AMD Opteron 4386 vs Intel Core i7-5500U Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 4386 is the stronger processor across every single test in this comparison. It wins all five Cinebench head-to-head matchups, with margins ranging from 16.3% to 16.8%. The Opteron 4386 delivers 280 points in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 240 for the Intel Core i7-5500U, and extends that lead to 2782 versus 2381 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. For anyone prioritizing raw compute throughput, the AMD server chip is the clear choice.

The Intel Core i7-5500U, however, is not without its own rationale. It is a mobile processor with a 15W TDP, compared to the Opteron's 95W, making it suitable for systems where power consumption and heat dissipation are primary constraints. Its integrated graphics (Intel HD 5500) and dual-channel memory bus are features the Opteron lacks entirely. The data shows the i7-5500U is competitive in aggregate — its average benchmark score of 953 sits within 0.4% of the Opteron's 957 — but that parity is misleading; the Opteron wins every individual test.

The verdict hinges on context. Server and workstation workloads that can use eight full cores will benefit from the Opteron 4386. Mobile or compact systems that need acceptable performance at a fraction of the power draw should consider the i7-5500U. The Opteron 4386 is also the more production-ready part, with no end-of-life status listed, while the i7-5500U is explicitly marked end-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 4386 is an eight-core, eight-thread server chip built on the Piledriver architecture and the Seoul codename, part of the Opteron 4000 series. It uses a 32 nm process node and a 315 mm² die containing 1,200 million transistors. The Intel Core i7-5500U is a dual-core, four-thread mobile processor with Hyper-Threading, built on the Broadwell architecture (Broadwell-U codename) using a 14 nm process. Its die is 82 mm² with 1,300 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Opteron has 384 KB of L1 cache, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-5500U has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Opteron's larger aggregate cache suits its multi-core server role, while the i7's smaller per-core partitions reflect its mobile design.

The sockets are incompatible: the Opteron uses AMD Socket C32, the i7-5500U uses Intel BGA 1168. The Opteron is a socketed server part; the i7 is a ball-grid-array mobile chip, effectively soldered. Both support DDR3 memory, but the i7-5500U specifies dual-channel memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Opteron's memory bus details are not listed. The i7-5500U includes integrated Intel HD 5500 graphics and a PCIe Gen 2, 12-lane implementation (CPU only); the Opteron has no listed integrated graphics or PCIe information. The i7-5500U also carries a launch MSRP of $393, while the Opteron has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 4386 wins in every benchmark category measured. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 280 versus 240 — a 16.7% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, 1168 versus 1000 — a 16.8% edge. The single-core tests show the same pattern: R20 single-core is 164 versus 141 (16.3%), and R23 single-core is 392 versus 336 (16.7%). The Opteron's wins are consistent and nearly identical in percentage terms, suggesting a systematic performance advantage rather than test-specific quirks.

The Intel Core i7-5500U wins where the Opteron has no presence: mobile efficiency and integrated features. Its 15W TDP is dramatically lower than the Opteron's 95W. It has integrated graphics and a dual-channel memory bus, both absent from the Opteron's specifications. The i7-5500U also has a Geekbench score (1689 multi-core, 881 single-core) that the Opteron does not have in the data, though those results do not change the head-to-head comparison since the Opteron lacks a corresponding Geekbench entry.

For users with multi-threaded server workloads, the Opteron 4386 is the obvious pick. For users needing a low-power, all-in-one mobile solution, the i7-5500U is the only option in this pairing that can even operate in that context.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Opteron 4386 scores 2782 versus 2381 for the Intel Core i7-5500U, a 16.8% advantage.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two chips?

A: The AMD Opteron 4386 has a 95W TDP, while the Intel Core i7-5500U has a 15W TDP — a substantial difference favoring the Intel part for power-sensitive designs.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The FACT PACK lists ECC memory as false for both the AMD Opteron 4386 and the Intel Core i7-5500U.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Opteron 4386 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i7-5500U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel Core i7-5500U beats the AMD Opteron 4386?

A: In the head-to-head benchmark data, the AMD Opteron 4386 wins all five Cinebench tests. The i7-5500U has additional Geekbench scores but no corresponding Opteron result to compare against.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-5500U is listed as end-of-life. The AMD Opteron 4386 has no production status listed in the data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Opteron 4386 dominates the five Cinebench comparisons. The largest percentage win is in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Opteron scores 1168 versus 1000, a 16.8% delta. The same margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core: 2782 versus 2381, also 16.8%. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Opteron leads 164 to 141, a 16.3% difference.

Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the Opteron at 280 against 240, a 16.7% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core is 392 versus 336, also 16.7%. The consistency is striking — every single-core and multi-core test lands within a 0.5 percentage point band. This indicates the Opteron's advantage is not tied to thread scaling but reflects a per-core performance lead as well. The Opteron's base clock of 3.10 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz both exceed the i7-5500U's 2.40 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost, which partially explains the single-core wins.

The Intel part's only counterpoints are its Geekbench scores: 1689 multi-core and 881 single-core. These are not part of the head-to-head table because the Opteron has no Geekbench results in the data. The i7-5500U's average benchmark score of 953 nearly matches the Opteron's 957, but that aggregate figure masks the fact that the Opteron wins every comparable test by a clear margin.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Opteron 4386 | Intel Core i7-5500U |

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

| Cores | 8 | 2 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base clock | 3.10 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 95W | 15W |

| Socket | AMD Socket C32 | Intel BGA 1168 |

| Architecture | Piledriver | Broadwell |

| Codename | Seoul | Broadwell-U |

| Process node | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 1,200 million | 1,300 million |

| Die size | 315 mm² | 82 mm² |

| L1 cache | 384 KB | 64 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 8 MB | 256 KB per core |

| L3 cache | 8 MB shared | 4 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR3 | DDR3 |

| Memory bus | Not listed | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | Not listed | 25.6 GB/s |

| ECC memory | False | False |

| Integrated graphics | None | Intel HD 5500 |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 2, 12 lanes (CPU only) |

| Market segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Production status | Not listed | End-of-life |

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

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $393 |

| Part number | OS4386WLU8KHK | SR23W |

The specification table reveals the fundamental divide: the Opteron is a high-core-count server processor with a large die and high power envelope, while the i7-5500U is a compact, low-power mobile chip with integrated graphics and a smaller process node. The Opteron's 8 MB L2 and 8 MB shared L3 dwarf the i7's per-core cache partitions. The i7-5500U's 14 nm process gives it a transistor density advantage — 1,300 million transistors in 82 mm² versus 1,200 million in 315 mm² — but the Opteron compensates with far more functional cores and higher clock speeds. Both are locked (multiplier unlocked: false), and neither supports ECC memory.