CPU Comparison

The AMD Opteron 4332 HE and Intel Xeon E5640 are closely matched server processors, but the data shows a consistent, if narrow, edge for the AMD part across every benchmark tested. The Opteron 4332 HE wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 0.5% to 0.9%. While these deltas are small in absolute terms, the uniformity of the results indicates a slight but real performance advantage for the AMD chip in both single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most substantial victory for the AMD Opteron 4332 HE comes in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where it scores 335 against the Xeon E5640's 332. That 3-point difference translates to a 0.9% lead, the largest relative margin in the entire comparison. In the Cinebench R20 multi-core test, the Opteron 4332 HE again takes the lead, scoring 1396 versus 1387 for the Intel part, a 0.6% advantage. The pattern holds in the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core benchmark, with the AMD processor scoring 3324 and the Intel Xeon scoring 3303, another 0.6% delta.

Single-core performance tells the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron 4332 HE scores 196 compared to 195 for the Xeon E5640, a 0.5% lead. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows the AMD chip at 469 and the Intel chip at 466, again a 0.6% difference. The data is remarkably consistent: no matter which version of Cinebench is used, the AMD Opteron 4332 HE finishes ahead by roughly half a percentage point or a little more. The Intel Xeon E5640 never wins a single benchmark in this head-to-head comparison.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The AMD Opteron 4332 HE has an average benchmark score of 1144, while the Intel Xeon E5640 sits at 1137. That 7-point gap in the overall average is consistent with the individual test results. Both processors land in the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same tier of overall performance, but the AMD part does so with slightly higher raw scores across the board.

The Verdict

For anyone choosing between these two server processors strictly on benchmark performance, the AMD Opteron 4332 HE is the clear pick. It wins every Cinebench test in the comparison, from the older R15 to the newer R23, in both single-core and multi-core configurations. The margins are thin, but they are uniform, suggesting the AMD architecture has a small but genuine performance edge in these rendering workloads.

The Intel Xeon E5640 is not without its merits, however. It offers ECC memory support, a feature the Opteron 4332 HE lacks, which could be a deciding factor for certain reliability-critical server environments. The Xeon also has a higher thread count, with 8 threads versus 6 for the AMD part, and features triple-channel memory support. Yet none of these specifications translate into a benchmark win in the data provided.

The verdict is straightforward: if raw Cinebench performance is the priority, select the AMD Opteron 4332 HE. If ECC memory support or the Intel platform's specific features are essential requirements, the Xeon E5640 becomes the more appropriate choice despite its slightly lower scores. The performance difference is small enough that platform-level considerations should heavily influence the final decision.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 4332 HE is built on the Piledriver architecture with the codename Seoul, representing the Opteron 4000 series generation. It uses a 32 nm process node and packs 1,200 million transistors onto a 315 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E5640 uses the Westmere architecture, codenamed Westmere-EP, also on a 32 nm process node with 1,170 million transistors but on a smaller 239 mm² die.

Core and thread configurations differ notably. The AMD Opteron 4332 HE has 6 physical cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading support. The Intel Xeon E5640 has 4 physical cores but 8 threads, leveraging Intel's hyper-threading technology to double the thread count. This means the Intel part processes 8 threads simultaneously against the AMD's 6, yet still finishes behind in multi-core benchmarks.

Cache hierarchies are structured very differently. The AMD chip features a 288 KB L1 cache, 6 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor's larger shared L3 cache does not translate into a performance advantage in the tested workloads.

Memory support also differs. Both support DDR3 memory, but the Intel Xeon E5640 features triple-channel memory support and ECC memory capability. The AMD Opteron 4332 HE does not have ECC memory support listed. The Intel part also carries PCIe Gen 2 support, while no PCIe specification is listed for the AMD processor.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specifications. The AMD Opteron 4332 HE has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5640 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clock speeds favor AMD at 3.00 GHz compared to Intel's 2.67 GHz, and the boost clock also favors AMD at 3.70 GHz versus 2.93 GHz. The AMD chip has a lower thermal design power (TDP) of 65 watts, while the Intel part is rated at 80 watts.

The sockets are incompatible: the AMD processor uses AMD Socket C32, while the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1366. The cache configurations differ as noted, with AMD offering 288 KB L1, 6 MB L2, and 8 MB shared L3, while Intel offers 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The AMD part has a larger die at 315 mm² versus Intel's 239 mm², and slightly more transistors at 1,200 million versus 1,170 million.

Release dates are separated by over two and a half years. The Intel Xeon E5640 was released on 2010-03-15, while the AMD Opteron 4332 HE was released on 2012-12-03. The Intel processor is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD part's production status is not specified. The Intel chip also lists a foundry (Intel), while the AMD chip has no foundry listed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD Opteron 4332 HE has a base clock of 3.00 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Xeon E5640's base clock of 2.67 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E5640 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E5640 has ECC memory support listed. The AMD Opteron 4332 HE does not have ECC memory support in its specifications.

Q: How many threads does each processor handle?

A: The AMD Opteron 4332 HE handles 6 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5640 handles 8 threads due to hyper-threading technology on its 4 physical cores.

Q: Which processor has a lower thermal design power?

A: The AMD Opteron 4332 HE has a TDP of 65 watts, which is lower than the Intel Xeon E5640's TDP of 80 watts.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two processors?

A: The largest margin is in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where the AMD Opteron 4332 HE leads by 0.9% with a score of 335 versus 332.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the AMD Opteron 4332 HE and Intel Xeon E5640 are in the 32nd percentile of all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 4332 HE wins in every Cinebench benchmark category tested. Its lead appears in both single-core and multi-core tests across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The AMD chip's higher base and boost clock speeds, combined with its 6 physical cores, give it a consistent edge in these rendering workloads. The largest advantage comes in the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where it leads by 0.9%, while newer tests show a 0.5% to 0.6% advantage. For workloads that resemble Cinebench's rendering tasks, the AMD Opteron 4332 HE is the better performer.

The Intel Xeon E5640 wins in areas outside of raw benchmark scores. It offers ECC memory support, which the AMD processor lacks, making it potentially more suitable for error-sensitive computing environments. The Intel chip also has triple-channel memory support and PCIe Gen 2 support, features not listed for the AMD part. With 8 threads versus 6, the Intel processor may handle highly threaded workloads differently despite its lower benchmark scores. The Intel Xeon E5640 also has a larger shared L3 cache at 12 MB versus 8 MB, which could benefit certain cache-sensitive applications even if it does not help in Cinebench.

The practical split is clear: choose the AMD Opteron 4332 HE for maximum Cinebench performance and lower power consumption, and choose the Intel Xeon E5640 if ECC memory support, triple-channel memory, or the Intel platform's specific features are mandatory requirements. The benchmark data consistently favors AMD, but the Intel part's feature set may outweigh the small performance deficit in specific server deployments.