AMD Opteron 4376 HE vs Intel Core i3-4170T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data paints a remarkably one-sided picture. Across every single-core and multi-core benchmark in the database, the AMD Opteron 4376 HE takes the win. The Intel Core i3-4170T does not secure a single victory in the head-to-head tests, with the Opteron winning all five recorded comparisons.

The most telling results come from the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 369 against the i3's 268, a margin of 27.4 percent. That pattern repeats almost identically in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Opteron posts 1541 versus 1120, a 27.3 percent difference. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the same gap: 3670 for the Opteron against 2667 for the i3, again 27.3 percent behind.

What is notable is that the single-core tests do not flip the script. Typically, a lower-clocked, higher-core-count server chip loses in single-threaded workloads to a desktop part with a higher base frequency. Here, the Opteron wins those too. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 217 versus 157, a 27.6 percent advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 518 versus 376, a 27.4 percent lead. The consistency of that 27 percent delta across every test suggests a fundamental performance gap, not a workload-specific quirk.

Looking at the broader database context, both CPUs sit in a similar percentile tier. The i3-4170T ranks at the 30th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1072. The Opteron 4376 HE sits at the 29th percentile, averaging 1061. Their nearest rivals reflect this near-parity in aggregate scoring. The i3's closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-5287U, which matches its 1072 average exactly, with a 0 percent delta. The Opteron's nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-4360, also at 1061 with a 0 percent delta.

That near-identical average score makes the head-to-head sweep all the more striking. The aggregate numbers hide the fact that the Opteron wins every individual benchmark in this comparison, while the i3's overall standing is propped up by its performance in tests not shared here. The data shows that when these two specific processors are measured against each other, the Opteron is consistently and decisively ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Opteron 4376 HE wins every multi-core test in the database. It leads by 27.4 percent in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 27.3 percent in R20 multi-core, and 27.3 percent in R23 multi-core.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-4170T win in single-core performance?

A: No. The Opteron 4376 HE also wins the single-core tests. It scores 217 versus 157 in Cinebench R20 single-core and 518 versus 376 in Cinebench R23 single-core, both roughly 27.4 percent ahead.

Q: How do these CPUs compare in overall benchmark rankings?

A: They are nearly identical in aggregate. The i3-4170T has an average benchmark score of 1072 and sits at the 30th percentile. The Opteron 4376 HE averages 1061 and sits at the 29th percentile.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each processor?

A: For the i3-4170T, the closest rival is the Intel Core i5-5287U with an identical average score of 1072 and a 0 percent delta. For the Opteron 4376 HE, the closest rival is the Intel Core i3-4360, also matching at 1061 with a 0 percent delta.

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i3-4170T has 2 cores and 4 threads. The AMD Opteron 4376 HE has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the base clock speed difference?

A: The i3-4170T has a base clock of 3.20 GHz. The Opteron 4376 HE has a base clock of 2.60 GHz, but it also has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, which the i3 lacks entirely.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data gives a clear use-case split, though it heavily favors the AMD side. The Opteron 4376 HE wins every single recorded comparison in this head-to-head, so any workload represented by those tests falls in its column.

For multi-threaded productivity, the Opteron is the obvious choice. Its 8 physical cores versus the i3's 2 cores with 4 threads translate directly into a 27 percent advantage in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. That pattern holds across all three versions of the Cinebench suite in the database, which suggests the advantage scales with thread count rather than being an artifact of a specific test version.

For single-threaded performance, the data also points to the Opteron, which is counterintuitive given its lower base clock. The Opteron's boost clock of 3.60 GHz exceeds the i3's fixed 3.20 GHz, and the benchmark results confirm that the Opteron wins single-core tests by the same 27 percent margin. This means even lightly threaded applications, which typically favor higher clock speeds, run better on the AMD part.

The i3-4170T has no recorded wins in this comparison. Its only advantages lie outside the benchmark suite. It draws 35 watts versus the Opteron's 65 watts, making it the more power-efficient option for low-load scenarios. It also includes integrated graphics, which the Opteron lacks entirely. For a system that must run without a discrete GPU, the i3 is the only viable pick from these two.

