CPU Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-7320 has an average benchmark score of 1173, while the AMD Opteron 6220 posts 1168. The i3-7320 ranks in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, and the Opteron 6220 also sits in the 33rd percentile, so both are statistically neck-and-neck in overall database standings.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i3-7320 scores 4057 versus the Opteron 6220's 4040, a 0.4% difference. For Cinebench R15 multi-core, the gap shrinks to 0.2% (408 vs 407). The largest multi-core margin across all tests is just 0.4%, meaning the practical difference is negligible.

Q: Does the Opteron 6220 win any benchmark outright?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i3-7320 winning all 6 benchmark comparisons, but the Opteron 6220 never wins. However, the single-core Cinebench R15 test is a perfect tie at 57 points for both CPUs, with a 0% delta.

Q: What are the architectural generation differences?

A: The i3-7320 is built on Intel's 14 nm Kaby Lake process, while the Opteron 6220 uses AMD's 32 nm Bulldozer architecture (codename Interlagos) fabricated by GlobalFoundries. The Opteron also has a much larger die at 2x 315 mm² and 2,400 million transistors, compared to the i3's unspecified die size.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 supports ECC memory and uses DDR3 in a quad-channel configuration. The Intel Core i3-7320 does not support ECC memory and uses DDR4 in a dual-channel setup.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-7320 is listed as "Active" production, released in January 2017. The AMD Opteron 6220 is "End-of-life," released in November 2011, making it a legacy server part.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i3-7320 and AMD Opteron 6220 represent fundamentally different design philosophies from different eras. The i3-7320 is a Kaby Lake desktop chip built on Intel's 14 nm process node, while the Opteron 6220 is a Bulldozer-based server processor on GlobalFoundries' 32 nm node. The process advantage is significant: 14 nm versus 32 nm means the Intel part can pack more logic into a smaller area, though the Opteron's die is explicitly massive at 2x 315 mm² with 2,400 million transistors.

Core counts differ starkly. The i3-7320 has 2 physical cores with 4 threads (Hyper-Threading), while the Opteron 6220 has 8 physical cores with 8 threads, no SMT. The Opteron's Bulldozer design uses shared floating-point units per module, which affects how those 8 cores scale in real workloads. Cache layouts are also divergent: the i3 provides 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The Opteron offers 768 KB total L1, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die.

Memory architecture is another major split. The i3-7320 uses dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. The Opteron 6220 uses quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and full ECC support. The Opteron's memory bandwidth advantage comes from its server heritage, but it also carries a 115 W TDP compared to the i3's 51 W. The Opteron provides PCIe Gen 2, while the i3 offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The i3 includes integrated Intel HD 630 graphics; the Opteron has no integrated graphics at all.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Benchmark results indicate that the Intel Core i3-7320 wins every single comparison in the head-to-head suite, but the margins are razor-thin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3 scores 408 against the Opteron's 407, a 0.2% edge. The single-core R15 test is a dead tie at 57 points each, showing that the Opteron's higher clock potential (3.60 GHz boost versus 3.00 GHz base) does not translate into a win.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the i3-7320 takes multi-core at 1703 versus 1696, a 0.4% margin. The single-core R20 result shows 240 versus 239, also a 0.4% lead for Intel. In Cinebench R23, the pattern holds: multi-core 4057 versus 4040 (0.4%), and single-core 572 versus 570 (0.4%). Across all six tests, the i3-7320 collects 6 wins while the Opteron 6220 records 0 wins.

The consistency of these numbers is striking. The Opteron has 4 additional physical cores, yet the i3's higher base clock (4.10 GHz versus 3.00 GHz) and superior IPC from the newer Kaby Lake architecture nearly perfectly offset the core-count deficit. The largest single delta across all benchmarks is 0.4%, which is within measurement noise. No benchmark shows either CPU beating the other by a meaningful margin, the average benchmark scores confirm this: 1173 for Intel, 1168 for AMD, a 0.4% difference that mirrors the head-to-head deltas.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ across nearly every physical and feature specification. The Intel Core i3-7320 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Opteron 6220 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 4.10 GHz for Intel versus 3.00 GHz for AMD; the Opteron adds a 3.60 GHz boost clock, while the i3 has no boost clock listed. TDP differs by 64 W (51 W Intel versus 115 W AMD). Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1151 versus AMD Socket G34.

