AMD Opteron 4334 vs Intel Core i5-3550 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data presents a consistent picture across every tested workload. The Intel Core i5-3550 wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with the smallest margin being 21.3% and the largest being 21.7%. There is no test in the database where the AMD Opteron 4334 comes out ahead.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Core i5-3550 scores 410 against the AMD Opteron 4334's 338. That is a 21.3% advantage. The multicore result in Cinebench R20 shows a nearly identical gap: 1710 versus 1409, a 21.4% lead. Cinebench R23 multicore follows the same pattern, with Intel at 4073 and AMD at 3356, again a 21.4% difference. The consistency of these three multicore results, all within a narrow band of 21.3% to 21.4%, suggests the advantage is structural rather than workload-specific.

Single-core performance tells the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel part scores 241 against the AMD part's 198, a 21.7% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the score is 575 versus 473, a 21.6% margin. The single-core gaps are slightly larger than the multicore gaps, which indicates that the Intel architecture's per-thread efficiency is its strongest asset.

The average benchmark score in the database places the Intel Core i5-3550 at 1178, while the AMD Opteron 4334 sits at 1155. That is only a 2% difference in aggregate, which seems small given the head-to-head margins. The explanation lies in the nearest rival data. The Intel part's closest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4440 at 1179 (a 0.1% difference), the Intel Core i3-7320 at 1173 (0.4% ahead), and the Intel Core i7-3635QM at 1170 (0.7% ahead). The AMD Opteron 4334's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 at 1156 (0.1% behind), the Intel Core i3-8145UE at 1154 (0.1% ahead), and the Intel Core i5-4430 at 1149 (0.5% ahead). Both processors sit at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning the aggregate performance class is similar even though the direct comparison favors Intel heavily.

The head-to-head data is unambiguous. Five tests, five wins for the Intel Core i5-3550, zero for the AMD Opteron 4334. The margins are stable across generations of the Cinebench suite, which strengthens confidence in the result.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and different manufacturing eras. The Intel Core i5-3550 is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process node at Intel's foundry. The AMD Opteron 4334 uses the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Seoul, on a 32 nm process node. The process node difference is significant: 22 nm versus 32 nm means Intel is using a more advanced manufacturing technology, which typically allows higher clock speeds at lower power consumption.

The transistor counts reflect this. The Intel part packs 1,400 million transistors into a die size of 160 mm². The AMD part has 1,200 million transistors spread across a much larger die of 315 mm². That is nearly double the die area for fewer transistors, a direct consequence of the older 32 nm process. The Intel design achieves higher density, which contributes to its performance advantage.

Core counts differ in an interesting way. The AMD Opteron 4334 has six cores and six threads, while the Intel Core i5-3550 has four cores and four threads. Despite having 50% more physical cores, the AMD part loses every multicore benchmark. This indicates that the Intel cores are substantially more efficient per-core, and the software workloads in the database do not scale well enough to let the extra AMD cores compensate.

Clock speeds favor Intel as well. The Intel part has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The Intel part is 0.20 GHz higher in both base and boost operation. This clock advantage, combined with the architectural efficiency of Ivy Bridge over Piledriver, explains the consistent single-core lead.

Cache configurations are notably different. The Intel Core i5-3550 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 4334 has 288 KB of L1 cache total, 6 MB of L2 cache total, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has more total cache in the L2 and L3 levels, but the Intel part's per-core L1 and L2 allocations are larger relative to its four cores. The AMD L3 cache is 8 MB compared to Intel's 6 MB, yet this larger cache does not translate into a performance win.

Memory support shows both processors use DDR3, but the Intel part specifies dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The AMD part has no memory bus or bandwidth data recorded in the database. The Intel part also features integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 2500, while the AMD Opteron 4334 has no integrated graphics listed. The AMD part is classified as a server or workstation product, which explains the absence of an iGPU. The Intel part is a desktop product.

