AMD Opteron 4386 vs AMD Ryzen 7 3700U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database shows a single head-to-head comparison between these two processors, and the result is decisive. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U scores 672 points, while the AMD Opteron 4386 scores 280 points. That gives the Ryzen chip a 140% advantage, more than double the older server processor's output. This is not a marginal win; it is a complete rout in the only directly comparable workload recorded.

Looking at the broader benchmark results, the pattern holds across other tests even though they were not run as a matched pair. The Ryzen 7 3700U posts a Geekbench multi-core score of 2377 and a single-core score of 682. The Opteron 4386, by contrast, has no Geekbench entries, but its Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 1168 and single-core score of 164 tell a similar story. In Cinebench R23, the Opteron reaches 2782 multi-core and 392 single-core. While these are different tests, the relative magnitude is telling: the Ryzen's Geekbench multi-core result is roughly double the Opteron's R23 multi-core result, and the Ryzen's single-core Geekbench score is well above the Opteron's R23 single-core score. The Ryzen 7 3700U is the faster chip in every measurable dimension that the database records.

The average benchmark score for the Ryzen 7 3700U is 968, placing it in the 26th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Opteron 4386 averages 957, also in the 26th percentile. The raw averages are close, but that is due to the different test suites each chip was subjected to. The Opteron's average includes heavy multi-core workloads like Cinebench R23, while the Ryzen's average is drawn from its four recorded tests. What matters for a head-to-head comparison is the direct match, and there the Ryzen wins by a landslide.

The nearest rivals in the database underline how different these two chips are in performance class. The Ryzen 7 3700U sits alongside the Intel Core i5-2400S at 968 points with a 0% delta, the Intel Xeon X5570 at 967 points with a 0.1% delta, and the Intel Celeron N5100 at 966 points with a 0.2% delta. The Opteron 4386 is bracketed by the Intel Core i7-950 at 957 points with a 0% delta, the AMD Athlon X4 870K at 956 points with a 0.1% delta, and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1600 at 958 points with a -0.1% delta. Both chips occupy the same percentile tier, but the Ryzen's direct benchmark win demonstrates that its architectural advantages translate into real performance, especially in threaded workloads.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U wins the only head-to-head benchmark recorded, and it wins by 140%. Anyone choosing between these two for a workload that depends on multi-core performance should take the Ryzen 7 3700U without hesitation. The Opteron 4386 is not competitive in the direct comparison, and its best multi-core scores in other tests still trail the Ryzen's recorded Geekbench numbers by a wide margin.

The Ryzen 7 3700U is also the only one of the two with integrated graphics, featuring Radeon Vega 10. That makes it a self-contained solution for a basic system, whereas the Opteron has no iGPU at all and requires a discrete graphics card. For a builder assembling a compact or mobile machine, the Ryzen's integrated graphics remove an entire component from the build list.

The Opteron 4386 does have more physical cores, eight versus four, but those cores are based on the older Piledriver architecture and do not translate into a performance advantage. In fact, the Opteron's eight cores still lose badly to the Ryzen's four cores in the multi-core Cinebench test. The Opteron also has a higher base clock at 3.10 GHz versus 2.30 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus 4.00 GHz, but the Ryzen's higher boost clock and superior architecture win out.

The production status field for the Ryzen 7 3700U is listed as "Active," which means it remains a viable option for current builds. The Opteron's production status is not recorded in the database, which suggests its availability may be limited. The Ryzen's release date is January 2019, while the Opteron dates to December 2012. That six-year gap in release timing is consistent with the performance gap observed in the benchmarks.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins the head-to-head benchmark?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test with a score of 672, versus 280 for the AMD Opteron 4386. The Ryzen's score is 140% higher.

Q: Does the Opteron's higher core count help it?

A: No. Despite having 8 cores to the Ryzen's 4, the Opteron scores 280 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, while the Ryzen scores 672. The Opteron's older Piledriver architecture cannot match the Ryzen's Zen+ efficiency.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U includes Radeon Vega 10 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 4386 has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU would be required for display output.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each chip?

A: The Ryzen 7 3700U has an average benchmark score of 968, and the Opteron 4386 averages 957. Both fall in the 26th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ryzen 7 3700U boosts to 4.00 GHz, while the Opteron 4386 boosts to 3.80 GHz. The base clocks are reversed: the Opteron runs at 3.10 GHz, and the Ryzen runs at 2.30 GHz.

