AMD Opteron 6220 vs Intel Core i5-4430 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents an unusual picture: the AMD Opteron 6220 wins every single recorded test against the Intel Core i5-4430. That is six wins out of six head-to-head comparisons, spanning Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The margins are consistent, ranging from 1.6% to 1.8%, which suggests a systematic, small performance edge rather than a workload-specific advantage.

However, the use-case split is not about which chip wins, but where each chip belongs. The Opteron 6220 is a server/workstation part from the Opteron 6000 series, designed for multi-socket systems, ECC memory, and sustained throughput in professional environments. The Core i5-4430 is a desktop processor from Intel's Haswell generation, aimed at mainstream consumer PCs with integrated graphics and lower power consumption.

The data implies that for pure compute throughput in Cinebench, the Opteron 6220 holds a narrow but consistent lead. The largest margin appears in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 407 against 400, a 1.8% difference. The same 1.8% advantage appears in R15 single-core. In R20 and R23, the margins shrink slightly to 1.6% and 1.7%. For a workstation that runs rendering or simulation workloads repeatedly, these small deltas could accumulate into measurable time savings over many jobs.

The Core i5-4430, despite losing every benchmark, offers capabilities the Opteron lacks: integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, PCIe Gen 3 support, and a much lower 84 W TDP. The data does not capture graphics performance, but the presence of integrated graphics means a desktop system can operate without a discrete GPU. The Opteron 6220 has no integrated graphics and requires a separate display adapter. So while the Opteron wins on raw compute scores, the Core i5 wins on platform simplicity and power efficiency.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 6220 uses the Bulldozer architecture, specifically the Interlagos die, built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 8 cores and 8 threads, with a die size of 2x 315 mm² and 2,400 million transistors. The cache hierarchy is module-based: 768 KB of L1, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die.

The Intel Core i5-4430 uses the Haswell architecture on Intel's 22 nm process. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, a die size of 177 mm², and 1,400 million transistors. Its cache layout is per-core: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The transistor count difference is substantial, with the Opteron containing 1,000 million more transistors, largely due to its dual-die design and server-class features.

Memory architecture also diverges sharply. The Opteron 6220 supports quad-channel DDR3 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory, which is critical for server reliability. The Core i5-4430 supports dual-channel DDR3, has no recorded memory bandwidth figure in the database, and does not support ECC memory. The Opteron uses AMD Socket G34, while the Core i5 uses Intel Socket 1150.

Process node and foundry differences are notable: 32 nm GlobalFoundries for AMD versus 22 nm Intel for the Core i5. The Intel process is denser and generally more power-efficient per transistor, which helps explain the 84 W TDP of the Core i5 against the 115 W TDP of the Opteron despite the Opteron having twice the core count. The Opteron also supports PCIe Gen 2, while the Core i5 supports PCIe Gen 3, offering double the per-lane bandwidth for expansion cards.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a clean sweep for the AMD Opteron 6220, but the margins are tight enough that they could be considered within run-to-run variance. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 407 against the Core i5's 400, a 1.8% lead. In R15 single-core, it is 57 versus 56, again 1.8%. The R20 multicore test shows 1696 versus 1669, a 1.6% margin, while R20 single-core is 239 versus 235, a 1.7% margin.

The R23 tests follow the same pattern. Multicore scores are 4040 for the Opteron and 3974 for the Core i5, a 1.7% difference. Single-core is 570 versus 561, also 1.7%. Across all six tests, the average delta is approximately 1.7%, with the Opteron always ahead. This consistency is striking: the Opteron does not win by a landslide in any test, but it never loses either.

What does this mean in context? The Opteron 6220 has twice the cores (8 versus 4), yet its multicore advantage is only around 1.7%. That suggests the Bulldozer architecture's per-core efficiency is significantly lower than Haswell's. The Core i5's four cores are doing nearly as much total work as the Opteron's eight cores. The single-core results reinforce this: the Opteron leads by 1.8% in R15 single-core, but that is despite having a higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz versus 3.20 GHz for the Core i5.

