AMD Opteron 6220 vs Intel Core i5-2400 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data is unusually one-sided. Across all five shared benchmark tests, the AMD Opteron 6220 takes the win every time. The Intel Core i5-2400 does not secure a single head-to-head victory in the database.

Starting with multi-core performance, the Opteron 6220 leads by a consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD part scores 407 against the Intel's 329, a delta of 19.2%. Move to Cinebench R20 multi-core and the pattern holds: 1696 versus 1374, a 19% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 4040 against 3272, again 19% apart. The consistency of that margin across three different Cinebench versions suggests a structural advantage rather than a workload quirk.

Single-core results tell a similar story, though with slightly smaller gaps. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron 6220 scores 239 against 194 for the i5-2400, a delta of 18.8%. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 570 versus 462, an 18.9% difference. The AMD chip wins every single-core test too, which is notable given the common assumption that Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture held a per-core advantage.

The average benchmark scores in the database place the two chips close together overall. The i5-2400 posts an average benchmark score of 1187, while the Opteron 6220 sits at 1168. That is a difference of roughly 1.6% in favor of Intel, yet the head-to-head results all favor AMD. The explanation lies in the benchmark sets. The i5-2400 has Geekbench multi-core and single-core results recorded (2011 and 666 respectively), while the Opteron 6220 has no Geekbench entries in the database. The Cinebench tests, which both chips share, are uniformly AMD wins.

Both processors land in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, so neither is a high-flyer by modern standards. The nearest rivals for the i5-2400 include the Intel Core i5-4460T at an average score of 1190 (0.2% ahead), the AMD Opteron 6234 at 1191 (0.3% ahead), the Intel Core i7-8665UE at 1193 (0.5% ahead), and the Intel Core i3-4170 at 1193 (0.5% ahead). For the Opteron 6220, the nearest neighbors are the Intel Core i5-3570S at 1169 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i7-2960XM at 1169 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i5-3450 at 1166 (0.1% behind), and the Intel Core i7-3635QM at 1170 (0.2% ahead). These rival deltas are all within half a percent, placing both chips in the same performance tier despite their very different designs.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for anyone choosing strictly between these two based on the recorded benchmarks: the AMD Opteron 6220 wins every head-to-head test in the database. The margins are substantial, between 18.8% and 19.2% across all five Cinebench comparisons. If the task is rendering, compiling, or any workload captured by Cinebench, the Opteron 6220 is the stronger part.

However, the choice is not purely about raw Cinebench scores. The Intel Core i5-2400 is a desktop part with integrated graphics, while the Opteron 6220 is a server/workstation processor with no integrated graphics and a higher TDP of 115 watts versus 95 watts. The Opteron requires a completely different platform: AMD Socket G34 with quad-channel DDR3 memory and ECC support, compared to the i5-2400's dual-channel DDR3 on Intel Socket 1155 without ECC.

For a desktop builder, the i5-2400 makes more practical sense despite losing the benchmark comparisons. It has integrated graphics, a lower TDP, and a mainstream socket. For a server or workstation workload where ECC memory and quad-channel bandwidth matter, the Opteron 6220 is the data-backed winner. The launch MSRP for the Opteron 6220 is $523, which reflects its server positioning.

The average benchmark scores suggest these chips perform at a similar level overall. The i5-2400 averages 1187, the Opteron 6220 averages 1168. The head-to-head Cinebench results favor AMD, but the Intel part counters with Geekbench scores that have no direct AMD equivalent in the database. Do not treat the Cinebench sweep as proof the Opteron is universally faster; treat it as proof it is faster in those specific tests.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6220 wins every shared benchmark in the database. Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core all go to AMD with margins between 18.8% and 19.2%. This suggests the Opteron is the better choice for multi-threaded rendering workloads and also for single-threaded Cinebench tasks, which is a surprising result given the architectural differences.

The Intel Core i5-2400 has no head-to-head benchmark wins to point to. Its advantage lies elsewhere: integrated graphics, lower TDP, desktop socket, and a smaller platform footprint. The i5-2400 also has Geekbench scores recorded (2011 multi-core, 666 single-core), while the Opteron 6220 lacks Geekbench entries entirely. If Geekbench is the relevant metric for a buyer's workload, the i5-2400 at least has measurable data, whereas the Opteron has none in the database.

