AMD Opteron 4332 HE vs Intel Core i5-2550K Comparison

The AMD Opteron 4332 HE and Intel Core i5-2550K occupy the same performance percentile (32nd) despite targeting different market segments, yet their benchmark results reveal a consistent edge for the Intel part across every tested workload. The Opteron, a six-core server processor built on Piledriver, posts an average benchmark score of 1144, while the four-core Sandy Bridge-based Core i5-2550K averages 1136, placing them within 0.7% of each other overall. However, the head-to-head Cinebench results tell a clearer story: the Intel chip wins all five comparisons, with margins ranging from 8.2% to 8.8%. This makes the Core i5-2550K the stronger performer in both multi-threaded and single-threaded rendering tasks, despite having two fewer cores and four fewer threads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the head-to-head suite belongs to single-threaded performance. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Core i5-2550K scores 215 against the Opteron’s 196, a difference of 8.8%. That pattern repeats in Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel leads 512 to 469, an 8.4% advantage. These results indicate that the Sandy Bridge architecture’s higher base clock (3.40 GHz versus 3.00 GHz) and boost clock (3.80 GHz versus 3.70 GHz) translate directly into superior per-thread throughput, which is critical for lightly threaded applications and responsiveness in general desktop workloads.

Multi-threaded results follow the same direction but with slightly smaller margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel part scores 365 versus 335 for the AMD, a gap of 8.2%. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows Intel ahead at 1523 against 1396, an 8.3% difference, and Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats that pattern with Intel at 3628 and AMD at 3324, again an 8.4% gap. The consistency of these margins—all falling between 8.2% and 8.8%—suggests that the Opteron’s two additional cores cannot compensate for the Intel’s higher per-core efficiency. Even with a 65 W TDP advantage (65 W versus 95 W), the AMD part’s six Piledriver cores deliver less aggregate rendering performance than Intel’s four Sandy Bridge cores.

The Opteron’s lone statistical bright spot is its average benchmark score of 1144, which edges out the Core i5-2550K’s 1136 by 0.7%. This figure, however, is pulled from a broader benchmark set that includes the Geekbench scores for the Intel part (2096 multi-core and 697 single-core) but no corresponding Geekbench data for the AMD chip. When restricting the comparison to the shared Cinebench tests, the Intel processor wins every round, making its higher average score appear less meaningful. The nearest rival data reinforces this: the Opteron’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-2600S at 1146 (a 0.2% delta), while the Core i5-2550K’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-3570T at 1136 (0% delta). Neither processor is a standout in its class, but the Intel part consistently outperforms the AMD part in the tests where both are measured.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i5-2550K wins in every benchmark category where both processors have results. Single-threaded workloads are its strongest suit, with an 8.8% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core and an 8.4% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core. These margins stem from the Intel chip’s higher clock speeds and more efficient Sandy Bridge design, which delivers better instructions per clock than AMD’s Piledriver cores. For users running applications that rely on one or two threads—such as legacy software, certain game engines, or lightly threaded productivity tools—the Core i5-2550K is the clear choice.

Multi-threaded workloads also favor Intel, but the margin is slightly narrower. The Opteron’s six cores and six threads provide more parallel processing capacity than the Core i5-2550K’s four cores and four threads, yet the Intel part still leads by 8.2% to 8.4% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. This suggests that the AMD processor’s additional cores are offset by its lower per-core performance and potentially less efficient cache hierarchy. The Opteron’s 8 MB shared L3 cache does not compensate for the Intel chip’s 6 MB shared L3 cache when the latter is paired with superior core efficiency.

