AMD Opteron 4386 vs Intel Core i5-2400S Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data splits cleanly along workload lines, and the verdict is one-sided. The AMD Opteron 4386 wins every single head-to-head test in the database, taking all five recorded Cinebench comparisons. The Intel Core i5-2400S, by contrast, records zero wins across the same suite. That is not a narrow margin either; the Opteron’s advantage is consistent, landing between 6.1% and 6.5% ahead of the i5 in every test.

The Opteron’s wins are not confined to multi-threaded workloads. It also takes the single-core tests, which is notable because the i5-2400S has a higher boost clock relative to its base, and Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture was generally strong in lightly threaded tasks at the time. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 164 against the i5’s 154, a 6.1% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Opteron posts 392 versus 367, a 6.4% gap. So the Opteron does not merely win on parallel throughput; it also wins where clock speed and per-core efficiency usually dominate.

Multi-core results follow the same pattern with slightly larger margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 280 to the i5’s 262, a 6.4% edge. In R20 multi-core, the Opteron leads 1168 to 1092, a 6.5% gap. In R23 multi-core, the Opteron reaches 2782 versus 2601, again 6.5% ahead. The consistency is remarkable: every delta sits within a 0.4 percentage point band, suggesting the two chips scale almost identically across Cinebench versions, but the Opteron starts from a higher baseline.

For anyone choosing purely on benchmark outcomes, the Opteron 4386 is the faster part in every measured scenario. The i5-2400S does not have a single discipline where it pulls ahead, neither in raw multi-core rendering nor in single-core responsiveness.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design schools and different market segments. The Intel Core i5-2400S is a desktop part from the Sandy Bridge generation, built on a 32 nm process at Intel’s own foundry. It packs 1,160 million transistors into a 216 mm² die. The AMD Opteron 4386 is a server and workstation chip from the Opteron 4000 series, codenamed Seoul, based on the Piledriver architecture. It also uses a 32 nm process, but the die is substantially larger at 315 mm² and holds 1,200 million transistors.

Core counts differ sharply. The i5-2400S offers 4 cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading. The Opteron 4386 doubles that to 8 cores and 8 threads. That extra silicon translates directly into the multi-core benchmark results, although the per-core scores also favor AMD, which is less expected. The Opteron’s base clock is 3.10 GHz and boost reaches 3.80 GHz. The i5-2400S starts lower at 2.50 GHz base, but boosts to 3.30 GHz. Despite the i5’s lower base, its boost is closer to the Opteron’s, yet it still loses every single-core test.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The i5-2400S has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron 4386 lists 384 KB of L1 total, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Opteron’s larger L3 and greater total L2 capacity align with its server positioning, where repeated access to large working sets matters.

Memory support is DDR3 for both, but the i5-2400S specifies a dual-channel memory bus, while the database does not record a memory bus width for the Opteron. The i5 also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Opteron has no PCIe data recorded. Integrated graphics appear only on the Intel side, with Intel HD 2000; the Opteron has no iGPU listed. ECC memory is not supported by either chip according to the records.

Power and socket also diverge. The i5-2400S has a 65 W TDP and fits Intel Socket 1155. The Opteron 4386 draws 95 W TDP and uses AMD Socket C32. The Opteron’s higher power envelope is consistent with its extra cores and larger die, but the i5’s lower TDP makes it the more efficient choice on paper, even though it loses all performance tests. The Opteron is marked as a server and workstation part; the i5 is desktop. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking headroom is not a differentiator in the database.

The Verdict

The data points in one direction: the AMD Opteron 4386 is the faster processor across the entire recorded benchmark suite. It wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins between 6.1% and 6.5%. That includes both single-core and multi-core workloads, so there is no scenario in these measurements where the Intel Core i5-2400S comes out ahead.

The Opteron’s 8 cores and 8 threads give it a natural advantage in multi-threaded rendering, and the results confirm it: 6.5% ahead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 6.5% ahead in R20 multi-core, and 6.4% ahead in R15 multi-core. What is more surprising is that the Opteron also wins single-core tests by 6.1% to 6.4%, despite the i5’s higher boost clock relative to its base. The Piledriver architecture’s higher absolute clocks, 3.80 GHz boost versus 3.30 GHz, appear to carry the day.

