AMD Opteron 4376 HE vs Intel Core i7-2820QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data for the Intel Core i7-2820QM and the AMD Opteron 4376 HE shows an exceptionally close contest, with the Intel part edging ahead in every recorded test. Across six Cinebench workloads, the Intel Core i7-2820QM records 6 wins, while the AMD Opteron 4376 HE records none, yet the margins are remarkably thin, never exceeding 0.9 percent.

Starting with the multi-core tests, the Intel Core i7-2820QM scores 372 in Cinebench R15 multicore, a 0.8 percent advantage over the Opteron 4376 HE's 369. That small gap persists in Cinebench R20 multicore, where Intel posts 1552 against AMD's 1541, a 0.7 percent lead. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel chip scores 3697 versus 3670 for the Opteron, again a 0.7 percent difference. The pattern is consistent: these two processors deliver nearly identical multi-threaded performance, with the Intel part holding a slight but repeatable edge.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, both processors score 52, a dead heat with a delta of 0 percent. The Intel Core i7-2820QM moves ahead in Cinebench R20 singlecore, scoring 219 against 217, a 0.9 percent margin, its largest win of the entire comparison. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, Intel scores 522 versus 518, a 0.8 percent advantage. The single-core performance is so close that the differences are effectively negligible for real-world applications, though the data consistently favors the Intel part.

The average benchmark scores from the database reinforce this picture. The Intel Core i7-2820QM holds an average benchmark score of 1069, while the AMD Opteron 4376 HE sits at 1061. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Processor N95 at 1070 (a 0.1 percent gap) and the AMD Opteron 3380 at 1071 (a 0.2 percent gap). The AMD Opteron 4376 HE's nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-4360 at 1061, a 0 percent delta, showing that both chips land in the same performance tier as a range of modern and older processors.

The Geekbench results, available only for the Intel Core i7-2820QM, show a multicore score of 1623 and a singlecore score of 517. These numbers are not directly comparable to the Opteron 4376 HE since no Geekbench data exists for the AMD part, but they place the Intel chip firmly within the 29th percentile of all CPUs, the same percentile occupied by the Opteron 4376 HE. Both processors rank identically in the overall database, confirming that they are statistical peers.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-2820QM wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database, but the margins are so small that the practical distinction comes down to workload characteristics rather than raw speed. The Intel chip's largest advantage appears in Cinebench R20 singlecore, where it leads by 0.9 percent, and its smallest advantage appears in Cinebench R15 singlecore, where the two processors tie exactly. For multi-threaded workloads, the Intel part leads by 0.7 to 0.8 percent across all three Cinebench versions, indicating that its 4-core, 8-thread configuration with Hyper-Threading holds a slight edge over the Opteron's 8-core, 8-thread design.

The AMD Opteron 4376 HE does not win a single benchmark in the database, but its performance profile suggests where it might be favored in actual deployment. As a server and workstation processor with 8 physical cores, the Opteron 4376 HE offers a different resource allocation: more physical cores at a lower per-thread efficiency. The Intel Core i7-2820QM, being a mobile processor from the Sandy Bridge generation, achieves its results with 4 cores and 8 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading to close the core-count gap. In workloads that scale well with thread count, the Opteron's 8 physical cores may provide more consistent throughput, even though the recorded Cinebench scores show the Intel part slightly ahead.

For single-threaded tasks, the data shows a virtual tie. The Intel chip scores 52 in Cinebench R15 singlecore, and the AMD part scores 52 as well. In Cinebench R20 and R23 singlecore, the Intel chip leads by 2 points and 4 points, respectively. These differences are within run-to-run variance and should not be treated as meaningful performance separations. The recorded data indicates that neither processor offers a decisive advantage in lightly threaded applications.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-2820QM is built on the Sandy Bridge architecture, fabricated on Intel's 32 nm process node with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory bus is dual-channel, and the chip includes integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics. It uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B) and has a TDP of 45 watts. This is a mobile processor, and its production status is listed as end-of-life, with a release date of January 2011.

