specifications are entirely different. The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1155, the AMD chip uses AMD Socket C32. PCIe support differs: the Intel chip is Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the AMD chip is Gen 2.

Integrated graphics are present only on the Intel chip (Intel HD 2500). The AMD part has none. The market segments differ: the Intel chip is a Desktop part, while the AMD chip is a Server/Workstation part. The AMD Opteron 4284 is marked as end-of-life production status, while the Intel chip's production status is not recorded.

Release dates are close: the Intel chip was released on 2012-05-31, the AMD chip on 2011-11-13. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $316, while the Intel chip has no recorded launch price. Both have locked multipliers, and neither is unlocked for overclocking.