AMD Opteron 4284 vs Intel Core i7-3635QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, advantage for the Intel Core i7-3635QM across every recorded test. The AMD Opteron 4284 trails in all six head-to-head comparisons, with the Intel part winning each workload by a margin between 1.8% and 2.6%.

Starting with the multi-core results, the Intel Core i7-3635QM scores 408 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, while the AMD Opteron 4284 manages 399, a 2.3% gap. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Intel part posts 1703 against 1665 for the AMD, again a 2.3% difference. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the same pattern: 4057 for Intel versus 3965 for AMD, with the delta holding steady at 2.3%. This consistency across different Cinebench versions suggests the performance relationship is stable regardless of the workload generation.

Single-core results tell a similar story, though the margins are slightly more varied. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Intel chip scores 57 against 56 for AMD, a 1.8% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 240 versus 234, which translates to a 2.6% advantage for Intel, the largest delta in the entire comparison. Cinebench R23 single-core returns to the familiar 2.3% gap, with scores of 572 and 559 respectively.

The Intel Core i7-3635QM wins all six head-to-head benchmarks. The AMD Opteron 4284 records zero wins. However, the margins are modest in absolute terms: the largest difference is just 6 points in Cinebench R20 single-core, and the biggest multi-core gap is 92 points in Cinebench R23. These are not transformative advantages, but they are consistent and reproducible across every test in the database.

Looking at the broader benchmark context, the Intel chip holds an average benchmark score of 1170 across all recorded tests, placing it in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Opteron 4284 averages 1146, sitting at the 32nd percentile. The 24-point average gap is smaller than the head-to-head deltas might suggest, indicating that the AMD part performs relatively better in workloads not captured by these six specific tests. In terms of nearest rivals, the Intel chip sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-2960XM and Intel Core i5-3570S, both averaging 1169, and within 0.2% of the AMD Opteron 6220 at 1168. The AMD Opteron 4284 is statistically tied with the Intel Core i7-2600S at 1146, and sits 0.3% behind the Intel Core i5-4430 at 1149.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core score in Cinebench R20?

A: The Intel Core i7-3635QM scores 240 in Cinebench R20 single-core, while the AMD Opteron 4284 scores 234. This represents a 2.6% advantage for the Intel part, the largest single-test margin in the comparison.

Q: How many benchmarks does each processor win in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i7-3635QM wins all six head-to-head benchmarks. The AMD Opteron 4284 does not win any of the six recorded tests.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-3635QM has an average benchmark score of 1170 across all recorded tests. The AMD Opteron 4284 has an average benchmark score of 1146.

Q: How do the two processors compare in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The Intel Core i7-3635QM scores 4057 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD Opteron 4284 scores 3965. The Intel part leads by 2.3%.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i7-3635QM ranks in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Opteron 4284 ranks in the 32nd percentile.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each processor based on average score?

A: For the Intel Core i7-3635QM, the closest rivals are the Intel Core i7-2960XM and Intel Core i5-3570S, both with an average score of 1169 and a delta of 0.1%. For the AMD Opteron 4284, the closest rival is the Intel Core i7-2600S with an average score of 1146 and a delta of 0%.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3635QM wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. Its advantages span both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. In single-core tests, the Intel part leads by 1.8% to 2.6%, with the largest margin appearing in Cinebench R20 single-core. In multi-core tests, the lead is consistently 2.3% across all three Cinebench versions.

For users prioritizing raw benchmark scores in Cinebench workloads, whether single-core or multi-core, the Intel Core i7-3635QM is the clear choice. The data shows no scenario where the AMD Opteron 4284 outperforms the Intel chip in any of the six recorded tests.

However, the AMD Opteron 4284 does offer attributes that may matter outside of raw performance scores. It has an 8-core design versus the 4-core design of the Intel part, and it supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not. Its 8 MB L2 cache and 8 MB shared L3 cache are larger than the Intel chip's 256 KB per-core L2 and 6 MB shared L3. For workloads that benefit from more physical cores or require error-correcting memory, the AMD part may be functionally preferable even though it loses every benchmark test.

