AMD Opteron 4376 HE vs Intel Core i5-5287U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep for the AMD Opteron 4376 HE across every shared benchmark test. The Intel Core i5-5287U does not win a single head-to-head comparison in this database, with the Opteron taking all five recorded tests.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 369 against the i5-5287U's 261, a 29.3% advantage. That same 29.3% delta repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Opteron posts 1541 versus 1090. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multicore: 3670 for the Opteron and 2596 for the Intel part, again a 29.3% gap.

Single-core results tell a similar story, though the margin is slightly wider. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 217 while the i5-5287U manages 153, a 29.5% difference. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 518 versus 366, returning to the 29.3% delta.

The consistency of these deltas is striking. Across four of the five tests, the relative performance gap is exactly 29.3%. Only the R20 single-core test deviates, and only by 0.2 percentage points. This suggests the performance relationship between these two processors is stable regardless of workload type, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded.

For context, the i5-5287U's average benchmark score is 1072, placing it at the 30th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The Opteron 4376 HE averages 1061, sitting at the 29th percentile. Despite the Opteron winning every head-to-head, the aggregate scores are nearly identical, which indicates the database includes other tests where the Intel part performs relatively better. The nearest rivals for the i5-5287U include the Intel Core i3-4170T (matching at 1072) and the AMD Athlon X4 880K (1071, a 0.1% difference). The Opteron's closest competitors are the Intel Core i3-4360 (matching at 1061) and the Intel Core i5-4570TE (1062, a 0.1% gap). These rival groupings show that both chips occupy a similar overall performance tier, even though the direct comparison favors AMD.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing generations. The Intel Core i5-5287U is a Broadwell-U part, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry. It packs 1,900 million transistors into a 133 mm² die. The AMD Opteron 4376 HE belongs to the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Seoul, manufactured on a 32 nm process with 1,200 million transistors spread across a 315 mm² die. The Intel chip is considerably smaller and uses a more advanced node, but the AMD part dedicates more physical area to its compute resources.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The i5-5287U offers 2 physical cores with Hyper-Threading, yielding 4 threads. The Opteron 4376 HE provides 8 physical cores and 8 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading. This 4x difference in physical cores explains the Opteron's consistent multicore advantage in the benchmarks. The Intel part compensates with higher base and boost clocks: 2.90 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost versus the Opteron's 2.60 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. The Opteron's boost clock is higher, but its single-core results still lag in the head-to-head tests, suggesting architectural efficiency differences outweigh raw clock speed.

Cache hierarchies are notably different. The i5-5287U has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus 3 MB shared L3. The Opteron 4376 HE provides 384 KB L1, 8 MB L2, and 8 MB shared L3. The AMD chip's larger L2 and L3 caches reflect its server-oriented design, while the Intel part's per-core cache layout suits a mobile, latency-sensitive workload profile.

Memory support shows both use DDR3, but the i5-5287U has a dual-channel bus with a documented bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The Opteron's memory bus and bandwidth are not recorded in the database. Neither processor supports ECC memory, according to the recorded specifications. The Intel part carries integrated Iris 6100 graphics, while the Opteron has no integrated GPU, typical for a server/workstation product.

The Intel chip uses an Intel BGA 1168 socket and is classified as a mobile part, while the AMD processor uses AMD Socket C32 and targets the server/workstation segment. The Opteron belongs to the Opteron 4000 series, while the i5-5287U is part of the Core i5 family under the Broadwell-U codename. Release dates differ by roughly two years: the i5-5287U launched in February 2015, the Opteron 4376 HE in December 2012. The Intel part is marked end-of-life, while the Opteron's production status is not recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Opteron 4376 HE wins with a score of 3670 against the Intel Core i5-5287U's 2596, a 29.3% advantage.

Q: Is the Intel chip faster in any recorded benchmark?

A: No. The database shows the Opteron winning all five head-to-head tests, with the Intel part losing every comparison by at least 29.3%.

Q: Why does the Opteron win despite having a lower average benchmark score?

A: The Opteron's average score is 1061 versus 1072 for the Intel part, but the head-to-head tests are all Cinebench variants. The aggregate average includes other tests not shared, where the Intel chip likely performs better, pulling its overall average up.

Q: What are the core counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-5287U has 2 cores and 4 threads. The AMD Opteron 4376 HE has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The database records ECC memory support as false for both the Intel and AMD parts.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Opteron 4376 HE has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-5287U boosts to 3.30 GHz.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for workloads that rely on multi-threaded rendering or compute tasks. The AMD Opteron 4376 HE outperforms the Intel Core i5-5287U by 29.3% in every Cinebench multicore test and by 29.3% to 29.5% in single-core tests. The Opteron's 8 physical cores provide a substantial advantage in threaded workloads, and its higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz helps in single-threaded scenarios as well.

The Intel Core i5-5287U, however, is not without its strengths. It uses a more advanced 14 nm process, draws significantly less power (28 W TDP versus 65 W), and includes integrated Iris 6100 graphics. Its smaller die size and lower transistor count suggest better power efficiency for mobile applications, which aligns with its BGA socket and mobile market segment. The Intel chip's 29.9 GB/s memory bandwidth is documented, while the Opteron's is not recorded.

For a server or workstation environment where raw throughput matters and power efficiency is secondary, the Opteron 4376 HE is the superior choice based on benchmark results. For a mobile or compact system where integrated graphics and lower power draw are priorities, the i5-5287U fits that role, though it will lag in compute performance. Neither processor supports ECC memory, which may matter for certain server deployments despite the Opteron's server classification.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-5287U | AMD Opteron 4376 HE |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 2 | 8 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | AMD Socket C32 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Piledriver |

| Codename | Broadwell-U | Seoul |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 1,900 million | 1,200 million |

| Die Size | 133 mm² | 315 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 384 KB |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 8 MB |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Not recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Iris 6100 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | 2015-02-28 | 2012-12-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $315 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SR26H | OS4376OFU8KHK |

| Generation | Core i5 (Broadwell-U) | Opteron (Seoul) |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 4376 HE wins in every recorded benchmark comparison. Its 29.3% multicore advantage across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 makes it the clear choice for rendering, video encoding, and any workload that scales with multiple cores. The 8 MB L2 and 8 MB L3 caches support large working sets, and its 8 threads can handle concurrent tasks without relying on multithreading tricks. The Opteron also wins single-core tests by 29.3% to 29.5%, meaning even lightly threaded applications see a performance benefit.

The Intel Core i5-5287U wins in categories not measured by the benchmark suite. Its 28 W TDP is less than half the Opteron's 65 W, making it suitable for thermally constrained environments. The integrated Iris 6100 graphics eliminate the need for a separate GPU, which is a decisive advantage for compact systems. The Intel part's 14 nm process node and 133 mm² die suggest superior power efficiency per transistor, and its dual-channel memory bus with 29.9 GB/s bandwidth is explicitly documented, which may matter for memory-sensitive tasks. The Intel chip's BGA socket and mobile classification point to low-power, portable designs, where the Opteron's socket C32 server platform would not apply.

In summary, the Opteron 4376 HE dominates raw performance metrics, while the i5-5287U holds advantages in power consumption, integrated graphics, and process technology. The choice depends on whether the workload prioritizes compute throughput or system efficiency.