The Opteron wins where raw compute throughput matters: rendering, encoding, compilation, or any task that scales with cores. The i3 wins where power draw and integrated graphics are the deciding factors, though those are not reflected in the benchmark scores.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category, starting with core configuration. The i3-4170T uses 2 cores with 4 threads, while the Opteron 4376 HE uses 8 cores with 8 threads. That is a fourfold difference in physical core count, and the Opteron does not use simultaneous multithreading, so its thread count equals its core count.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The i3 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and no boost clock. The Opteron has a lower base clock of 2.60 GHz but compensates with a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The i3's fixed clock is higher than the Opteron's base, but the Opteron's boost exceeds it by 0.40 GHz.

Thermal design power differs significantly. The i3 is rated at 35 watts, while the Opteron is rated at 65 watts. That makes the i3 the more power-efficient part on paper, though the benchmark data shows the Opteron still wins every performance test despite consuming more power.

Memory support is limited in the database. Both support DDR3, but only the i3 has a recorded memory bus configuration: dual-channel with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The Opteron's memory bus and bandwidth are not recorded. Neither processor supports ECC memory according to the data.

The socket and platform targets differ completely. The i3 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the Opteron uses AMD Socket C32. The i3 is a desktop part, while the Opteron is a server or workstation chip. The i3 includes PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Opteron has no recorded PCIe information.

Integrated graphics is a major differentiator. The i3 includes Intel HD 4400, while the Opteron has no integrated graphics at all. This means the i3 can run a display output without a discrete GPU, while the Opteron requires a separate graphics card.

Architecture Differences

The architecture gap is substantial, reflecting different design philosophies and process technologies. The i3-4170T uses Intel's Haswell architecture, built on a 22 nm process at Intel's foundry. The Opteron 4376 HE uses AMD's Piledriver architecture, built on a 32 nm process. The smaller process node gives Intel an advantage in transistor density and power efficiency.

Transistor counts are close despite the process difference. The i3 packs 1,400 million transistors into a 177 mm² die. The Opteron has 1,200 million transistors on a much larger 315 mm² die. The Opteron's die is nearly twice the size but contains fewer transistors, which is consistent with the older, less dense 32 nm process.

Cache hierarchies are structured very differently. The i3 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 3 MB of shared L3. The Opteron has a larger total cache pool: 384 KB of L1, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Opteron's L3 is over 2.5 times larger, and its L2 is 8 MB versus the i3's 512 KB total across both cores.

The release timeline shows a significant gap. The Opteron launched in December 2012, while the i3 arrived in March 2015, roughly two and a half years later. Despite being newer, the i3 does not overcome the Opteron's core-count advantage in the recorded benchmarks.

The i3's generation is listed as Core i3 (Haswell), and its codename is Haswell. The Opteron's generation is Opteron (Seoul), with the codename Seoul, part of the Opteron 4000 series. The i3's production status is end-of-life, while the Opteron's is not recorded.

The i3's part number is SR1TC, and the Opteron's is OS4376OFU8KHK. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for anyone prioritizing raw compute performance: the AMD Opteron 4376 HE wins every benchmark in this comparison. Its 27 percent advantage across all Cinebench tests, both single-core and multi-core, is not a narrow margin. It is a consistent, repeatable gap that holds regardless of workload type.

The Opteron should be picked by anyone running multi-threaded workloads that can use its 8 cores. Rendering, encoding, compilation, and server-style tasks will all benefit from the core count advantage. Even single-threaded tasks run faster on the Opteron according to the recorded data, which makes it the better choice for essentially any performance-oriented build using these two processors.

The i3-4170T should be picked only when its specific advantages matter more than benchmark scores. It draws 35 watts versus 65 watts, making it better suited for power-constrained systems. It includes Intel HD 4400 integrated graphics, so it can operate without a discrete GPU. It also uses the Intel Socket 1150 platform, which may matter for motherboard compatibility in existing systems.

For a server or workstation where performance is the goal, the Opteron 4376 HE is the answer. For a low-power desktop or a system that needs integrated graphics, the i3-4170T has a role despite losing every benchmark. The aggregate scores are nearly identical, with the i3 at 1072 and the Opteron at 1061, but that parity is misleading. In a direct head-to-head, the Opteron is the superior processor, and the i3's only advantages are outside the benchmark suite.