The i5-2400S is not without merits. Its 65 W TDP is significantly lower than the Opteron’s 95 W, and it includes integrated graphics, which the Opteron lacks. For a desktop system where power draw and a built-in GPU matter, the i5 is the more practical choice. But for raw compute performance, the Opteron 4386 is the clear winner in every recorded test.

The average benchmark scores in the database also reflect this. The i5-2400S has an average score of 968, while the Opteron 4386 sits at 957. That is a slight edge for the Intel part in the aggregate, driven by the Geekbench results where the i5 scores 1709 multi-core and 593 single-core, tests that the Opteron does not have recorded. In the Cinebench suite where both are measured, the Opteron leads consistently.

The percentile rankings are identical: both chips sit at the 26th percentile against all CPUs in the database. That puts them in the same performance tier overall, despite the Opteron’s head-to-head sweep. The Opteron’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-950 and Intel Xeon W3550, both with average scores of 957, while the i5-2400S’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U and Intel Xeon X5570, both at 968. Neither chip is a performance outlier at this level.

For a buyer who needs the fastest possible Cinebench scores, the Opteron 4386 is the only choice from this pair. For a buyer who values lower power draw and integrated graphics, the i5-2400S offers those features, but the performance cost is measurable and consistent.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Opteron 4386 wins every multi-core Cinebench test. It scores 280 in R15, 1168 in R20, and 2782 in R23, compared to the Intel Core i5-2400S’s 262, 1092, and 2601, respectively. The margins are 6.4% to 6.5%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-2400S win any benchmark?

A: No. The database records zero wins for the i5-2400S. The AMD Opteron 4386 wins all five head-to-head tests.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The Opteron 4386 also leads in single-core tests. It scores 164 in Cinebench R20 single-core and 392 in R23 single-core, versus 154 and 367 for the i5-2400S, a 6.1% and 6.4% lead, respectively.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core i5-2400S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD Opteron 4386 has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-2400S includes integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD 2000. The AMD Opteron 4386 has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: Do the two processors have the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 26th percentile against all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores are close, with the i5-2400S at 968 and the Opteron 4386 at 957.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are a clean sweep for the AMD Opteron 4386. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 280 against the i5-2400S’s 262, producing a 6.4% delta. That is the smallest margin in the suite, but still a clear win. The R20 multi-core test shows a nearly identical gap: 1168 versus 1092, a 6.5% lead for AMD. The consistency suggests the Opteron’s advantage is structural, not workload-specific.

Single-core tests tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron posts 164 to the i5’s 154, a 6.1% win. In R23 single-core, the Opteron reaches 392 versus 367, a 6.4% win. These are smaller absolute differences, but the percentage gap is just as large as in multi-core. The Opteron’s higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz, compared to the i5’s 3.30 GHz, likely explains why it wins even when only one core is active.

The largest margin in the database is shared by two tests: Cinebench R20 multi-core and Cinebench R23 multi-core, both at 6.5%. The smallest margin is Cinebench R20 single-core at 6.1%. No test falls outside this narrow range, which means the Opteron’s advantage is uniform across rendering generations and core-count scaling.

The i5-2400S does have a counterweight in the broader database. Its Geekbench scores are recorded at 1709 multi-core and 593 single-core, while the Opteron has no Geekbench results listed. That absence is why the i5’s average benchmark score of 968 edges out the Opteron’s 957, even though the Opteron wins every shared test. The i5 also has a lower TDP of 65 W versus 95 W, and it includes integrated graphics, which the Opteron lacks.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database reinforces the picture. The i5-2400S sits alongside the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U and Intel Xeon X5570, all averaging around 968. The Opteron 4386 sits with the Intel Core i7-950 and Intel Xeon W3550, all around 957. These are comparable performance tiers, but within the direct comparison, the Opteron dominates every recorded benchmark. The data does not offer a single scenario where the i5-2400S pulls ahead, making the Opteron 4386 the definitive winner in this head-to-head.