The Opteron’s only advantage lies in its platform characteristics rather than raw performance. It is designed for server and workstation deployments, with support for the AMD Socket C32 platform and a lower 65 W TDP, which reduces power draw and cooling requirements compared to the Intel chip’s 95 W TDP. The Opteron also targets the Opteron 4000 series market segment, where ECC memory support (listed as false for both, but the AMD part’s server pedigree suggests different platform expectations) and multi-socket configurations may matter. However, in the benchmark data available, the Core i5-2550K wins every test, making it the superior choice for computational tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-2550K wins all single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 215 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus 196 for the AMD Opteron 4332 HE (an 8.8% lead) and 512 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 469 (an 8.4% lead).

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 4332 HE’s extra cores help in multi-threaded workloads?

A: No. Despite having six cores and six threads versus the Intel Core i5-2550K’s four cores and four threads, the Opteron loses every multi-threaded benchmark. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 3628 versus AMD’s 3324, an 8.4% deficit for the AMD part.

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Opteron 4332 HE has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 1144, compared to 1136 for the Intel Core i5-2550K, a difference of 0.7%. However, this average includes Geekbench results for the Intel chip that have no AMD counterpart, so the shared Cinebench tests are more indicative of head-to-head performance.

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

A: The AMD Opteron 4332 HE has a TDP of 65 W, while the Intel Core i5-2550K has a TDP of 95 W. The AMD part draws less power, which may be relevant for dense server deployments, but it does not translate into a performance advantage.

Q: Which processor is better for single-threaded applications?

A: The Intel Core i5-2550K is better for single-threaded applications. Its base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz exceed the Opteron’s 3.00 GHz and 3.70 GHz, and its Cinebench single-core scores are consistently 8.4% to 8.8% higher.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the AMD Opteron 4332 HE and the Intel Core i5-2550K rank in the 32nd percentile of all CPUs. Their nearest rivals have average scores within 0.4% of each other, placing them in a similar overall performance tier.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The AMD Opteron 4332 HE has six cores and six threads, while the Intel Core i5-2550K has four cores and four threads. Base clocks are 3.00 GHz for AMD and 3.40 GHz for Intel, with boost clocks of 3.70 GHz and 3.80 GHz, respectively. TDP values are 65 W for the Opteron and 95 W for the Core i5-2550K. The AMD part uses the AMD Socket C32, whereas the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1155. Cache configurations also differ: the Opteron has 288 KB of L1 cache, 6 MB of L2 cache (total), and 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core i5-2550K has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Memory support is DDR3 for both, but the Intel chip specifies dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the AMD part does not list a memory bus or bandwidth. PCIe support is only listed for the Intel chip as Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The market segments differ: the Opteron targets Server/Workstation, while the Core i5-2550K targets Desktop. The Intel part is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD part has no production status listed. The Core i5-2550K has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Opteron does not. Release dates are January 29, 2012, for Intel and December 3, 2012, for AMD. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $235; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 4332 HE is built on the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Seoul, using a 32 nm process node with 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. It belongs to the Opteron 4000 series (Opteron generation). The Intel Core i5-2550K uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, also on a 32 nm process node, but with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. Intel is the foundry for the Core i5-2550K, while the AMD part has no listed foundry. The AMD chip’s cache is distributed as 288 KB L1, 6 MB L2 (total, implying a per-core allocation across six cores), and 8 MB shared L3. The Intel chip’s cache is 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, which for four cores totals 256 KB L1 and 1 MB L2, plus 6 MB shared L3.

Neither processor includes integrated graphics, and both have ECC memory support listed as false. The Opteron’s server-oriented design is reflected in its socket and market segment, while the Core i5-2550K’s desktop focus includes an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, which the Opteron lacks. The Intel part’s PCIe implementation is explicitly Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part does not list PCIe details. The 65 W TDP of the Opteron versus the 95 W TDP of the Core i5-2550K indicates that AMD’s Piledriver design achieves lower power consumption, but at the cost of performance, as evidenced by the consistent Cinebench losses. The die size difference (315 mm² for AMD versus 216 mm² for Intel) suggests a more complex or larger physical design for the AMD chip, yet it delivers less computational throughput in the tested workloads.