AMD Opteron 4386 vs Intel Xeon X5570 Comparison

The Verdict

Benchmark data records a narrow but consistent victory for the Intel Xeon X5570 across every measured Cinebench workload. The Intel part wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 1.0% to 1.2%. In multi-core tests, the Xeon X5570 posts 283 points in Cinebench R15 versus 280 for the AMD Opteron 4386, a 1.1% edge. The R20 multi-core result shows 1180 versus 1168, a 1.0% advantage. The R23 multi-core run records 2810 versus 2782, again a 1.0% gap. Single-core results follow the same pattern, with the Intel chip leading by 1.2% in R20 (166 versus 164) and 1.0% in R23 (396 versus 392).

The average benchmark score reinforces this picture: the Xeon X5570 averages 967 points, while the Opteron 4386 averages 957. Both processors sit at the 26th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same performance tier overall. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U at 968 points (0.1% ahead) and the Intel Core i5-2400S at 968 points (0.1% ahead). The Opteron's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-950 at 957 points, a 0% delta, along with the AMD Athlon X4 870K at 956 points.

For buyers choosing between these two server/workstation parts, the data points clearly to the Xeon X5570 if raw Cinebench throughput is the priority. The margins are slim, but they are uniform across every test. The Opteron 4386 offers no workload where it pulls ahead in the recorded benchmarks. However, the Opteron does bring twice the core count, which could matter for workloads not captured in these Cinebench runs, though the database shows no benchmark where that advantage translates into a win. The verdict from the recorded data is straightforward: the Intel Xeon X5570 is the faster processor in this comparison, and the AMD Opteron 4386 is the alternative for those prioritizing core count over measured benchmark performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Xeon X5570 uses the Nehalem architecture, specifically the Gainestown codename, built on a 45 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It integrates 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. The AMD Opteron 4386 uses the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Seoul, manufactured on a 32 nm process. AMD's chip packs 1,200 million transistors across a 315 mm² die, reflecting a denser but physically larger design.

Core and thread configurations differ substantially. The Xeon X5570 has 4 cores with 8 threads, using Hyper-Threading to double logical processing units. The Opteron 4386 has 8 physical cores but only 8 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. This gives the AMD part twice the physical core count, yet the benchmark results show it cannot convert that advantage into higher Cinebench scores, likely due to the older Piledriver core design being less efficient per thread.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Xeon X5570 allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron 4386 lists 384 KB of L1 cache total, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel design's per-core L2 allocation contrasts with AMD's larger pooled L2, but the shared L3 capacity is identical at 8 MB.

Clock speeds favor the AMD part. The Opteron 4386 runs at a 3.10 GHz base clock with a 3.80 GHz boost, while the Xeon X5570 operates at 2.93 GHz base and 3.33 GHz boost. Despite the clock disadvantage, the Intel chip still outperforms in every recorded test. Memory support shows both support DDR3, but the Xeon X5570 specifies triple-channel memory with a recorded bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s, while the Opteron 4386 lists DDR3 support without a memory bus or bandwidth figure in the database. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the Opteron's entry records no ECC support. The Xeon uses PCIe Gen 2, and the Opteron has no PCIe generation recorded.

Production timelines differ by nearly four years. The Xeon X5570 launched on March 29, 2009, with a launch MSRP of $1386. The Opteron 4386 arrived on December 3, 2012, roughly 45 months later. The Xeon is marked as end-of-life, while the Opteron's production status is not recorded. Both processors target the server/workstation segment, and both have locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 4386 has 8 physical cores, while the Intel Xeon X5570 has 4 physical cores. The Intel chip compensates with 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the Opteron runs 8 threads across its 8 cores.

Q: Does the higher core count of the Opteron 4386 translate into better Cinebench scores?

A: No. Despite having twice the cores, the Opteron 4386 scores lower than the Xeon X5570 in all five recorded Cinebench tests. The R23 multi-core result shows 2782 for AMD versus 2810 for Intel, a 1.0% gap.

Q: What are the clock speed differences between these two CPUs?

A: The Opteron 4386 has a higher base clock of 3.10 GHz and a higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Xeon X5570 runs at 2.93 GHz base and 3.33 GHz boost. The AMD part holds a clock advantage of 0.17 GHz at base and 0.47 GHz at boost.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon X5570 averages 967 points, and the Opteron 4386 averages 957 points. Both sit at the 26th percentile among all CPUs in the database, placing them in the same overall performance tier.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon X5570 supports ECC memory. The AMD Opteron 4386 does not list ECC support in the database records.

Q: When was each processor released?

A: The Intel Xeon X5570 was released on March 29, 2009. The AMD Opteron 4386 was released on December 3, 2012.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon X5570 | AMD Opteron 4386 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Threads | 8 | 8 |

| Base clock | 2.93 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.33 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1366 | AMD Socket C32 |

| Architecture | Nehalem | Piledriver |

| Codename | Gainestown | Seoul |

| Process node | 45 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 731 million | 1,200 million |

| Die size | 263 mm² | 315 mm² |

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

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

| Memory bus | Triple-channel | Not recorded |

| Memory bandwidth | 32.0 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Not recorded |

| Release date | 2009-03-29 | 2012-12-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $1386 | Not recorded |

| Part number | SLBF3 | OS4386WLU8KHK |

Both processors share DDR3 memory support, a 95 W TDP, 8 MB of shared L3 cache, the server/workstation market segment, and locked multipliers. Neither has integrated graphics. The Xeon X5570 lists a production status of end-of-life, while the Opteron 4386 has no production status recorded.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records five head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, and the Intel Xeon X5570 wins all five. The largest margin comes in the single-core R20 test, where the Xeon scores 166 against the Opteron's 164, a 1.2% advantage. That test measures pure single-thread performance, and the Intel architecture's efficiency per clock is evident despite the AMD part's higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus 3.33 GHz.

The multi-core results show consistent 1.0% to 1.1% edges for Intel. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon records 283 points versus 280 for the Opteron, a 1.1% delta. The R20 multi-core run shows 1180 versus 1168, a 1.0% gap. The R23 multi-core test records 2810 versus 2782, again 1.0%. The single-core R23 test shows 396 versus 392, a 1.0% margin.

These margins are tight, but they are uniform. The Opteron 4386 never wins a single recorded test, despite its 8-core design and higher clock speeds. The Xeon X5570's 4-core, 8-thread configuration with Hyper-Threading appears to extract more usable performance from the Cinebench workloads. The average benchmark scores reflect this: 967 for Intel versus 957 for AMD, a 10-point difference that places the Xeon marginally ahead of the Opteron in the database's aggregate ranking.

Context from the nearest rivals helps interpret these numbers. The Xeon X5570's 967 average sits within 1 point of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U (968) and the Intel Core i5-2400S (968), and just 1 point above the Intel Celeron N5100 (966). The Opteron 4386's 957 average matches the Intel Core i7-950 exactly at 957, with the AMD Athlon X4 870K at 956 and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1600 at 958. Neither processor breaks out of its performance class, but the Intel part consistently sits at or above its rival's numbers.

For server and workstation buyers looking at these two legacy parts, the head-to-head data leaves no ambiguity. The Xeon X5570 wins every benchmark, even if the margins are small. The Opteron 4386 offers more cores and higher clocks on paper, but the measured results tell a different story. The database shows 5 wins for Intel and 0 for AMD in this matchup, and that record is the definitive summary of their performance relationship.