AMD Opteron 6220 vs Intel Core i7-2600S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a consistent, if narrow, victory for the AMD Opteron 6220 across all six recorded Cinebench tests. In the multi-core Cinebench R15 test, the Opteron 6220 scores 407 against 396 for the Core i7-2600S, a 2.8% advantage. The single-core R15 results show the Opteron 6220 ahead at 57 points versus 55, a 3.6% lead, the largest margin recorded in the entire comparison.

Moving to the newer Cinebench R20 workload, the pattern holds. The Opteron 6220 records 1696 multi-core points, while the Core i7-2600S trails at 1651, a 2.7% gap. In single-core R20, the Opteron 6220 scores 239 versus 233, again a 2.6% difference. These margins are small enough that they fall within typical run-to-run variance for many systems, but the direction of the result is uniform.

The Cinebench R23 tests, which represent the most demanding workload in the dataset, confirm the same hierarchy. Multi-core results show the Opteron 6220 at 4040 points against 3933 for the Intel part, a 2.7% lead. Single-core R23 scores are 570 versus 555, also a 2.7% difference. Across all six head-to-head benchmarks, the Opteron 6220 records 6 wins and the Core i7-2600S records 0 wins. The overall average benchmark score places the Opteron 6220 at 1168, with the Core i7-2600S at 1146.

It is importantly the Opteron 6220 achieves these wins despite a lower boost clock. The AMD part runs at 3.60 GHz boost, while the Intel part boosts to 3.80 GHz. The fact that the Opteron 6220 still edges ahead in every single-core test suggests that per-clock efficiency differences are not the deciding factor here, or that the boost behavior under these workloads favors the AMD implementation.

The percentile rankings reinforce the closeness of this pairing. The Opteron 6220 sits at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Core i7-2600S sits at the 32nd percentile. These are essentially adjacent positions, separated by a single percentile point. The nearest rivals listed for the Opteron 6220 include the Intel Core i5-3570S with an average score of 1169 (a 0.1% difference) and the Intel Core i7-2960XM also at 1169. The nearest rivals for the Core i7-2600S include the AMD Opteron 4284 at 1146 (a 0% difference) and the Intel Core i5-4430 at 1149. Both CPUs are clustered in a tight band of similar performers, making the 2.7% to 3.6% head-to-head margins the clearest signal in the data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 6220 uses the Bulldozer architecture under the Interlagos codename, manufactured on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i7-2600S uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, also on a 32 nm process, but built at Intel's own foundry. Both chips launched in early 2011, with the Core i7-2600S releasing in January and the Opteron 6220 in November of that year.

The transistor counts differ substantially. The Opteron 6220 contains 2,400 million transistors spread across a dual-die design totaling 2x 315 mm². The Core i7-2600S contains 1,160 million transistors on a single 216 mm² die. This means the AMD part uses more than twice the transistor budget, but the benchmark results show only a modest performance advantage, indicating that the Bulldozer design did not translate its additional silicon into proportional throughput in these Cinebench workloads.

Core and thread counts tell a different story. The Opteron 6220 offers 8 physical cores with 8 threads, while the Core i7-2600S offers 4 physical cores with 8 threads via Hyper-Threading. Despite having double the physical cores, the Opteron 6220 only manages a 2.7% to 2.8% lead in multi-core tests. This highlights a significant efficiency gap: the Intel architecture extracts far more usable performance per core in these workloads.

Cache hierarchies also differ in structure. The Opteron 6220 has 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The Core i7-2600S has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The total L3 capacity is the same at 8 MB, but the distribution and access patterns differ due to the dual-die design of the Opteron 6220 versus the monolithic Intel die.

Memory support shows a clear split. The Opteron 6220 supports quad-channel DDR3 with a measured memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s and includes ECC support. The Core i7-2600S supports dual-channel DDR3 with no ECC support, and the database records no memory bandwidth figure for it. For server and workstation workloads that depend on memory throughput, this is a significant architectural advantage for the AMD part, even if the Cinebench scores do not fully reflect it.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The Opteron 6220 provides PCIe Gen 2, while the Core i7-2600S provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Intel part also includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 2000, while the Opteron 6220 has no integrated graphics, consistent with its server market positioning. The Opteron 6220 targets the server and workstation segment, while the Core i7-2600S is a desktop part. Both are end-of-life products, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in this comparison?

A: The AMD Opteron 6220 wins all six recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests. Its margins range from 2.6% in Cinebench R20 single-core to 3.6% in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Opteron 6220 has 8 physical cores with 8 threads. The Core i7-2600S has 4 physical cores with 8 threads. Despite the 2x core advantage, the Opteron 6220 only leads by 2.7% to 2.8% in multi-core tests.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Opteron 6220 has an average benchmark score of 1168. The Core i7-2600S has an average score of 1146. The Opteron 6220 sits at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core i7-2600S sits at the 32nd percentile.

