AMD Opteron 6234 vs Intel Core i3-7320 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Opteron 6234 has 12 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i3-7320 has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Opteron offers six times the core count and three times the thread count of the Core i3.

Q: What are the base clock speeds of these two CPUs?

A: The AMD Opteron 6234 runs at a base clock of 2.40 GHz with a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. The Intel Core i3-7320 has a base clock of 4.10 GHz and no boost clock listed in the database.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6234 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i3-7320 does not. This makes the Opteron more suitable for error-sensitive server and workstation workloads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth for each processor?

A: The AMD Opteron 6234 provides 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth over a quad-channel DDR3 bus. The Intel Core i3-7320 delivers 38.4 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR4 bus. The Opteron has a 12.8 GB/s advantage in peak bandwidth.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore testing?

A: The Intel Core i3-7320 scores 4057 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the AMD Opteron 6234 scores 3461. The Intel chip leads by 14.7 percent in this test.

Q: Do either of these CPUs have integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i3-7320 includes Intel HD 630 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 6234 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 6234 and Intel Core i3-7320 come from fundamentally different design philosophies and market segments. The Opteron 6234 is a server and workstation part built on AMD's Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Interlagos, and belongs to the Opteron 6000 series. It uses a 32 nm process node manufactured by GlobalFoundries and contains 2,400 million transistors spread across a dual-die design with each die measuring 315 mm². The Core i3-7320, by contrast, is a desktop processor built on Intel's Kaby Lake architecture, fabricated on a 14 nm process at Intel's own foundries. The database does not list transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

The core configuration differs sharply. The Opteron organizes its 12 cores into modules, with the L2 cache listed as 2 MB per module and L3 cache as 8 MB per die. Its L1 cache totals 768 KB. The Core i3 has 2 cores and 4 threads, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron's cache hierarchy is designed for high core counts and sustained throughput, while the Core i3 relies on a smaller, faster per-core layout.

Memory architecture also separates the two. The Opteron supports DDR3 over a quad-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth and includes ECC support, a requirement for many server workloads. The Core i3 supports DDR4 over a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth and has no ECC support. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Opteron uses Gen 2, while the Core i3 uses Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Process technology and release timing further distinguish them. The Opteron was released on 2011-11-13, while the Core i3 arrived on 2017-01-02. The Opteron is end-of-life, while the Core i3 remains active in production. The Opteron's launch MSRP was $377, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the Core i3. The Opteron uses AMD Socket G34, and the Core i3 uses Intel Socket 1151. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows the Intel Core i3-7320 winning every recorded head-to-head test. The Opteron 6234 does not win a single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. However, the Opteron's strengths appear outside the Cinebench tests recorded in the database, particularly in its core count, ECC memory support, and higher memory bandwidth. For server environments running heavily threaded workloads that scale across many cores, the Opteron's 12 cores and quad-channel memory provide structural advantages that the Core i3 cannot match.

The Core i3-7320 wins in all measured Cinebench scenarios, both multicore and singlecore. Its 4.10 GHz base clock gives it a large frequency advantage over the Opteron's 2.40 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. The Core i3 also benefits from a much newer architecture and process node, which improves instructions per clock. For desktop users running applications that favor high single-thread performance, the Core i3 is the clear choice based on the recorded data.

The Opteron's case rests on its server-oriented feature set. ECC memory support and 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth are meaningful for workstation reliability and memory-intensive tasks. The Core i3's lack of ECC support and lower memory bandwidth limit its appeal in those roles. The Opteron's 12 threads also provide a raw parallelism advantage for workloads that can use them, even if the Cinebench results do not reflect it.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Opteron 6234 has 12 cores and 12 threads, while the Core i3-7320 has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for the Opteron and 4.10 GHz for the Core i3. The Opteron has a boost clock of 3.00 GHz, while the Core i3 has no boost clock listed. Thermal design power differs substantially: the Opteron is rated at 115 W, and the Core i3 at 51 W.

Sockets are incompatible: the Opteron uses AMD Socket G34, and the Core i3 uses Intel Socket 1151. The Opteron is built on 32 nm at GlobalFoundries, while the Core i3 uses 14 nm at Intel. The Opteron's architecture is Bulldozer with the codename Interlagos, while the Core i3 uses Kaby Lake architecture with the same codename. The Opteron has 2,400 million transistors and a die size of 2x 315 mm²; neither figure is listed for the Core i3.