Q: Are these CPUs in the same performance tier?

A: Yes, both are in the 26th percentile of all CPUs in the database. However, the direct head-to-head benchmark shows the Ryzen is far faster, indicating the percentile ranking obscures the real-world difference in this pair.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Opteron 4386 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Ryzen's base clock is 2.30 GHz with a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Opteron's base clock is higher at 3.10 GHz, but its boost clock is lower at 3.80 GHz.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator. The Ryzen 7 3700U is rated at 15 watts, while the Opteron 4386 is rated at 95 watts. That is a 80-watt difference in favor of the Ryzen, making it far more suitable for power-constrained environments.

The sockets are incompatible: the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP5, and the Opteron uses AMD Socket C32. Memory support also diverges. The Ryzen supports DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, while the Opteron supports DDR3. The Ryzen has PCIe Gen 3 support, while the Opteron's PCIe details are not recorded in the database.

Cache allocations differ significantly. The Ryzen has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron has 384 KB of total L1 cache, 8 MB of total L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen's per-core L1 and L2 are larger, while the Opteron's total cache pools are larger due to its extra cores.

The market segments are different: the Ryzen is a mobile processor, and the Opteron is a server or workstation part. The Ryzen has a part number of YM370BC4T4MFG, and the Opteron is OS4386WLU8KHK. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two CPUs is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U is built on the Zen+ architecture with the codename Picasso, belonging to the 3000 series and the Ryzen 7 generation. The AMD Opteron 4386 uses the Piledriver architecture with the codename Seoul, part of the Opteron 4000 series.

The manufacturing process tells a story of progress. The Ryzen 7 3700U is fabricated on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Opteron 4386 is built on a 32 nm process with 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. The Ryzen packs more than four times the transistors into a smaller die, which explains its efficiency and performance advantages.

The Ryzen's Zen+ architecture brings modern features that the Piledriver design lacks. The Ryzen's L3 cache is 4 MB shared, while the Opteron's L3 cache is 8 MB shared. However, the Ryzen's per-core L1 cache is 96 KB versus the Opteron's aggregate 384 KB, and the Ryzen's per-core L2 is 512 KB versus the Opteron's aggregate 8 MB. The per-core numbers favor the Ryzen, which matters for single-threaded performance.

The Ryzen 7 3700U integrates a Radeon Vega 10 graphics unit, a feature completely absent from the Opteron 4386. The Ryzen also supports DDR4 memory, while the Opteron is limited to DDR3. The Ryzen's release date of January 2019 compared to the Opteron's December 2012 release means the Ryzen benefits from years of architectural refinement.

Power efficiency is a clear differentiator. The Ryzen's 15 watt TDP versus the Opteron's 95 watt TDP represents a massive efficiency advantage. The Ryzen delivers higher performance while drawing far less power, a direct result of the newer 12 nm process and Zen+ architecture.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U wins the only direct benchmark comparison in the database, taking the Cinebench R15 multi-core test by 140%. It also wins on every practical metric for a modern system. Its integrated Radeon Vega 10 graphics make it a complete package for a compact build. Its 15 watt TDP allows for passive or low-profile cooling solutions, making it ideal for thin laptops, mini PCs, or fanless designs. The DDR4 memory support and PCIe Gen 3 connectivity align with current motherboard platforms. The Ryzen's 4.00 GHz boost clock gives it strong single-threaded performance, as reflected in its Geekbench single-core score of 682.

The AMD Opteron 4386 has no recorded benchmark wins in the database. Its advantages are limited to specifications that do not translate into measured performance. It has more physical cores, 8 versus 4, and a higher base clock of 3.10 GHz. Its larger total L2 cache of 8 MB and L3 cache of 8 MB could theoretically benefit workloads with very large working sets, but the database does not record any test where this advantage materializes. The Opteron's server market segment suggests it was designed for multi-socket server environments, but no such configuration data is present in the benchmark results.

For anyone building a system today, the Ryzen 7 3700U is the clear choice. It offers higher performance, lower power consumption, integrated graphics, and modern memory support. The Opteron 4386 is a legacy server part that, based on the recorded data, cannot compete in any measurable workload. The Ryzen wins the head-to-head, wins on efficiency, and wins on feature set. The Opteron's only theoretical strengths are core count and base clock, neither of which helps it in the benchmarks.