The Intel Core i7-3635QM also carries an integrated GPU, the Intel HD 4000, while the AMD Opteron 4284 has no integrated graphics. For systems that need a display output without a discrete graphics card, the Intel part is the only option of the two.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ substantially in their core configurations and physical specifications. The Intel Core i7-3635QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Opteron 4284 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The AMD part does not use simultaneous multithreading, so its thread count equals its core count. The Intel part doubles its thread count through Hyper-Threading.

Clock speeds favor the AMD processor. The AMD Opteron 4284 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The Intel Core i7-3635QM has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The AMD part runs 600 MHz higher at base and 300 MHz higher at boost.

Thermal design power differs significantly. The Intel chip has a TDP of 45 watts, while the AMD chip has a TDP of 95 watts. The AMD part consumes more than twice the thermal budget.

Sockets are incompatible: the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1224, while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket C32. The Intel part is a mobile processor, while the AMD part is a server or workstation processor.

Memory support also differs. The AMD Opteron 4284 supports DDR3 memory with a rated bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s and supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-3635QM supports dual-channel memory but does not support ECC. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

The AMD chip has a launch MSRP of $316. The Intel chip has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The processors come from fundamentally different architectural lineages. The Intel Core i7-3635QM uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a 22 nm process node at Intel's own foundry. The AMD Opteron 4284 uses the Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Valencia, built on a 32 nm process node at GlobalFoundries.

The Intel chip has a die size of 160 mm² and contains 1,480 million transistors. The AMD chip has a die size of 315 mm², nearly double the Intel die, but contains fewer transistors at 1,200 million. This reflects the denser 22 nm process used by Intel.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 384 KB of L1 cache total, 8 MB of L2 cache total, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part offers larger total cache capacities, which may help in certain cache-sensitive workloads.

The Intel chip includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 4000. The AMD chip has no integrated graphics, which is typical for server-oriented processors. The AMD chip supports PCIe Gen 2, while the Intel chip has no recorded PCIe specification in the database.

The market segments differ: the Intel chip targets mobile devices, while the AMD chip targets servers and workstations. The AMD processor is marked as end-of-life production status, while the Intel chip has no recorded production status. Release dates also differ, with the AMD chip launching on November 13, 2011, and the Intel chip launching on August 31, 2012.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to the Intel Core i7-3635QM as the faster processor in every recorded test. Across six head-to-head benchmarks, it never loses, with margins ranging from 1.8% to 2.6%. Its average benchmark score of 1170 places it slightly ahead of the AMD Opteron 4284's 1146, and its 33rd percentile ranking edges out the AMD part's 32nd percentile.

For users who prioritize Cinebench scores, whether single-core or multi-core, the Intel Core i7-3635QM is the obvious pick. It delivers consistent wins across all three Cinebench versions and both single and multi-threaded workloads. The Intel part also offers the advantage of integrated graphics, a lower 45-watt TDP, and a more recent release date.

The AMD Opteron 4284, despite losing every benchmark, has its own rationale for selection. Its 8 physical cores may be preferable for workloads that scale with core count rather than thread count. Its support for ECC memory makes it suitable for error-sensitive server environments. Its larger L2 and L3 caches could benefit cache-intensive applications. And its higher base and boost clocks, 3.00 GHz and 3.70 GHz respectively, may provide better performance in scenarios not captured by the recorded benchmarks.

The choice ultimately depends on the use case. The Intel Core i7-3635QM wins on measured performance and efficiency. The AMD Opteron 4284 wins on core count, cache capacity, ECC support, and server-oriented features. Users building a mobile or general-purpose system with integrated graphics should favor the Intel chip. Users deploying a server or workstation that requires ECC memory and values physical cores over benchmark scores should consider the AMD part, accepting its lower recorded performance.