AMD Opteron 6220 vs Intel Core i5-4460T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4460T and AMD Opteron 6220 occupy different corners of the hardware world: a low-power desktop chip with integrated graphics versus a server/workstation processor with ECC support. The recorded head-to-head benchmarks show a clear winner in raw compute, but the two chips are built for very different roles. The Opteron 6220 wins all five shared Cinebench tests, while the i5-4460T counters with a much lower TDP, integrated graphics, and a broader benchmark profile that includes Geekbench scores.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6220 takes every head-to-head benchmark in the database. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the Opteron leads the i5-4460T by roughly 23% in both multi-core and single-core tests. Specifically, the Opteron scores 407 in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 313 for the i5, 1696 versus 1305 in R20 multi-core, 239 versus 183 in R20 single-core, 4040 versus 3109 in R23 multi-core, and 570 versus 438 in R23 single-core. That is a clean sweep, with the Opteron ahead by 23.0% to 23.4% depending on the test.

The i5-4460T, however, has its own strengths. It is the only one of the two with integrated graphics, featuring Intel HD 4600, while the Opteron has none. The i5 also draws far less power: its TDP is 35 watts versus 115 watts for the Opteron. That makes the i5 suitable for compact, low-power builds, whereas the Opteron is a server/workstation part with a much higher power envelope. The i5 also has recorded Geekbench scores (2170 multi-core, 809 single-core), while the Opteron has no Geekbench entries in the database, so the i5 offers a more complete performance picture across different benchmark suites.

In terms of overall standing, both processors sit at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are close: 1190 for the i5 and 1168 for the Opteron. The nearest rivals for the i5 include the AMD Opteron 6234 (average 1191, delta -0.1%) and the Intel Core i5-2400 (1187, +0.3%), while the Opteron 6220 sits near the Intel Core i5-3570S (1169, -0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-2960XM (1169, -0.1%). So while the Opteron wins the direct comparisons, the two chips are statistically similar in aggregate performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing processes. The Intel Core i5-4460T is built on Intel's 22 nm Haswell architecture, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The AMD Opteron 6220 uses GlobalFoundries' 32 nm process, packing 2,400 million transistors across two 315 mm² dies. The Opteron is a dual-die design, which explains its larger physical footprint and higher transistor count.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The i5 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Opteron has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Opteron's base clock is 3.00 GHz with a boost of 3.60 GHz, compared to the i5's 1.90 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost. Despite the i5's lower clocks, its per-core efficiency is higher, but the Opteron's extra cores and higher clocks give it the edge in multi-threaded workloads.

Cache layouts are also distinct. The i5 uses a per-core L1 of 64 KB and L2 of 256 KB, with a shared 6 MB L3. The Opteron has a total L1 of 768 KB, L2 of 2 MB per module, and L3 of 8 MB per die. The Opteron's cache is organized around Bulldozer's module-based design, which shares resources between pairs of cores.

Memory support is a major differentiator. The i5 supports dual-channel DDR3 with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the Opteron supports quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s. The Opteron also supports ECC memory, which the i5 does not. The i5 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Opteron uses PCIe Gen 2. The i5 has integrated graphics, the Opteron does not. The i5 targets the desktop market with an LGA 1150 socket, while the Opteron is a server/workstation part on Socket G34. The i5 was released in February 2014, the Opteron in November 2011. Both are end-of-life products.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records five direct comparisons, all from the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 407 against the i5's 313, a 23.1% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows 1696 versus 1305, again a 23.1% lead. Single-core results follow the same pattern: R20 single-core is 239 versus 183 (23.4% ahead), and R23 single-core is 570 versus 438 (23.2% ahead). The R23 multi-core test gives 4040 versus 3109, a 23.0% lead.

These deltas are remarkably consistent, suggesting the Opteron's advantage is structural rather than workload-specific. The Opteron's higher base and boost clocks, combined with twice the core count, drive its lead in both multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench runs. The i5's lower TDP and integrated graphics do not translate into a performance win in any of these tests.

Notably, the i5 has Geekbench scores (2170 multi-core, 809 single-core) that are not part of the head-to-head set, so no direct comparison exists there. The Opteron has no Geekbench entries at all. This means the head-to-head data is limited to Cinebench, but within that suite the Opteron is consistently ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has higher multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 4040 versus 3109 for the i5-4460T, a 23.0% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows 1696 versus 1305, also a 23.1% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-4460T have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel HD 4600. The AMD Opteron 6220 has no integrated graphics, so the i5 is the only one of the two that can output video without a discrete GPU.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Opteron 6220 supports quad-channel DDR3 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i5-4460T uses dual-channel DDR3 at 25.6 GB/s. The Opteron also supports ECC memory, which the i5 does not.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Opteron 6220 boosts to 3.60 GHz, while the i5-4460T boosts to 2.70 GHz. The Opteron also has a higher base clock at 3.00 GHz versus 1.90 GHz.

Q: What are the TDPs of these processors?

A: The i5-4460T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Opteron 6220 has a TDP of 115 watts. The i5 is far more power-efficient, making it suitable for low-power systems.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-4460T has an average benchmark score of 1190, and the Opteron 6220 has 1168. Both sit at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs, so they are statistically similar in overall performance despite the Opteron's wins in the head-to-head Cinebench tests.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split: the AMD Opteron 6220 is the stronger performer in every shared benchmark, with a consistent 23% lead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. Its 8 cores, higher clocks, and quad-channel memory give it a decisive edge in multi-threaded workloads, and it also wins in single-core Cinebench tests. For anyone running heavily threaded server or workstation applications, the Opteron is the obvious choice from a raw performance standpoint.

The Intel Core i5-4460T, however, is not without merit. Its 35 W TDP is a fraction of the Opteron's 115 W, and it includes integrated graphics, which the Opteron lacks. The i5 also has a broader benchmark profile, with Geekbench scores that the Opteron does not have. For a low-power desktop build where energy efficiency and integrated video matter more than peak multi-core throughput, the i5 is the better fit.

Both processors are end-of-life and sit at the same 33rd percentile, with average scores within 2% of each other (1190 versus 1168). The Opteron 6220 had a launch MSRP of $523, but that figure is historical and does not reflect current availability. In the end, the choice depends on the workload: the Opteron wins on compute, the i5 wins on efficiency and integration. The recorded data does not show a single overall winner, only a trade-off between performance and power.