AMD Opteron 6220 vs Intel Core i7-8665UE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded Cinebench data places the Intel Core i7-8665UE ahead in every single test, though the margins are consistently narrow. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Intel part scores 1732 against the AMD Opteron 6220's 1696, a 2.1% advantage. The same 2.1% delta appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, with the Intel chip scoring 582 versus 570 for the Opteron. Across all six head-to-head tests, the Intel Core i7-8665UE wins outright, producing a 6-0 sweep in the database's recorded measurements.

The multi-core results tell a particularly interesting story given the architectural disparity. The AMD Opteron 6220 fields 8 physical cores, while the Intel Core i7-8665UE is a 4-core, 8-thread part. Yet in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel chip edges ahead 415 to 407, a 1.9% margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel processor posts 4124 against 4040, again a 2% lead. This indicates that the Intel processor's higher boost clock and newer architecture compensate for its lower core count in these workloads.

Single-core performance follows the same pattern. The Intel Core i7-8665UE records 58 points in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 57 for the AMD Opteron 6220, a 1.7% difference. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel part scores 244 versus 239, a 2% lead. The Cinebench R23 single-core result shows 582 versus 570, a 2.1% gap. The consistency of these deltas, ranging from 1.7% to 2.1% across all tests, suggests a stable performance advantage for the Intel processor rather than workload-specific variance.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this picture. The Intel Core i7-8665UE holds an average score of 1193, while the AMD Opteron 6220 sits at 1168. The Intel part's nearest rival, the Intel Core i3-4170, matches its 1193 average exactly, while the AMD Opteron 6220's closest competitor, the Intel Core i5-3570S, trails by 0.1% at 1169. Both processors land in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, indicating they occupy similar overall performance tiers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-8665UE wins all three multi-core tests. It scores 415 versus 407 in Cinebench R15, 1732 versus 1696 in Cinebench R20, and 4124 versus 4040 in Cinebench R23. The deltas range from 1.9% to 2.1% in favor of the Intel part.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: The Intel Core i7-8665UE leads by 1.7% in Cinebench R15 (58 versus 57), 2% in Cinebench R20 (244 versus 239), and 2.1% in Cinebench R23 (582 versus 570). The margins are small but consistent.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 6220 win any benchmark?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data shows zero wins for the AMD Opteron 6220 and six wins for the Intel Core i7-8665UE.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i7-8665UE matches the Intel Core i3-4170 and AMD Athlon PRO 300U exactly at 1193 average score. The AMD Opteron 6220's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-3570S, is 0.1% behind at 1169, while the Intel Core i7-3635QM is 0.2% ahead at 1170.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-8665UE averages 1193, which is 25 points higher than the AMD Opteron 6220's 1168 average. This represents roughly a 2.1% overall advantage.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes. Both the AMD Opteron 6220 and the Intel Core i7-8665UE are recorded at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, placing them in the same overall performance bracket.

The Verdict

The data points decisively toward the Intel Core i7-8665UE for any workload where benchmark scores matter. It wins every single recorded test, and while the margins are modest (never exceeding 2.1%), the consistency of the result across six different Cinebench versions is notable. The Intel part's 1193 average score versus 1168 for the AMD Opteron 6220 confirms a measurable, if not dramatic, overall advantage.

For users prioritizing single-threaded responsiveness, the Intel Core i7-8665UE is the clear pick. Its single-core scores are higher in all three Cinebench iterations, with the largest gap reaching 2.1% in R23. For multi-threaded workloads, the Intel processor also wins, which is surprising given the AMD Opteron 6220's 8-core design versus 4 cores on the Intel part. The 8 threads on the Intel processor, combined with its boost clock, appear sufficient to match or slightly exceed the Opteron's output.

