AMD Opteron 4332 HE vs AMD Opteron 6212 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a remarkably consistent picture across every recorded workload: the AMD Opteron 6212 wins all five head-to-head comparisons, though by margins that never exceed 1.6%. This is not a lopsided rivalry; it is a narrow but uniform advantage.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron 6212 posts a score of 340 against the Opteron 4332 HE's 335, a 1.5% lead. The R20 multicore test widens the gap slightly to 1.6%, with scores of 1418 and 1396 respectively. The single-core tests tell the same story: R20 single-core shows 199 versus 196 (1.5% advantage), and R23 single-core shows 476 versus 469 (1.5% advantage). The R23 multicore result is the largest absolute margin in the dataset, with the 6212 scoring 3377 against 3324, again a 1.6% difference.

What is notable is the absence of any workload where the Opteron 4332 HE takes the lead. The wins tally for the 6212 stands at 5, with zero wins for the 4332 HE. However, the delta percentages suggest that the 4332 HE is never far behind, and in practical terms these differences are small enough that other factors, such as platform-level memory configuration or cooling constraints, could plausibly influence real-world outcomes.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The 6212 has an average score of 1162, placing it at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The 4332 HE averages 1144, sitting at the 32nd percentile. Against their nearest rivals, the 6212 is essentially tied with the Intel Core i5-3450 (1166 average, 0.4% higher than the 6212) and the AMD Opteron 6220 (1168 average, 0.5% higher). The 4332 HE similarly trades blows with the Intel Core i7-2600S (1146 average, 0.2% higher) and the AMD Opteron 4284 (1146 average, 0.2% higher). Both processors occupy a crowded performance tier where a handful of points separates dozens of parts.

The consistency of the 6212's edge across both single-core and multi-core tests suggests the advantage is architectural rather than workload-specific. A 1.5% lead in single-core R23 and a 1.6% lead in multi-core R23 indicate that the 6212's higher core count (8 versus 6) does not dramatically outweigh the 4332 HE's higher clock speeds in threaded tasks, but it does tip the balance.

The Verdict

From the recorded data alone, the AMD Opteron 6212 is the faster processor in every benchmark captured. It wins all five head-to-head comparisons, holds a higher average benchmark score (1162 versus 1144), and ranks one percentile point higher in the global distribution. Any buyer optimizing purely for Cinebench throughput should select the 6212.

That said, the margins are narrow. The largest advantage is 1.6%, and the average score difference is 18 points, roughly 1.5%. In a production server environment, this level of performance difference would rarely be perceptible. The 4332 HE compensates with a substantially lower thermal envelope: its TDP is 65 watts versus 115 watts for the 6212. For dense server deployments where cooling and power budgets are constrained, the 4332 HE may be the more practical choice despite losing every benchmark, because the performance gap is small while the power consumption difference is large. The database does not include power efficiency metrics, so a direct performance-per-watt ratio cannot be calculated here, but the TDP figures alone suggest a meaningful trade-off.

The 4332 HE also has higher clock speeds (3.00 GHz base, 3.70 GHz boost versus 2.60 GHz base, 3.20 GHz boost), which may benefit workloads not represented in the Cinebench suite. However, strictly from the recorded data, the 6212 is the winner. The verdict: pick the 6212 for maximum measured performance, pick the 4332 HE for lower power draw and a more recent architecture, accepting a small performance deficit.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations of AMD's server lineups. The Opteron 6212 is built on the Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Interlagos, and belongs to the Opteron 6000 series. The Opteron 4332 HE uses the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Seoul, and sits in the Opteron 4000 series. Both are fabricated on a 32 nm process node at GlobalFoundries, though the database only records the foundry for the 6212.

The transistor counts differ substantially. The 6212 packs 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die design measuring 2x 315 mm². The 4332 HE uses 1,200 million transistors on a single 315 mm² die. This explains the core count difference: the 6212 offers 8 cores and 8 threads, while the 4332 HE offers 6 cores and 6 threads. Neither processor supports simultaneous multithreading, so thread counts match core counts.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The 6212 has a larger L1 cache at 768 KB, with L2 organized as 2 MB per module and L3 as 8 MB per die. The 4332 HE has 288 KB of L1, 6 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. The 6212's dual-die layout means its L3 is split across two dies, whereas the 4332 HE's 8 MB L3 is shared across the single die.

Memory support shows both processors using DDR3, but the 6212 features a quad-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the database does not list a memory bus configuration or bandwidth figure for the 4332 HE. The 6212 also supports ECC memory, a critical feature for server workloads, whereas the 4332 HE's ECC support is not recorded. PCIe generation differs as well: the 6212 runs PCIe Gen 2, with no PCIe information listed for the 4332 HE.

The sockets are incompatible: the 6212 uses AMD Socket G34, while the 4332 HE uses AMD Socket C32. This is a fundamental platform division that prevents any direct swap between the two.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show several clear divergences between the two parts. Core and thread counts differ: the 6212 has 8 cores and 8 threads, the 4332 HE has 6 cores and 6 threads. Clock speeds favor the 4332 HE, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, compared to the 6212's 2.60 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. TDP is a major differentiator: the 6212 draws 115 watts, the 4332 HE only 65 watts.

The process node is identical at 32 nm, but transistor counts differ as noted (2,400 million versus 1,200 million), as do die sizes (2x 315 mm² versus 315 mm²). L1 and L2 cache sizes differ, while L3 is 8 MB on both (per die for the 6212, shared for the 4332 HE). Memory support is DDR3 on both, but the 6212 has a quad-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth; the 4332 HE has no memory bus or bandwidth data recorded. ECC memory is supported on the 6212, with no ECC data for the 4332 HE. PCIe Gen 2 is present on the 6212, absent from the 4332 HE's records.

The 6212 has a recorded launch MSRP of $266, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the 4332 HE. The 6212 was released on November 13, 2011; the 4332 HE followed on December 3, 2012. Both are locked multipliers. The 6212's production status is listed as end-of-life, with no production status recorded for the 4332 HE. Part numbers differ: OS6212WKT8GGU for the 6212, OS4332OFU6KHK for the 4332 HE.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks?

A: The AMD Opteron 6212 wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with margins between 1.5% and 1.6% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The 6212 has an average benchmark score of 1162, while the 4332 HE averages 1144, a difference of 18 points.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Opteron 6212 has a TDP of 115 watts, while the Opteron 4332 HE has a TDP of 65 watts.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: No. The 6212 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the 4332 HE has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: Are the clock speeds different?

A: Yes. The 4332 HE runs at 3.00 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost, while the 6212 runs at 2.60 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost.

Q: What sockets do these processors use?

A: The 6212 uses AMD Socket G34, while the 4332 HE uses AMD Socket C32. They are not interchangeable.