AMD Opteron 6220 vs Intel Core i5-3570S Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3570S and AMD Opteron 6220 land virtually on top of each other in aggregate performance, separated by a mere 0.1% in average benchmark score (1169 vs 1168). This places both at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, with the nearest rivals being the Intel Core i7-2960XM and Intel Core i5-3450. The data, however, reveals a consistent pattern: the AMD Opteron 6220 edges out the Intel part in every single head-to-head benchmark, though by margins so slim they are essentially within run-to-run variance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Opteron 6220 sweeps all six head-to-head comparisons, but none of the victories are decisive. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Opteron scores 407 against the i5-3570S’s 402, a 1.2% lead. The single-core R15 result follows the same script: 57 for AMD versus 56 for Intel, a 1.8% difference that represents a single point. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Opteron’s multi-core score of 1696 beats 1676, again by 1.2%, while the single-core result is 239 versus 236, a 1.3% gap.

The pattern holds in the more demanding Cinebench R23 workload. The Opteron 6220 posts 4040 multi-core points, topping the i5-3570S’s 3991 by 1.2%. In single-core R23, the AMD part scores 570 against 563, another 1.2% margin. Across all six tests, the largest delta is the 1.8% in R15 single-core, and the smallest is the 1.2% seen in four separate tests. The Intel chip’s average benchmark score of 1169 is actually one point higher than the Opteron’s 1168, but that aggregate metric includes Geekbench results where the i5 has an advantage (1793 multi-core, 632 single-core) — tests that do not appear in the head-to-head set.

What this suggests is a near-total performance parity in the Cinebench suite, with the Opteron holding a razor-thin but consistent edge. The 8-core AMD part does not translate its double core count into a meaningful multi-core advantage; the i5-3570S’s faster 3.80 GHz boost clock and more efficient Ivy Bridge architecture largely neutralize the Opteron’s additional cores. For real-world applications, the difference between a 1.2% and 1.8% delta is imperceptible — these are effectively tied chips in this workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-3570S is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process at Intel’s foundry, packing 4 cores and 4 threads. Its die size is a compact 133 mm². The AMD Opteron 6220, by contrast, uses the Bulldozer architecture on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries, featuring 8 cores and 8 threads across a massive dual-die setup totaling 2x 315 mm² and 2,400 million transistors.

Cache hierarchies diverge sharply. The i5-3570S has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The Opteron 6220 uses 768 KB of L1 total, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. This reflects Bulldozer’s module-based design, where pairs of cores share resources — a structural difference that explains why 8 AMD cores do not outperform 4 Intel cores by a large margin. The Intel part’s per-core resources are more generous, helping its 4 cores compete effectively.

Memory support also differs. Both support DDR3, but the i5-3570S uses a dual-channel bus with no ECC capability, while the Opteron 6220 uses a quad-channel bus with a stated 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and full ECC support. The Intel chip includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500) and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU; the Opteron has no integrated graphics and only PCIe Gen 2. The Opteron targets the server/workstation segment with its ECC memory and higher memory bandwidth, while the i5-3570S is a desktop part. The Intel processor also has a 65 W TDP against the Opteron’s 115 W, and the Opteron is marked end-of-life.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-3570S averages 1169, while the AMD Opteron 6220 averages 1168. That is a 0.1% difference in favor of Intel, though the two are effectively tied.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 6220’s 8 cores give it a big multi-core lead?

A: No. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Opteron scores 4040 versus the i5-3570S’s 3991, a 1.2% lead. The Intel chip’s 4 cores nearly match the AMD part’s 8 cores in this test.

Q: How do the single-core results compare?

A: The Opteron wins every single-core test, but by a single point in R15 (57 vs 56) and R20 (239 vs 236), and by 7 points in R23 (570 vs 563). The largest margin is 1.8% in R15 single-core.

Q: What is the memory capability difference?

A: The Opteron 6220 supports quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. The i5-3570S supports dual-channel DDR3 without ECC. This makes the Opteron suited for memory-intensive server workloads.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-3570S includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500). The AMD Opteron 6220 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 is listed as end-of-life. The Intel Core i5-3570S does not have a production status listed in the data.

Specification Differences

• Cores/Threads: Intel 4/4 vs AMD 8/8.
• Base Clock: 3.10 GHz (Intel) vs 3.00 GHz (AMD).
• Boost Clock: 3.80 GHz (Intel) vs 3.60 GHz (AMD).
• TDP: 65 W (Intel) vs 115 W (AMD).
• Socket: Intel Socket 1155 vs AMD Socket G34.
• Process Node: 22 nm (Intel) vs 32 nm (AMD).
• Foundry: Intel vs GlobalFoundries.
• Die Size: 133 mm² (Intel) vs 2x 315 mm² (AMD).
• Transistors: Not listed (Intel) vs 2,400 million (AMD).
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core (Intel) vs 768 KB total (AMD).
• L2 Cache: 256 KB per core (Intel) vs 2 MB per module (AMD).
• L3 Cache: 6 MB shared (Intel) vs 8 MB per die (AMD).
• Memory Bus: Dual-channel (Intel) vs Quad-channel (AMD).
• Memory Bandwidth: Not listed (Intel) vs 51.2 GB/s (AMD).
• ECC Memory: No (Intel) vs Yes (AMD).
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 Lanes (Intel) vs Gen 2 (AMD).
• Integrated Graphics: Intel HD 2500 (Intel) vs None (AMD).
• Market Segment: Desktop (Intel) vs Server/Workstation (AMD).
• Production Status: Not listed (Intel) vs End-of-life (AMD).
• Launch MSRP: Not listed (Intel) vs $523 (AMD).
• Part Number: SR0T9 (Intel) vs OS6220WKT8GGU (AMD).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6220 wins every head-to-head benchmark in the data set, but the margins are so small — between 1.2% and 1.8% — that the practical advantage is negligible. Its 8 cores and 8 threads, paired with quad-channel DDR3 and 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, make it the choice for server or workstation environments where ECC memory support is critical and memory throughput matters. The 115 W TDP is a cost of that capability, but the Opteron’s end-of-life status and server focus mean it is a legacy option for multi-socket or high-bandwidth deployments.

The Intel Core i5-3570S, despite losing all head-to-head tests, wins in the aggregate average benchmark score (1169 vs 1168) thanks to its Geekbench results. Its 65 W TDP is nearly half the Opteron’s, making it the energy-efficient choice for desktop builds. The integrated Intel HD 2500 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems, and the PCIe Gen 3 support offers newer connectivity. The 4-core design with a 3.80 GHz boost clock delivers single-threaded performance nearly identical to the Opteron’s, as the 1.2% to 1.8% deltas show. For a desktop user prioritizing lower power draw, integrated graphics, and a smaller socket footprint, the i5-3570S is the sensible pick — even if the raw benchmark numbers find the Opteron marginally ahead across the board.