CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i3-4170 and AMD Opteron 6234 sit at opposite ends of the hardware spectrum, yet their average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The database places the i3-4170 at an average score of 1193 and the Opteron 6234 at 1191, a difference of just 0.2%. Both processors occupy the 33rd percentile among all CPUs, indicating that despite radically different designs, their overall performance profile lands in the same tier. The Intel part is a dual-core desktop chip with a 3.70 GHz base clock, while the AMD part is a 12-core server processor running at 2.40 GHz base with a 3.00 GHz boost. Their nearest rival lists confirm the parity: the Opteron 6234 is listed as a rival to the i3-4170 with a deltaPct of 0.2%, and the i3-4170 appears as a rival to the Opteron 6234 with a deltaPct of -0.2%. From the aggregate data, these two chips are effectively performance equals, but the head-to-head benchmark results tell a more nuanced story.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison spans five Cinebench tests, and the AMD Opteron 6234 wins all five. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Opteron scores 204 against the i3-4170’s 180, a delta of -11.8% from Intel’s perspective. The largest margin appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, with the Opteron at 1453 and the i3-4170 at 1275, translating to a 12.3% deficit for the Intel chip. The other three tests cluster tightly around that same 12% gap: Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the Opteron at 348 versus 306 (12.1% ahead), Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 3461 versus 3038 (12.2% ahead), and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 488 versus 429 (12.1% ahead).

The consistency of these deltas is striking. Across every workload, the Opteron 6234 holds a roughly 12% advantage over the i3-4170, regardless of whether the test is single-threaded or multi-threaded. This suggests the Opteron’s higher core count and boost clock of 3.00 GHz are enough to overcome the i3-4170’s higher base clock of 3.70 GHz, even in single-threaded tasks where the Intel architecture might be expected to excel. The data shows no test where the i3-4170 pulls ahead; its win count is zero against five for the Opteron.

However, the aggregate benchmark scores tell a different story. The i3-4170’s average score of 1193 is actually 0.2% higher than the Opteron’s 1191, driven by the Intel chip’s inclusion in Geekbench tests. The i3-4170 scores 2033 in Geekbench multi-core and 1090 in Geekbench single-core, results that are absent from the Opteron’s benchmark list. When all available benchmarks are averaged, the Intel part edges ahead despite losing every Cinebench head-to-head. This discrepancy highlights the importance of test selection: the Cinebench suite favors the Opteron, while the broader average, which includes Geekbench, favors the i3-4170 by a negligible margin.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the head-to-head Cinebench tests?

A: The AMD Opteron 6234 wins all five head-to-head tests. Its margins range from 11.8% in Cinebench R20 single-core to 12.3% in Cinebench R20 multi-core, with the other three tests falling between 12.1% and 12.2% in the Opteron’s favor.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i3-4170 has an average score of 1193, while the AMD Opteron 6234 has an average score of 1191. The Intel part holds a 0.2% advantage according to the database’s nearestRivals data, which lists the Opteron with a deltaPct of 0.2% relative to the i3-4170.

Q: Why does the average score favor the i3-4170 if it loses all head-to-head tests?

A: The average score includes Geekbench results for the i3-4170, which are not present in the Opteron’s benchmark list. The i3-4170 scores 2033 in Geekbench multi-core and 1090 in Geekbench single-core, and these additional data points lift its average above the Opteron’s despite the Cinebench losses.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration difference?

A: The Intel Core i3-4170 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Opteron 6234 has 12 cores and 12 threads. The Opteron does not support simultaneous multithreading, whereas the i3-4170 uses Hyper-Threading to reach 4 threads from 2 cores.

Q: How do the clock speeds differ?

A: The i3-4170 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz with no boost clock listed. The Opteron 6234 has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. Despite the i3’s higher base frequency, the Opteron’s boost clock closes the single-thread gap.

Q: What are the TDP and memory bandwidth differences?

