CPU Comparison

The AMD Opteron 6220 and Intel Core i5-3450 are separated by just 0.1% in average benchmark score (1168 vs 1166), yet they represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD part wins every single head-to-head benchmark in this comparison, but the Intel chip matches it overall through a smaller set of tests. This is a classic server-versus-desktop showdown where the data reveals a clear, if narrow, performance hierarchy.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6220 wins in every benchmark category where both processors were tested. Across six Cinebench tests, the Opteron holds a consistent advantage ranging from 5.1% to 5.6%. This is not a case of one architecture excelling in a single workload; the Opteron 6220 takes the multicore tests with scores of 407, 1696, and 4040 in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 respectively, while also leading the single-core tests with 57, 239, and 570 points in those same suites. The pattern is uniform, and the margin is nearly identical across all six tests, suggesting a stable clock-for-clock advantage rather than workload-specific optimization.

The Intel Core i5-3450 wins in no head-to-head benchmark in this comparison. However, the Intel part does have one advantage in the data: it was tested in Geekbench, where it scored 1985 multicore and 681 singlecore. The Opteron 6220 has no Geekbench results in the FACT PACK, so the Intel chip holds the only data point in that category. This is not a performance win in a direct comparison, but it does indicate that the i5-3450 has a broader benchmark footprint. In practical terms, the Opteron 6220 is the stronger compute performer across rendering workloads, while the i5-3450’s additional benchmark coverage gives it a more complete profile in this database.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The AMD Opteron 6220 uses the Bulldozer architecture on a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries, with a codename of Interlagos. It packs 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die design measuring 2x 315 mm². The Intel Core i5-3450 uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process from Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a single 160 mm² die. The process node advantage is clear, but the transistor count favors AMD by a wide margin, reflecting the Opteron’s server-class design.

Core and cache configurations differ sharply. The Opteron 6220 has 8 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 768 KB of L1, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The i5-3450 has 4 cores and 4 threads, running at 3.10 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost. Its cache is 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron’s thread count doubles the Intel part, and its L3 cache is larger in absolute terms, though the per-die layout means the AMD chip accesses memory differently.

Memory support also diverges. The Opteron 6220 supports DDR3 over a quad-channel bus with a peak bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and it has ECC memory support. The i5-3450 also supports DDR3 but only over a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s peak bandwidth, and it lacks ECC. The Opteron’s memory bandwidth is exactly double the Intel part’s, which is a significant advantage for server workloads. The i5-3450 counters with integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500) and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Opteron has no integrated graphics and offers PCIe Gen 2.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a remarkably consistent lead for the AMD Opteron 6220. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 407 against 387 for the i5-3450, a delta of 5.2%. The single-core test in R15 shows the Opteron at 57 versus 54, a 5.6% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore score is 1696 for AMD and 1613 for Intel, a 5.1% delta, while single-core is 239 against 227, a 5.3% delta. In Cinebench R23, the multicore result is 4040 versus 3842, a 5.2% delta, and single-core is 570 versus 542, again a 5.2% delta.

The pattern is striking: every delta falls between 5.1% and 5.6%, with no test showing a wider or narrower gap. This consistency suggests that the Opteron 6220’s advantage is architectural and uniform across threaded and single-threaded workloads, not a result of one test favoring its configuration. In average benchmark score, the Opteron leads 1168 to 1166, a delta of 0.1% in its favor. The nearest rivals for the Opteron include the Intel Core i5-3570S and i7-2960XM, both at 1169 average score with deltas of -0.1%, and the i7-3635QM at 1170 with a -0.2% delta. The i5-3450’s nearest rivals are the same set, with the Opteron at 1168 and a -0.2% delta, the i5-3570S and i7-2960XM at 1169 with -0.2%, and the i7-3635QM at 1170 with -0.3%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 has an average benchmark score of 1168, while the Intel Core i5-3450 has 1166. This gives the Opteron a 0.1% advantage in the database’s aggregate metric.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i5-3450 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the largest head-to-head performance margin in this comparison?

A: The largest delta is 5.6%, which occurs in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Opteron 6220 scores 57 against the i5-3450’s 54.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Opteron 6220 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-3450 does not support ECC.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-3450 includes Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 6220 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 has a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s over a quad-channel bus. The Intel Core i5-3450 has 25.6 GB/s over a dual-channel bus, which is exactly half the AMD part’s bandwidth.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field. The Opteron 6220 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-3450 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 3.00 GHz for AMD and 3.10 GHz for Intel, with boost clocks of 3.60 GHz and 3.50 GHz respectively. TDP ratings are 115 watts for the Opteron and 77 watts for the i5-3450. The sockets are different: AMD Socket G34 for the Opteron, Intel Socket 1155 for the i5-3450.

Process technology differs: 32 nm from GlobalFoundries for AMD, 22 nm from Intel for the i5-3450. Transistor counts are 2,400 million versus 1,400 million, and die sizes are 2x 315 mm² versus 160 mm². Cache configurations are not directly comparable: the Opteron has 768 KB L1, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die, while the i5-3450 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory buses are quad-channel for AMD and dual-channel for Intel, with bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s. ECC support is present on AMD but absent on Intel. PCIe generation is Gen 2 for AMD and Gen 3 for Intel. Integrated graphics exist only on the Intel part. The market segments differ: Server/Workstation for AMD, Desktop for Intel. Release dates are 2011-11-13 for the Opteron and 2012-04-28 for the i5-3450. The launch MSRP for the Opteron 6220 is $523, and the i5-3450 has a launch MSRP of $174.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for users who prioritize raw compute performance: the AMD Opteron 6220. It wins all six head-to-head benchmarks with margins between 5.1% and 5.6%, and it offers double the cores and threads of the i5-3450. Its memory bandwidth is exactly double the Intel part’s, and it supports ECC memory, making it the appropriate pick for server or workstation environments where those features matter. The 33rd percentile ranking versus all CPUs is identical for both, but the Opteron achieves that rank with a much larger physical design and higher power envelope.

The Intel Core i5-3450 is the more efficient package in terms of TDP, drawing 77 watts against 115 watts, and it includes integrated graphics and PCIe Gen 3 support. For a desktop user who does not need ECC or server-class memory bandwidth, the i5-3450 offers a competitive average score of 1166, just 0.1% behind the Opteron’s 1168. The Intel part’s smaller die and lower transistor count indicate a more streamlined design, and its Geekbench scores of 1985 multicore and 681 singlecore provide data that the Opteron lacks entirely. The verdict from the benchmark results is straightforward: pick the Opteron 6220 for maximum multi-threaded rendering performance and server-grade features, or pick the i5-3450 for a desktop processor with lower power draw and integrated graphics, accepting a narrow but consistent performance deficit in Cinebench workloads.