Cache configurations diverge completely: the i3 uses 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, while the Opteron uses 768 KB total L1 and 2 MB L2 per module. The i3 has 4 MB shared L3; the Opteron has 8 MB L3 per die. Memory support differs (DDR4 dual-channel versus DDR3 quad-channel), with bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s. ECC memory is absent on Intel, present on AMD. PCIe generations differ (Gen 3 versus Gen 2), and only the i3 has integrated graphics (Intel HD 630). The Opteron has a launch MSRP of $523; the i3 has no listed launch MSRP.

Process node (14 nm versus 32 nm), foundry (Intel versus GlobalFoundries), market segment (Desktop versus Server/Workstation), and production status (Active versus End-of-life) all differ. The Opteron explicitly lists 2,400 million transistors and a 2x 315 mm² die size; the i3 has no transistor or die size figures. Release dates are separated by over five years (January 2017 versus November 2011).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-7320 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head data, but only by fractions of a percent. Its real advantages lie outside raw Cinebench scores: it is an active, current desktop part with a 14 nm process, integrated graphics, DDR4 support, and a 51 W TDP. For a desktop build where power efficiency, modern platform features, and a working iGPU matter, the i3-7320 is the clear pick. It also holds a tiny but consistent edge in every multi-core and single-core test, including the nominal 0.4% wins in R20 and R23.

The AMD Opteron 6220 wins in server-oriented specification categories. It has 4x the physical core count (8 versus 2), 12.8 GB/s more memory bandwidth (51.2 versus 38.4), ECC memory support, and quad-channel memory. For workloads that scale with memory channels or require ECC for data integrity, the Opteron's platform-level features are superior. The Opteron also has more total L3 cache (8 MB per die versus 4 MB shared) and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, which helps in bursty single-threaded server tasks.

The single-core R15 tie at 57 points shows that neither CPU has a definitive advantage in lightly-threaded legacy workloads. The Opteron's edge is not in processing speed but in server capability: quad-channel DDR3, ECC, and 8 physical cores for parallel server threads. The i3's edge is in modern desktop integration: DDR4, PCIe Gen 3, integrated graphics, and a much lower TDP.

The Verdict

The data shows that the Intel Core i3-7320 is the outright benchmark winner, taking all 6 head-to-head comparisons. Its average benchmark score of 1173 edges the Opteron 6220's 1168 by a 0.4% margin, and its single-core performance is at least equal in every test. The i3-7320 is the appropriate choice for any desktop user who wants a modern, active platform with integrated graphics, DDR4 memory, PCIe Gen 3, and lower power consumption. Its 51 W TDP versus 115 W makes it dramatically more efficient, and the 14 nm process ensures better thermals and longevity.

The AMD Opteron 6220, despite losing every benchmark, is not without purpose. It is an end-of-life server part with 8 physical cores, ECC memory, quad-channel DDR3, and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. For a legacy server or workstation that must handle many parallel threads with data-integrity requirements, the Opteron's core count and memory subsystem are the deciding factors. The benchmark scores show that its performance is within 0.4% of the i3-7320 across the board, which is remarkable given the five-year age gap and the massive architectural differences.

The verdict is straightforward: pick the i3-7320 for any desktop or consumer workload, where its wins are consistent, its platform is current, and its power draw is a third of the Opteron's. Pick the Opteron 6220 only if the server-specific features, ECC, quad-channel memory, and 8 physical cores, are mandatory, and if the 0.4% benchmark deficit is acceptable. The single-core tie at 57 points in Cinebench R15 underscores that neither chip has a meaningful speed advantage; the choice comes down to platform and feature fit, not raw performance.