A: The i3-4170 has a TDP of 54 watts and dual-channel memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Opteron 6234 has a TDP of 115 watts and quad-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, exactly double the Intel part’s memory throughput.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload and platform context. The AMD Opteron 6234 is the stronger performer in the Cinebench suite, holding a consistent 12% lead across all five tested scenarios. Its 12 cores and 12 threads, combined with a 3.00 GHz boost clock, deliver higher raw throughput in rendering workloads, which is what Cinebench measures. For any user whose primary metric is Cinebench performance, the Opteron 6234 is the correct choice based on these results alone.

The Intel Core i3-4170, however, presents a different value proposition through its aggregate score. Its average benchmark score of 1193 is 0.2% higher than the Opteron’s 1191, and it achieves this with a TDP of 54 watts versus 115 watts. The i3-4170 also includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4400), which the Opteron lacks entirely. For a desktop system where the CPU’s memory controller and PCIe lanes are the only relevant interfaces, the i3-4170’s Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes provides a more modern I/O standard than the Opteron’s Gen 2.

The choice ultimately depends on whether the user prioritizes the Cinebench head-to-head results or the broader average score. The Opteron wins every direct comparison in the provided benchmark pairs, but the i3-4170 wins on average score, lower power draw, and integrated graphics. A server or workstation workload that can utilize the Opteron’s 12 cores and 12 threads would see the 12% Cinebench advantage. A desktop workload that values the i3-4170’s lower TDP and integrated graphics would favor the Intel part. The percentile rankings are identical at 33%, reinforcing that neither chip dominates the other in the global CPU landscape.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every fundamental specification. The i3-4170 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Opteron 6234 has 12 cores and 12 threads. The base clock differs by 1.30 GHz: the i3 runs at 3.70 GHz, the Opteron at 2.40 GHz. The Opteron adds a boost clock of 3.00 GHz, while the i3 has no boost clock listed. TDP is more than double on the AMD side: 115 watts versus 54 watts. The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1150 for the i3, AMD Socket G34 for the Opteron.

Memory configuration is a major divergence. The i3-4170 uses dual-channel DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Opteron 6234 uses quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Opteron supports ECC memory; the i3 does not. PCIe capabilities also differ: the i3 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Opteron provides Gen 2 without a lane count specified. The i3 includes Intel HD 4400 integrated graphics; the Opteron has no integrated graphics. The market segments are different: the i3 is a desktop part, the Opteron is a server/workstation part.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The Intel Core i3-4170 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. The AMD Opteron 6234 uses the Bulldozer architecture on a 32 nm process node, fabricated by GlobalFoundries. The i3’s die size is 177 mm² with 1,400 million transistors, while the Opteron consists of two dies at 315 mm² each, totaling 2,400 million transistors across both dies.

Cache hierarchies are entirely different. The i3-4170 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron 6234 has 768 KB of L1 cache total, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 8 MB of L3 cache per die. The codenames reflect their distinct lineages: Haswell for Intel, Interlagos for AMD. The Opteron belongs to the Opteron 6000 series, while the i3 has no series designation in the data. Both are end-of-life products, but the release dates are nearly three years apart: the Opteron launched in November 2011, the i3 in April 2014. The i3’s part number is SR1PL; the Opteron’s is OS6234WKTCGGU. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The generation labels also differ: the i3 is listed as "Core i3 (Haswell)", while the Opteron is listed as "Opteron (Interlagos)". The i3 uses a dual-core design with Hyper-Threading to reach 4 threads, whereas the Opteron uses 12 physical cores with no SMT, giving it 12 threads. The i3’s 3.70 GHz base clock is 1.30 GHz higher than the Opteron’s base clock, but the Opteron’s 3.00 GHz boost clock reduces that gap to 0.70 GHz. These architectural differences explain the benchmark results: the Opteron’s massive core count and larger cache footprint allow it to outperform the i3 in Cinebench, while the i3’s newer process node and higher base clock keep its average score competitive.