AMD Opteron 6220 vs AMD Opteron 6234 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores, the AMD Opteron 6220 or the AMD Opteron 6234?

A: The AMD Opteron 6234 has 12 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Opteron 6220 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Both are from the Opteron 6000 series, use the Bulldozer architecture, and share the Interlagos codename.

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

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 runs at a 3.00 GHz base clock and a 3.60 GHz boost clock. The AMD Opteron 6234 runs at a lower 2.40 GHz base clock and a 3.00 GHz boost clock. The 6220 holds the higher frequency advantage on both counts.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory configuration?

A: Yes. Both support DDR3 memory with a quad-channel memory bus and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth. Both also support ECC memory, which is standard for server and workstation platforms.

Q: Are these processors from the same manufacturing process and socket?

A: Yes. Both use the AMD Socket G34, are built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries, and feature the same die size of 2x 315 mm² with 2,400 million transistors.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare between the two?

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 has an average benchmark score of 1168, while the AMD Opteron 6234 has an average benchmark score of 1191. Despite the 6234 having a higher average, the 6220 wins all head-to-head Cinebench tests by significant margins.

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 wins all 5 recorded head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, including multi-core and single-core tests. The AMD Opteron 6234 wins none of these comparisons.

Architecture Differences

Both the AMD Opteron 6220 and the AMD Opteron 6234 belong to the Opteron 6000 series, built on the Bulldozer architecture with the Interlagos codename. They share the same 32 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, the same 2,400 million transistor count, and the identical die size of 2x 315 mm². The socket is the AMD Socket G34 for both, and both are marked as end-of-life production status with a release date of 2011-11-13.

The core count is the primary architectural difference. The Opteron 6234 packs 12 cores and 12 threads, while the Opteron 6220 offers 8 cores and 8 threads. This means the 6234 has 50% more physical cores, which typically benefits heavily threaded workloads. However, the Bulldozer architecture uses a module-based design, and the cache layout reflects this: both have 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 8 MB of L3 cache per die.

Clock speeds diverge sharply. The Opteron 6220 operates at 3.00 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost, whereas the Opteron 6234 sits at 2.40 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. The 6220 enjoys a 0.60 GHz base-clock advantage and a 0.60 GHz boost-clock advantage. Since both have the same TDP of 115 watts, the 6220 delivers higher frequency per watt, while the 6234 relies on additional cores to compensate for its lower clocks.

Memory support is identical: DDR3 with a quad-channel bus, 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC capability. PCIe support is also the same at Gen 2. Neither processor includes integrated graphics, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The launch MSRP for the 6220 is $523, while the 6234 launched at $377.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded Cinebench results consistently favor the AMD Opteron 6220 across every test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 6220 scores 407 against the 6234's 348, a 17% advantage. This is a notable gap for a processor with fewer cores, indicating that the 6220's higher clock speeds more than offset the 6234's additional cores in this workload.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a similar pattern. The 6220 achieves 1696 points, while the 6234 manages 1453 points, a 16.7% delta. Single-core performance in R20 also goes to the 6220 with 239 versus 204, a 17.2% margin. The consistency of these percentages, all hovering around 16.7% to 17.2%, suggests that the performance difference is largely driven by clock speed rather than core scaling.

Cinebench R23 multi-core reinforces this trend. The 6220 scores 4040, and the 6234 scores 3461, another 16.7% difference. In R23 single-core, the 6220 posts 570 versus 488 for the 6234, a 16.8% advantage. Across all five recorded head-to-head tests, the 6220 wins every one, with deltas ranging from 16.7% to 17.2%.

Interestingly, the average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story. The 6220 averages 1168, while the 6234 averages 1191. This places the 6234 marginally ahead in the database's overall average, but the Cinebench suite, which is the specific head-to-head data available, decisively favors the 6220. The nearest rivals for the 6220 include the Intel Core i5-3570S at an average score of 1169 (a 0.1% difference) and the Intel Core i7-2960XM also at 1169. The 6234's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4460T at 1190 (0.1% difference) and the Intel Core i7-8665UE at 1193.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The most obvious is core count: the Opteron 6220 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Opteron 6234 has 12 cores and 12 threads. This is a 4-core difference in favor of the 6234.

Clock speeds also differ substantially. The 6220 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The 6234 has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. Both the base and boost clocks are 0.60 GHz higher on the 6220.

The launch MSRP differs as well. The 6220 launched at $523, while the 6234 launched at $377. This reflects the pricing strategy for different core counts and clock speeds at the time of release.

All other specifications are identical. Both use the same 32 nm process, the same 2,400 million transistors, the same 2x 315 mm² die size, and the same Socket G34. Cache sizes are equal at 768 KB L1, 2 MB per module L2, and 8 MB per die L3. Memory support, PCIe generation, TDP, ECC support, market segment, production status, and release date are all the same. Both are server/workstation parts with a 115 watt TDP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6220 wins every recorded benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. Its higher clock speeds, 3.00 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost, give it a clear edge in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests. In single-core workloads, the 6220 leads by 17.2% in R20 and 16.8% in R23. This makes it the better choice for applications that rely on per-thread performance, such as lightly threaded database queries, legacy server software, or any workload where clock speed dominates.

The 6220 also wins multi-core tests by similar margins, 17% in R15, 16.7% in R20, and 16.7% in R23. This is surprising given that the 6234 has 12 cores versus 8 cores. The data suggests that the 6220's clock advantage is sufficient to overcome the core deficit in these Cinebench workloads. For users running Cinebench-style rendering or similarly balanced multi-threaded tasks, the 6220 is the stronger performer.

The AMD Opteron 6234 does not win any head-to-head benchmark, but its higher average score of 1191 versus 1168 indicates that it may perform better in workloads not covered by the Cinebench suite. The 6234's 12 cores could excel in highly parallel tasks that scale linearly with core count, such as virtualization with many VMs, certain scientific computing loads, or database servers with heavy thread concurrency. However, the available data does not show any test where the 6234 outperforms the 6220.

In terms of market positioning, the 6234's lower launch MSRP of $377 versus $523 suggests it was intended for higher core-count, lower-clock deployments, while the 6220 targeted higher-frequency performance. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a factor. Both are end-of-life parts, so the decision is about matching existing hardware in legacy systems.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 6220 is the faster processor in every recorded Cinebench test. It leads the 6234 by roughly 17% across multi-core and single-core workloads, despite having 4 fewer cores. The 6220's higher clock speeds, 3.00 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost, are the decisive factor. For anyone running Cinebench-type workloads, rendering, or general server tasks where clock speed matters, the 6220 is the clear choice.

The AMD Opteron 6234 offers more cores, 12 versus 8, and a higher average benchmark score of 1191 versus 1168. Its lower clocks, 2.40 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost, hurt it in the measured tests. But the extra cores could be valuable in specific parallel workloads that are not represented in the head-to-head data. The database shows the 6234's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4460T, which suggests it competes with mid-range desktop-class parts, not just server chips.

Users should pick the Opteron 6220 if they need the best documented performance in single-threaded or moderately threaded tasks, or if they want the highest clock speeds available in this socket. Users should pick the Opteron 6234 if they prioritize core count over clock speed for workloads that can use all 12 cores, and if the lower launch MSRP of $377 is a consideration for their deployment. Both processors share the same architecture, socket, and platform features, so the decision comes down to frequency versus core count. The recorded data favors the 6220 in all direct comparisons, making it the safer choice for general performance.