Q: Do these processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes for the Opteron 6220, which supports ECC memory with a quad-channel DDR3 interface and 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. No for the Core i7-2600S, which uses dual-channel DDR3 without ECC support.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-2600S includes Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 6220 has no integrated graphics, consistent with its server and workstation market segment.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds?

A: The Opteron 6220 has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the Core i7-2600S has a higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Intel part boosts faster but still trails in every recorded benchmark.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but narrow outcome. The AMD Opteron 6220 wins every recorded benchmark in this comparison, with margins between 2.6% and 3.6%. Its average benchmark score of 1168 exceeds the Core i7-2600S's 1146 by a small but consistent margin. The Opteron 6220's percentile placement at 33 versus 32 for the Intel part confirms that these are adjacent performers in the overall database ranking.

However, the nature of the victory matters. The Opteron 6220 achieves its wins with 8 physical cores, 2,400 million transistors, and a 115 W TDP. The Core i7-2600S nearly matches it with 4 physical cores, 1,160 million transistors, and a 65 W TDP. In efficiency terms, the Intel design is far more economical with silicon and power. The Opteron 6220's advantages in memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s, quad-channel, ECC support) and core count make it the more appropriate choice for server and workstation deployments where those features matter and where the additional power draw is acceptable.

The Core i7-2600S, despite losing every head-to-head benchmark, offers integrated graphics, PCIe Gen 3 support, and a lower TDP. These features address a different set of requirements. The data does not support a claim that the Intel part is faster in any recorded test, but it does show that the Intel part is competitive within a few percentage points while consuming considerably less power and using roughly half the transistor budget.

Users who need ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth, and eight physical cores should select the Opteron 6220. Users who need integrated graphics, PCIe Gen 3, and lower power consumption from a desktop-oriented socket should select the Core i7-2600S, accepting a 2.6% to 3.6% performance deficit in the recorded workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Opteron 6220 has 8 cores and 8 threads; the Core i7-2600S has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 3.00 GHz for the AMD part and 2.80 GHz for the Intel part, while boost clocks favor Intel at 3.80 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. The TDP difference is substantial: 115 W for the Opteron 6220 versus 65 W for the Core i7-2600S.

Sockets are incompatible: the Opteron 6220 uses AMD Socket G34, while the Core i7-2600S uses Intel Socket 1155. The AMD part uses the Bulldozer architecture with the Interlagos codename, while the Intel part uses Sandy Bridge with the same codename. Both use 32 nm process nodes, but the foundries differ: GlobalFoundries for AMD, Intel for the Core i7.

Transistor counts and die sizes diverge sharply. The Opteron 6220 has 2,400 million transistors on 2x 315 mm² dies. The Core i7-2600S has 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. Cache layouts also differ: 768 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per module for AMD, versus 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core for Intel. Both have 8 MB of L3, but AMD's is per die while Intel's is shared.

Memory support differs in channel count and ECC capability. The Opteron 6220 uses quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support. The Core i7-2600S uses dual-channel DDR3 with no ECC support and no recorded bandwidth figure. PCIe generations differ: Gen 2 for AMD, Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes for Intel. The Core i7-2600S includes Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics; the Opteron 6220 has none.

Market positioning differs as well. The Opteron 6220 targets servers and workstations with a launch MSRP of $523. The Core i7-2600S targets desktops with no recorded launch MSRP. Both are end-of-life products with locked multipliers. The part numbers are OS6220WKT8GGU for AMD and SR00E for Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6220 wins in raw compute throughput across all recorded Cinebench versions. Its 8 physical cores provide a structural advantage in heavily threaded workloads, and its quad-channel memory interface with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support makes it the stronger candidate for memory-intensive server applications where data integrity and bandwidth are priorities. The 2.6% to 3.6% margins in single-core tests are notable given that the Intel part has a higher boost clock, suggesting the AMD design holds up better than expected in lightly threaded scenarios within the measured workloads.

The Intel Core i7-2600S wins in efficiency and platform features. Its 65 W TDP is nearly half the Opteron 6220's 115 W, making it the better fit for systems with tighter thermal and power budgets. The integrated Intel HD 2000 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in basic display scenarios. PCIe Gen 3 support with 16 CPU lanes offers newer I/O capabilities compared to the Opteron 6220's PCIe Gen 2. The dual-channel memory interface, while narrower, is sufficient for desktop workloads and contributes to the lower power draw.

The use-case split is clean. The Opteron 6220 serves server and workstation deployments where ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth, and 8 physical cores matter more than power efficiency or integrated graphics. The Core i7-2600S serves desktop builds where power consumption, integrated graphics, and PCIe Gen 3 connectivity take priority, accepting a small performance deficit in Cinebench workloads. The benchmark data shows that the Opteron 6220 is the faster processor in every measured test, but the Core i7-2600S remains competitive within 3.6% while consuming less than two-thirds of the power.