The AMD Opteron 6220 does not offer any benchmark advantage in this comparison. With zero wins across the head-to-head suite and a lower average score, it is not the recommended choice based on performance data alone. However, both processors sit at the 33rd percentile, meaning neither is positioned as a high-end performer in the broader database context.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ substantially in core configuration. The AMD Opteron 6220 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8665UE has 4 cores and 8 threads. Clock speeds also diverge sharply: the AMD part lists a base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 3.60 GHz, whereas the Intel part shows a base clock of 1700.00 MHz (1.70 GHz) and boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The Intel processor's boost clock is significantly higher, which helps explain its benchmark competitiveness despite fewer physical cores.

Thermal design power differs by a wide margin. The AMD Opteron 6220 carries a 115-watt TDP, while the Intel Core i7-8665UE is rated at just 15 watts. This is a 100-watt difference in thermal requirements. Socket compatibility also separates them: the AMD part uses AMD Socket G34, the Intel part uses Intel BGA 1528. Memory support shows the AMD processor supporting DDR3 only, while the Intel part supports both DDR3 and DDR4. Memory bus width differs as well, with the AMD Opteron 6220 using quad-channel memory and the Intel Core i7-8665UE using dual-channel. Memory bandwidth figures reflect this: 51.2 GB/s for the AMD part versus 38.4 GB/s for the Intel part.

ECC memory support is present on the AMD Opteron 6220 but absent on the Intel Core i7-8665UE. PCIe generation also differs, with the AMD part at Gen 2 and the Intel part at Gen 3, though the Intel part specifies 16 lanes for the CPU only. The Intel processor includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 620), while the AMD part has none listed. Production status shows both as end-of-life. The AMD Opteron 6220's launch MSRP is $523, while the Intel Core i7-8665UE's launch MSRP is $409.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The AMD Opteron 6220 is built on the Bulldozer architecture with the codename Interlagos, part of the Opteron 6000 series. It uses a 32 nm process node from GlobalFoundries and contains 2,400 million transistors across a die size of 2x 315 mm². The Intel Core i7-8665UE, by contrast, uses the Whiskey Lake architecture with the codename Whiskey Lake-U, built on a 14 nm process node from Intel. No transistor count or die size is recorded for the Intel part.

Cache layouts differ fundamentally. The AMD Opteron 6220 lists 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 8 MB of L3 cache per die. The Intel Core i7-8665UE lists 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part's cache is organized around modules, reflecting its Bulldozer heritage, while the Intel part uses a per-core layout with a shared L3 pool.

Memory architecture also reflects their respective design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 6220 supports quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC, positioning it for server and workstation duties. The Intel Core i7-8665UE supports dual-channel DDR3 and DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC, aligning with its mobile segment. The AMD processor's market segment is listed as Server/Workstation, while the Intel processor is listed as Mobile. Release dates differ by nearly seven years: the AMD Opteron 6220 launched in November 2011, the Intel Core i7-8665UE in September 2018.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded benchmark data, the Intel Core i7-8665UE wins every measured category. In multi-core workloads, it takes Cinebench R15 (415 versus 407), R20 (1732 versus 1696), and R23 (4124 versus 4040). In single-core workloads, it wins R15 (58 versus 57), R20 (244 versus 239), and R23 (582 versus 570). The Intel part also holds the higher average benchmark score at 1193 versus 1168.

The AMD Opteron 6220 does not claim a single benchmark victory in this comparison. Its wins are absent from the head-to-head data, and its average score places it slightly behind. However, the AMD part does offer attributes that could matter outside pure benchmark performance: it supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not, and it uses quad-channel memory with higher bandwidth (51.2 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s). These features may appeal to server or workstation deployments where data integrity and memory throughput are priorities. The AMD part also has more physical cores (8 versus 4), which could be relevant in specific software that scales with core count rather than thread count.

For the Intel Core i7-8665UE, the advantages are broader. It wins all benchmarks, offers integrated graphics, supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, uses Gen 3 PCIe, and carries a much lower TDP of 15 watts versus 115 watts. The boost clock of 4.40 GHz far exceeds the AMD part's 3.60 GHz. The Intel processor is the choice for mobile or power-constrained environments, while the AMD Opteron 6220 retains relevance only in scenarios where ECC memory and quad-channel bandwidth are required, despite its performance deficit in every recorded test.