The Opteron 6220 also brings server-oriented features that the i5-2400 lacks: ECC memory support, quad-channel memory bus, and a higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i5-2400's memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database, so a direct comparison there is not possible, but the architecture clearly targets different use cases. The Opteron has 8 cores and 8 threads against the i5-2400's 4 cores and 4 threads, which explains its multi-core advantage in Cinebench.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins the most benchmarks in the database?

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 wins all five head-to-head tests: Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core. The Intel Core i5-2400 has zero wins in the shared benchmark set.

Q: How large is the Opteron 6220's lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Opteron 6220 scores 4040 against the i5-2400's 3272, a delta of 19% in favor of AMD.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-2400 win any single-core test?

A: No. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-2400 scores 194 against the Opteron's 239, an 18.8% gap. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-2400 scores 462 against 570, an 18.9% gap.

Q: Are these CPUs close in overall average performance?

A: Yes. The i5-2400 has an average benchmark score of 1187, while the Opteron 6220 averages 1168. Both sit in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, and their nearest rivals are all within 0.5% of their respective averages.

Q: Does the Opteron 6220 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, ECC memory support is listed as true for the AMD Opteron 6220. The Intel Core i5-2400 does not support ECC memory.

Q: What memory channel configurations do these CPUs use?

A: The Opteron 6220 uses a quad-channel DDR3 memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i5-2400 uses a dual-channel DDR3 bus, and its memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is fundamental. The Intel Core i5-2400 uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process. It is a monolithic quad-core design with 4 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The Opteron 6220 uses AMD's Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Interlagos, also on a 32 nm process but fabricated by GlobalFoundries rather than Intel.

The transistor counts differ substantially. The i5-2400 packs 1,160 million transistors on a die size of 216 mm². The Opteron 6220 has 2,400 million transistors spread across two dies, each measuring 315 mm², for a combined 630 mm². That is nearly three times the silicon area and more than double the transistor count.

Cache layouts reflect the different design philosophies. The i5-2400 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron 6220 lists 768 KB of L1 total and 2 MB of L2 per module, with 8 MB of L3 per die. The Bulldozer design shares resources between pairs of cores within a module, which is a different approach from Sandy Bridge's dedicated per-core caches.

The Opteron 6220 uses AMD Socket G34, a server platform, while the i5-2400 uses Intel Socket 1155 for desktops. The Opteron has eight cores and eight threads at a base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost up to 3.60 GHz. The i5-2400 has four cores and four threads at 3.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. Despite having half the cores, the i5-2400 runs at a slightly higher base clock.

The Opteron 6220 has no integrated graphics. The i5-2400 includes Intel HD 2000. The Opteron supports ECC memory and a quad-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth; the i5-2400 supports dual-channel DDR3 without ECC. The Opteron also uses PCIe Gen 2, while the i5-2400 lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes available from the CPU.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the two parts are as follows.

Cores and threads: the i5-2400 has 4 cores and 4 threads; the Opteron 6220 has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Clock speeds: the i5-2400 runs at 3.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost; the Opteron 6220 runs at 3.00 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost.

TDP: the i5-2400 is rated at 95 watts; the Opteron 6220 is rated at 115 watts.

Sockets: the i5-2400 uses Intel Socket 1155; the Opteron 6220 uses AMD Socket G34.

Process node: both are 32 nm, but the i5-2400 is fabricated by Intel, while the Opteron 6220 is fabricated by GlobalFoundries.

Transistors and die size: the i5-2400 has 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die; the Opteron 6220 has 2,400 million transistors on two 315 mm² dies.

Cache: the i5-2400 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3; the Opteron 6220 has 768 KB L1 total, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die.

Memory: both support DDR3, but the i5-2400 uses a dual-channel bus without ECC, while the Opteron 6220 uses a quad-channel bus with ECC support and a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

PCIe: the i5-2400 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU; the Opteron 6220 supports PCIe Gen 2.

Integrated graphics: the i5-2400 includes Intel HD 2000; the Opteron 6220 has none.

Market segment: the i5-2400 is a desktop part; the Opteron 6220 is a server/workstation part.

Release dates: the i5-2400 launched in January 2011; the Opteron 6220 launched in November 2011. Both are end-of-life and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Opteron 6220 has a recorded launch MSRP of $523; the i5-2400 has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.