The Intel part uses the Intel Socket 1155, while the AMD part uses the AMD Socket C32. The AMD Opteron 4334 belongs to the Opteron 4000 series, indicating its server orientation. The Intel Core i5-3550 is end-of-life, and the AMD part has no production status recorded. The Intel part was released on 2012-04-28, and the AMD part on 2012-12-03, so the AMD release came later in the same year. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part's launch MSRP is $194.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear conclusion for anyone choosing between these two processors. The Intel Core i5-3550 is the faster processor in every benchmark recorded in the database. It wins all five head-to-head tests with margins between 21.3% and 21.7%. The AMD Opteron 4334 does not win a single recorded test.

The Intel part achieves this with fewer cores, four versus six. That means the per-core performance gap is even larger than the multicore gap suggests. The Intel part's single-core scores lead by 21.6% to 21.7%, and its multicore scores lead by 21.3% to 21.4%. The AMD part's two extra cores cannot overcome the Intel architecture's efficiency advantage.

The market segments differ. The Intel Core i5-3550 is a desktop processor with integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 4334 is a server or workstation processor without integrated graphics. A buyer in a desktop context would likely prefer the Intel part because it includes the iGPU and offers higher performance. A buyer in a server context would be comparing against other Opteron parts, and the nearest rival data shows the AMD Opteron 6212 at 1162, which is 0.6% above the Opteron 4334's 1155 average.

Both processors sit at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs in the database. They are neither top-tier nor bottom-tier in aggregate terms. The Intel part's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-4440, is essentially tied at 1179 with a 0.1% difference. The AMD part's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312, is at 1156 with a 0.1% difference. So in the broader context of the database, these two CPUs occupy a similar performance tier, even though the direct comparison is lopsided.

For someone selecting a processor strictly from the data, the Intel Core i5-3550 is the choice for raw performance. The AMD Opteron 4334 would only make sense if the server platform, Socket C32, or the Opteron 4000 series feature set is a requirement. The data does not show any performance scenario where the AMD part wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multicore benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 wins every multicore test. It leads by 21.3% in Cinebench R15 multicore, 21.4% in R20 multicore, and 21.4% in R23 multicore.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD Opteron 4334 has six cores and six threads. The Intel Core i5-3550 has four cores and four threads. Despite fewer cores, the Intel part wins all multicore benchmarks.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The AMD Opteron 4334 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz.

Q: Does either processor have integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 has Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 4334 has no integrated graphics listed. The AMD part targets the server or workstation segment.

Q: How close are the average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 has an average benchmark score of 1178, and the AMD Opteron 4334 has an average benchmark score of 1155. Both sit at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What is the process node for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture at 22 nm. The AMD Opteron 4334 uses Piledriver architecture at 32 nm.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3550 wins in every scenario derived from the recorded benchmarks. Single-core workloads, multicore workloads, and all three Cinebench versions all favor the Intel part. The margins range from 21.3% to 21.7%, with no test falling outside that band. The AMD part has no wins in the database, so no scenario in the data favors the Opteron.

The Intel part's advantages include a smaller die size of 160 mm² with 1,400 million transistors, compared to the AMD part's 315 mm² die with 1,200 million transistors. The Intel part also has a lower TDP of 77 watts against the AMD part's 95 watts. Lower power draw with higher performance is a meaningful combination in the context of the data. The Intel part also specifies a memory bandwidth of 16 lanes of PCIe Gen 3, which the AMD part does not list.

The AMD Opteron 4334 offers more L3 cache at 8 MB shared, compared to the Intel part's 6 MB shared. It also has more total L2 cache at 6 MB against Intel's 256 KB per core. The AMD part's larger die and transistor count do not produce a benchmark win, but the cache structure is the only area where the AMD design has a recorded specification advantage alongside the core count and the Socket C32 platform.

The Intel part is a desktop processor with a launch MSRP of $194. The AMD part has no launch MSRP recorded and is a server or workstation product. The Intel part has a release date of 2012-04-28, while the AMD part has a release date of 2012-12-03. The Intel part is end-of-life, and the AMD part has no production status listed.

In practical terms, the data shows the Intel Core i5-3550 as the higher-performing part in all tested scenarios. The AMD Opteron 4334's only advantages are in specifications that do not affect the recorded benchmarks, such as the larger L3 cache and the six-core configuration. The verdict from the database is straightforward: choose the Intel part for performance, choose the AMD part only if the Socket C32 server platform is mandatory, and be aware that the data provides no performance justification for that choice.