CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3570S and AMD Opteron 4334 occupy the same performance percentile (33rd) and have nearly identical average benchmark scores (1169 vs 1155), but the head-to-head benchmark data reveals a clear and consistent winner: the Intel part outperforms the AMD chip in every single test conducted. The data shows a dominant, though not overwhelming, victory for Intel across both multi-core and single-core workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-3570S wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with its largest margins coming in single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel chip scores 236 against the Opteron's 198, a 19.2% advantage, the largest delta of any benchmark in this comparison. Similarly, in Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel leads 563 to 473, a 19% edge. These results indicate that the i5-3570S delivers substantially better per-thread performance, which is critical for lightly-threaded applications and general responsiveness.

Multi-core results follow a similar pattern, though with slightly smaller margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 402 versus the Opteron's 338, an 18.9% lead. That same 18.9% delta repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1676 vs 1409) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (3991 vs 3356). The consistency of the 18.9% margin across three different multi-core tests is striking, suggesting a stable architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

The Intel chip also holds the edge in the only Geekbench results available, though these are not part of the head-to-head set. The i5-3570S scores 1793 in Geekbench multi-core and 632 in single-core. No equivalent Geekbench numbers exist for the Opteron 4334, so a direct comparison is impossible, but the Intel part's average benchmark score of 1169 slightly exceeds the Opteron's 1155.

Notably, the Opteron 4334 fails to secure a single win. Despite having 6 cores and 6 threads against the Intel's 4 cores and 4 threads, the AMD chip cannot translate its higher core count into a multi-core victory. This suggests that the Intel architecture's efficiency more than compensates for the two-core deficit.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-3570S is decisively ahead in single-core tests. It leads by 19.2% in Cinebench R20 single-core (236 vs 198) and by 19% in Cinebench R23 single-core (563 vs 473).

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 4334 win any benchmarks?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Intel chip winning all 5 tests, with the Opteron 4334 recording zero wins across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: The Intel i5-3570S wins every multi-core test by the same 18.9% margin. It scores 402 vs 338 in Cinebench R15, 1676 vs 1409 in Cinebench R20, and 3991 vs 3356 in Cinebench R23.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Intel chip's average benchmark score is 1169, while the Opteron 4334 averages 1155. This is a difference of 14 points, or roughly 1.2%.

Q: Which processor has a higher core count?

A: The AMD Opteron 4334 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3570S has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Neither the Intel Core i5-3570S nor the AMD Opteron 4334 supports ECC memory, according to the specifications.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Core i5-3570S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node, manufactured by Intel with a die size of 133 mm². In contrast, the AMD Opteron 4334 is based on the Piledriver architecture (codename Seoul) on a larger 32 nm process node, with a die size of 315 mm² and 1,200 million transistors. The process node difference explains much of the efficiency gap: Intel's smaller 22 nm process allows for lower power consumption and higher clock speeds at the same thermal envelope.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The Intel chip features 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Opteron 4334 offers 288 KB of L1 cache, 6 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. While the AMD chip has more total L3 cache and a larger L2 pool, the Intel design's per-core cache allocation appears more effective for the workloads tested.

The Intel i5-3570S includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500) and supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD Opteron 4334 has no integrated graphics and no listed PCIe support. The Intel chip also features a dual-channel memory bus for DDR3, while the Opteron's memory bus configuration is not specified. These differences reflect their intended markets: the Intel part is a desktop processor with on-chip graphics, while the Opteron 4334 is a server/workstation part without integrated graphics.

The Intel chip also has a higher boost clock (3.80 GHz) versus the AMD's 3.50 GHz, though both have the same 3.10 GHz base clock. The Intel part's 65 W TDP is significantly lower than the Opteron's 95 W TDP, further underscoring the efficiency advantage of the 22 nm Ivy Bridge design.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3570S is the superior processor in this matchup. It wins every benchmark, often by nearly 19%, and does so with fewer cores and a lower TDP. The Opteron 4334's 6-core design fails to overcome the Intel chip's architectural efficiency and higher boost clock.

For users prioritizing single-threaded performance, the Intel chip is the clear choice, its 19.2% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core is the largest margin in the entire comparison. The Intel chip also wins in multi-threaded workloads, which is particularly notable given that the AMD part has 50% more cores. The Opteron 4334's higher core count (6 vs 4) and larger L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB) do not translate into any benchmark victory.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this conclusion, with the Intel chip at 1169 versus the Opteron's 1155. While the percentile ranking is identical (33rd percentile for both), the head-to-head results show that the Intel processor is consistently faster across all tested workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category:

• Cores/Threads: Intel has 4 cores/4 threads; AMD has 6 cores/6 threads.
• Boost Clock: Intel boosts to 3.80 GHz; AMD boosts to 3.50 GHz (base clock is 3.10 GHz for both).
• TDP: Intel is 65 W; AMD is 95 W.
• Socket: Intel uses Socket 1155; AMD uses Socket C32.
• Process Node: Intel is 22 nm; AMD is 32 nm.
• Die Size: Intel is 133 mm²; AMD is 315 mm².
• Transistors: Intel is not listed; AMD has 1,200 million.
• L1 Cache: Intel has 64 KB per core; AMD has 288 KB total.
• L2 Cache: Intel has 256 KB per core; AMD has 6 MB total.
• L3 Cache: Intel has 6 MB shared; AMD has 8 MB shared.
• Integrated Graphics: Intel has Intel HD 2500; AMD has none.
• PCIe: Intel supports Gen 3 with 16 lanes; AMD has no listed PCIe support.
• Memory Bus: Intel is dual-channel; AMD is not specified.
• Market Segment: Intel is Desktop; AMD is Server/Workstation.
• Release Date: Intel launched 2012-05-31; AMD launched 2012-12-03.
• Part Number: Intel is SR0T9; AMD is OS4334WLU6KHK.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3570S wins in every tested category. For single-core performance, it is the definitive choice, with a 19.2% lead in Cinebench R20 and a 19% lead in Cinebench R23. For multi-core workloads, it maintains an 18.9% advantage across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. Users who need integrated graphics will also prefer the Intel chip, as it includes Intel HD 2500 while the Opteron has none.

The AMD Opteron 4334's only theoretical advantages are its higher core count (6 vs 4), larger L2 cache (6 MB vs 256 KB per core), and larger L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB). However, the benchmark data shows these specifications do not produce any performance wins. The Opteron's 95 W TDP is also a drawback, making it less power-efficient than the Intel's 65 W design.

For a desktop use case, the Intel Core i5-3570S is the only sensible choice based on the data. The Opteron 4334, as a server/workstation part without integrated graphics, might be relevant in a system requiring its specific Socket C32 platform, but the performance evidence shows it would be slower in every benchmark tested. The data simply does not support any scenario where the AMD chip outperforms the Intel processor.