CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4440 and AMD Opteron 6220 deliver nearly identical average benchmark scores, with the Intel part edging ahead by just 11 points (1179 vs 1168). Despite the Opteron’s 8 cores and higher boost clock, the i5-4440 wins every single head-to-head Cinebench test, though by margins of less than 1%. The Opteron 6220, a server-class Bulldozer part, offers quad-channel memory and ECC support, while the i5-4440 is a desktop Haswell chip with integrated graphics and a lower TDP. The data shows a statistical tie in raw compute, but the architectural and platform differences are stark.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4440 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Did the Opteron 6220 win any benchmark tests?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Intel Core i5-4440 winning all 6 Cinebench tests, with a 0.7% to 0.9% margin in most cases, and a 0% margin in the Cinebench R15 single-core test.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i5-4440 has an average benchmark score of 1179, while the AMD Opteron 6220 scores 1168. Both sit at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Does the Opteron 6220 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Opteron 6220 supports ECC memory and uses a quad-channel DDR3 memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i5-4440 does not support ECC and uses dual-channel DDR3.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-4440 includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 6220 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-4440 has a TDP of 84 watts, while the AMD Opteron 6220 has a TDP of 115 watts.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-4440 is built on Intel’s Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. It is a desktop part with 4 physical cores and 4 threads, featuring 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, plus a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The Opteron 6220, by contrast, is a server/workstation chip based on AMD’s Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Interlagos, on a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It packs 8 cores and 8 threads, with a larger 2,400 million transistor count spread across a dual-die design measuring 2x 315 mm².

Cache layouts differ fundamentally. The Opteron 6220 uses 768 KB of total L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die, reflecting its module-based Bulldozer design. The i5-4440’s per-core L1 and L2 allocation is more conventional for a desktop processor. Memory support also diverges: the Opteron 6220 supports quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth and ECC memory, while the i5-4440 is limited to dual-channel DDR3 without ECC. The Opteron uses PCIe Gen 2, whereas the i5-4440 supports PCIe Gen 3. The Intel part includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics; the Opteron has none. The Opteron 6220 is marked end-of-life, released in November 2011, while the i5-4440 launched in August 2013.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Benchmark results indicate a near-perfect tie across all tested Cinebench workloads, with the Intel Core i5-4440 holding a consistent but tiny lead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4440 scores 410 against the Opteron’s 407, a 0.7% advantage. The single-core R15 test is an exact dead heat at 57 points each, with the Intel part declared the winner on a 0% delta.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-4440 posts 1712 in multi-core versus 1696 for the Opteron, a 0.9% lead. Single-core R20 shows 241 vs 239, a 0.8% margin. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R23: the i5-4440 scores 4077 in multi-core, the Opteron 4040, a 0.9% gap, and 575 vs 570 in single-core, again a 0.9% gap.

The Opteron’s 8 cores do not translate into a multi-core victory, in fact, the 4-core i5-4440 wins every multi-core test by roughly the same margin as the single-core tests. The largest delta across all comparisons is 0.9%, which is well within typical run-to-run variance. The data shows the two CPUs performing as near-identical compute units in Cinebench, despite their architectural differences.

The Verdict

The benchmark data makes a clear statement: the Intel Core i5-4440 is the better processor for pure Cinebench performance, winning all 6 head-to-head tests. Its margins are narrow, between 0.7% and 0.9%, but consistent across multi-core and single-core workloads. The Opteron 6220 never takes a single win, and its 8-core design fails to overcome the i5-4440’s per-core efficiency.

However, the choice depends on platform requirements. The Opteron 6220 offers ECC memory support, quad-channel DDR3, and a larger memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, making it suitable for server workloads where data integrity and memory throughput matter. The i5-4440 counters with integrated graphics, PCIe Gen 3, a lower 84 W TDP versus 115 W, and a smaller 22 nm process. The i5-4440 also has a newer release date (August 2013 vs November 2011) and is not marked end-of-life.

For desktop users or anyone needing a simple, efficient build with graphics output, the i5-4440 is the obvious pick. For server administrators requiring ECC and quad-channel memory, the Opteron 6220’s platform features justify its existence, even if it loses every benchmark. The average scores (1179 vs 1168) reinforce that the two are nearly equal in raw compute, so the decision should be driven by platform needs rather than performance.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4440 | AMD Opteron 6220 |

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

| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 8 / 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 84 W | 115 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | AMD Socket G34 |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

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

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 2x 315 mm² |

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

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

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

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Not specified | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2013-08-31 | 2011-11-13 |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $523 |

| Part Number | SR14F | OS6220WKT8GGU |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4440 wins in every Cinebench benchmark category: multi-core and single-core across R15, R20, and R23. Its performance advantage is uniform, with deltas of 0.7% to 0.9% in all but one test (R15 single-core, which is tied at 0%). The i5-4440 also wins on platform efficiency: it has a lower TDP (84 W vs 115 W), a smaller process node (22 nm vs 32 nm), and includes integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a separate GPU in basic systems. Its PCIe Gen 3 support and newer release date (August 2013 vs November 2011) make it the more modern desktop choice.

The AMD Opteron 6220 wins on server-oriented features. It offers ECC memory support, which the i5-4440 lacks, plus a quad-channel memory bus with a specified 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Its 8 cores and 8 threads double the thread count of the i5-4440, and its higher boost clock (3.60 GHz vs 3.30 GHz) suggests potential in workloads not captured by Cinebench. The Opteron also has a larger transistor count (2,400 million vs 1,400 million) and more L3 cache per die (8 MB vs 6 MB). Its launch MSRP was $523, though pricing is not a factor in this analysis. The production status is end-of-life, but for a server platform requiring ECC and high memory bandwidth, the Opteron 6220 provides capabilities the i5-4440 cannot match.