Cache configurations differ in structure and size. The Opteron has 768 KB of L1, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The Core i3 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR3 for the Opteron and DDR4 for the Core i3. Memory buses are quad-channel and dual-channel, respectively, with bandwidths of 51.2 GB/s and 38.4 GB/s. ECC support is present only on the Opteron. PCIe generations are Gen 2 for the Opteron and Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the Core i3.

The Core i3 includes Intel HD 630 integrated graphics; the Opteron has none. Market segments are server/workstation for the Opteron and desktop for the Core i3. Production status is end-of-life for the Opteron and active for the Core i3. Release dates are 2011-11-13 and 2017-01-02. The Opteron has a launch MSRP of $377, while the Core i3 has none recorded. Part numbers are OS6234WKTCGGU for the Opteron and SR358 for the Core i3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head benchmarks cover five Cinebench tests, and the Intel Core i3-7320 wins all five. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R20 singlecore, where the Core i3 scores 240 against the Opteron's 204, a 15 percent difference. The other four tests show a consistent 14.7 percent lead for the Core i3.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core i3 scores 408 and the Opteron scores 348. The Core i3 leads by 14.7 percent. This is notable because the Opteron has 12 cores and 12 threads, yet the 2-core, 4-thread Core i3 outperforms it in a multicore render test. The Opteron's Bulldozer architecture and lower clock speed appear to limit its multicore throughput in this workload.

Cinebench R20 multicore shows the same pattern. The Core i3 scores 1703, and the Opteron scores 1453, again a 14.7 percent gap. Cinebench R23 multicore follows suit: the Core i3 scores 4057, and the Opteron scores 3461, a 14.7 percent difference. The consistency of the delta across R15, R20, and R23 multicore suggests a stable performance relationship between the two processors in this benchmark family.

Singlecore results reinforce the Core i3's advantage. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, the Core i3 scores 240 against 204 for the Opteron, a 15 percent lead. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the Core i3 scores 572 against 488, a 14.7 percent lead. The Core i3's 4.10 GHz base clock and Kaby Lake architecture give it a decisive edge in single-threaded performance. The Opteron's 3.00 GHz boost clock cannot compensate for its older architecture and lower frequency.

The average benchmark scores place the two processors close together overall. The Opteron has an average benchmark score of 1191, and the Core i3 has 1173. Both sit at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs in the database. The Opteron's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4460T with an average score of 1190 and a delta of 0.1 percent, and the Intel Core i7-8665UE with a score of 1193 and a delta of negative 0.1 percent. The Core i3's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3635QM with a score of 1170 and a delta of 0.3 percent, and the Intel Core i5-3570S with a score of 1169 and a delta of 0.4 percent.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-7320 outperforms the AMD Opteron 6234 in every recorded Cinebench test. The Core i3 wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, with leads ranging from 14.7 percent to 15 percent. For any workload measured in these tests, the Core i3 is the faster processor. Desktop users running Cinebench-style rendering tasks should choose the Core i3 based on the recorded scores.

The Opteron 6234 remains relevant for a different set of requirements. Its 12 cores, ECC memory support, quad-channel DDR3 bus, and 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth target server and workstation environments. The database shows the Opteron at the 33rd percentile with an average benchmark score of 1191, nearly identical to the Core i3's 1173, but its structural features serve reliability and parallel throughput in ways the Cinebench results do not capture. Buyers building or maintaining a server platform with Socket G34 and ECC requirements should consider the Opteron.

The Core i3-7320 is the better choice for general desktop use, single-threaded applications, and any workload represented by the Cinebench suite. Its 14 nm Kaby Lake architecture, 4.10 GHz base clock, and integrated Intel HD 630 graphics make it a self-contained desktop processor. The Opteron's lack of integrated graphics and higher 115 W TDP further position it as a server part rather than a desktop option.

The verdict depends on the use case. The data shows the Core i3 winning every benchmark, so performance seekers in the tested workloads should pick it. The Opteron's value lies in its server feature set and core count, not in the Cinebench scores recorded here. Neither processor is unlocked, and both sit at the same 33rd percentile, but the Core i3 delivers the recorded performance wins.