The Opteron's base clock is 3.00 GHz, identical to the Core i5's base clock, but its boost clock is 0.40 GHz higher. Even with that clock advantage, the Opteron only manages a 1.8% single-core lead. The database's average benchmark scores put the Opteron at 1168 and the Core i5 at 1149, a 1.7% difference that mirrors the head-to-head results. Both processors sit at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are in the lower third of the performance distribution.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Opteron 6220 | Intel Core i5-4430 |

|---------------|------------------|---------------------|

| Cores | 8 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Boost clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 115 W | 84 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket G34 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Bulldozer | Haswell |

| Process node | 32 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 2,400 million | 1,400 million |

| Die size | 2x 315 mm² | 177 mm² |

| L1 cache | 768 KB | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2 MB (per module) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 8 MB (per die) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3 |

| Integrated graphics | None | Intel HD 4600 |

| Market segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Release date | 2011-11-13 | 2013-06-01 |

| Launch MSRP | $523 | Not recorded |

Both processors have locked multipliers and a base clock of 3.00 GHz. The Opteron 6220 was released in November 2011, while the Core i5-4430 launched in June 2013. The Opteron is marked as end-of-life in production status, while the Core i5's status is not recorded. The Opteron's part number is OS6220WKT8GGU, and the Core i5's is SR14G.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 407, 1696, and 4040 in R15, R20, and R23 multicore respectively, against the Core i5-4430's 400, 1669, and 3974. The margins are 1.8%, 1.6%, and 1.7%.

Q: Is the Opteron 6220 also faster in single-core tests?

A: Yes, the Opteron leads in all three single-core tests. It scores 57, 239, and 570 in R15, R20, and R23 single-core, versus 56, 235, and 561 for the Core i5. The deltas are 1.8%, 1.7%, and 1.6%.

Q: How do the core counts affect the results?

A: The Opteron has 8 cores, while the Core i5 has 4. Despite the 2x core advantage, the Opteron's multicore lead is only about 1.7%. This indicates that the Bulldozer architecture achieves much lower per-core throughput than Haswell.

Q: Does the Core i5-4430 have any advantages over the Opteron 6220?

A: Yes, the Core i5 has integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, supports PCIe Gen 3, and has a lower TDP of 84 W versus 115 W. It also uses a smaller 22 nm process versus 32 nm, and a smaller die size of 177 mm² versus 2x 315 mm².

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-4430 does not. The Opteron also uses a quad-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s recorded bandwidth, while the Core i5 uses dual-channel with no bandwidth figure recorded.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Opteron 6220 has an average benchmark score of 1168, and the Core i5-4430 has an average of 1149. Both are at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs. The Opteron's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-3570S and i7-2960XM, both at 1169 with a -0.1% delta. The Core i5's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3612QE at 1147 with a 0.2% delta.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner in raw compute performance: the AMD Opteron 6220. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins between 1.6% and 1.8%. Its average benchmark score of 1168 exceeds the Core i5's 1149, and it holds a higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz versus 3.20 GHz. For workloads that are purely CPU-bound and can leverage ECC memory and quad-channel bandwidth, the Opteron 6220 is the choice indicated by the recorded measurements.

The Intel Core i5-4430, however, is not without reason to be selected. It delivers nearly the same Cinebench performance with half the cores, consumes 31 W less power (84 W versus 115 W), includes integrated graphics, and supports PCIe Gen 3. Its smaller 22 nm die and 177 mm² size suggest a more modern, efficient design. For a desktop system where power consumption, integrated graphics, and platform simplicity matter more than a 1.7% compute edge, the Core i5-4430 is the sensible pick.

The Opteron 6220's server heritage shows in its ECC support, quad-channel memory, and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Core i5's desktop focus shows in its integrated graphics and dual-channel memory. The benchmark results do not favor the Core i5 in any test, but the specification differences tell a broader story. The Opteron wins on compute throughput and server features; the Core i5 wins on efficiency, graphics, and modern I/O. The choice depends on whether the workload prioritizes the 1.7% performance edge or the 27% power reduction and integrated graphics.