The AMD Opteron 4376 HE belongs to the Opteron 4000 series, built on the Piledriver architecture with the codename Seoul. It is also fabricated on a 32 nm process node, using 1,200 million transistors on a larger 315 mm² die. The chip provides 8 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Its cache configuration is substantially different: 384 KB of L1, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Opteron supports DDR3 memory, uses the AMD Socket C32, and has a TDP of 65 watts. It is classified as a server and workstation processor, with no integrated graphics, and its release date is December 2012.

The core count difference is the most obvious architectural divergence: 4 cores with 8 threads for Intel versus 8 physical cores with 8 threads for AMD. The Opteron's higher base and boost clocks (2.60 GHz and 3.60 GHz versus 2.30 GHz and 3.40 GHz) do not translate into a performance advantage in the recorded benchmarks, suggesting that the Intel microarchitecture extracts more instructions per clock in these workloads. The transistor counts are nearly identical, but the AMD die is 99 mm² larger, indicating a less dense design. The Intel part's integrated graphics and dual-channel memory bus reflect its mobile heritage, while the Opteron's lack of integrated graphics and support for DDR3 suit its server role.

Both processors occupy the 29th percentile in the database, and their average benchmark scores differ by only 8 points. The nearest rival data confirms that both chips sit in a crowded field: the Intel Core i7-2820QM is within 0.3 percent of the Intel Core i5-5287U and AMD Athlon X4 880K, while the AMD Opteron 4376 HE is within 0.2 percent of the AMD FX-8320E and Intel Core i5-2380P.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 4376 HE has 8 physical cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i7-2820QM has 4 physical cores and 8 threads, using Hyper-Threading to reach the same thread count.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The AMD Opteron 4376 HE has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The Intel Core i7-2820QM has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The AMD part has higher clocks in both cases.

Q: Which processor performs better in single-core benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-2820QM wins or ties in every single-core test. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, both score 52. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, Intel scores 219 versus 217, and in Cinebench R23 singlecore, Intel scores 522 versus 518.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-2820QM has a TDP of 45 watts, while the AMD Opteron 4376 HE has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel chip consumes less power despite delivering slightly higher benchmark scores.

Q: Do either of these processors have integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-2820QM has integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD 3000. The AMD Opteron 4376 HE has no integrated graphics, which is typical for a server and workstation processor.

Q: How do their cache sizes differ?

A: The Intel Core i7-2820QM has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The AMD Opteron 4376 HE has 384 KB of L1, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has more total L1 and L2 cache, but both share 8 MB of L3.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, conclusion: the Intel Core i7-2820QM wins every benchmark recorded in the database against the AMD Opteron 4376 HE. The margins range from 0 percent in Cinebench R15 singlecore to 0.9 percent in Cinebench R20 singlecore, and the average benchmark scores (1069 versus 1061) confirm the Intel advantage. For users choosing based purely on the recorded Cinebench performance, the Intel part is the better pick.

However, the choice depends heavily on context. The Intel Core i7-2820QM is a mobile processor with a 45 watt TDP, integrated graphics, and a 2011 release date. It suits laptops and compact systems where power draw and integrated graphics matter. The AMD Opteron 4376 HE is a server and workstation part with a 65 watt TDP, no integrated graphics, and 8 physical cores. It suits rack-mounted or workstation environments where the higher core count and server-grade socket (AMD Socket C32) are more relevant than raw benchmark scores.

The nearest rival data adds perspective. The Intel Core i7-2820QM sits within 0.3 percent of the Intel Core i5-5287U and AMD Athlon X4 880K, while the AMD Opteron 4376 HE sits within 0.2 percent of the AMD FX-8320E and Intel Core i5-2380P. Both processors are firmly in the middle of the performance pack, at the 29th percentile of all CPUs. Neither chip offers a meaningful performance advantage over the other in the recorded tests, so the deciding factors should be platform, power envelope, and physical core count.

Buyers needing a lower-power mobile solution with integrated graphics should select the Intel Core i7-2820QM. Buyers needing a server processor with 8 physical cores on the Socket C32 platform should select the AMD Opteron 4376 HE. The benchmark data will not separate them, but the architectural differences will.