AMD Opteron 6234 vs Intel Core i5-2400 Comparison

The AMD Opteron 6234 and Intel Core i5-2400 are both end-of-life processors from 2011, yet they represent fundamentally different design philosophies: a 12-core server chip aimed at throughput versus a 4-core desktop chip aimed at efficiency. Benchmark data shows the Opteron 6234 winning every single head-to-head test, though the margins are consistently narrow, ranging from 5.2% to 5.8%. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1191 for the AMD part versus 1187 for the Intel part — placing both at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs. This is a matchup defined by small, consistent edges rather than dramatic victories.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Opteron 6234's advantage is uniform across all five Cinebench tests, with no single workload producing a decisive blowout. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 348 against the Intel's 329, a 5.8% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar pattern: 1453 versus 1374, a 5.7% difference. The R23 multi-core result repeats the trend with 3461 versus 3272, again 5.8% ahead. These multi-core margins are notable because the Opteron 6234 has triple the core count — 12 cores versus 4 — yet the performance gap is far smaller than that core disparity would suggest.

Single-core performance tells a comparable story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron 6234 scores 204 against the i5-2400's 194, a 5.2% edge. The R23 single-core test shows 488 versus 462, a 5.6% lead. This is surprising: the i5-2400 has a higher base clock (3.10 GHz versus 2.40 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.40 GHz versus 3.00 GHz), yet the AMD chip still wins single-threaded tests. The data indicates that the Opteron 6234's Bulldozer architecture, despite its server orientation, delivers competitive single-core throughput per clock.

The head-to-head table shows 5 wins for the Opteron 6234 and 0 for the Core i5-2400. However, the average benchmark scores tell a more nuanced story. The Opteron 6234's average of 1191 places it 0.1% above the Intel Core i5-4460T and 0.1% below the Intel Core i7-8665UE. The i5-2400's average of 1187 puts it 0.2% below the i5-4460T and 0.3% below the Opteron 6234. In context, both chips sit in the same performance tier, surrounded by low-power mobile and desktop parts from several generations later.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but modest winner: the AMD Opteron 6234 takes every Cinebench test, with advantages between 5.2% and 5.8%. The consistency of these margins across single-core and multi-core workloads is the deciding factor. The Intel Core i5-2400 never manages to flip a single benchmark in its favor, despite having a 700 MHz base clock advantage and a 400 MHz boost clock advantage. The Opteron 6234's 12 cores and 12 threads, combined with a 115W TDP, deliver more raw compute in these specific rendering workloads.

That said, the i5-2400 is not without its own statistical merits. Its average benchmark score of 1187 is only 4 points behind the Opteron 6234's 1191. The two chips share the same 33rd percentile ranking among all CPUs. For users who prioritize the specific Cinebench tests shown here, the Opteron 6234 is the better performer. The Core i5-2400's case rests on factors outside these benchmarks: it has a lower 95W TDP, integrated Intel HD 2000 graphics, and a dual-channel memory bus that is simpler to populate. From a pure performance-per-watt perspective, the i5-2400 achieves 92% of the Opteron 6234's multi-core R23 score (3272 versus 3461) while drawing 20W less power.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from radically different design lineages. The AMD Opteron 6234 uses the Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Interlagos, built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,400 million transistors across two 315 mm² dies. The Intel Core i5-2400 uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, built on a 32 nm process at Intel, with 1,160 million transistors on a single 216 mm² die. The transistor count difference is substantial — the AMD chip has more than double the transistors — but the performance delta does not reflect that investment.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Opteron 6234 has 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The i5-2400 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip's L3 cache is split across two dies, while the Intel chip's L3 is shared across all four cores. Memory support also diverges: the Opteron 6234 uses quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth, while the i5-2400 uses dual-channel DDR3 with no bandwidth figure listed. The AMD part supports ECC memory; the Intel part does not.

Socket and platform differences are fundamental. The Opteron 6234 uses AMD Socket G34, a server socket, while the i5-2400 uses Intel Socket 1155, a mainstream desktop socket. The AMD chip's PCIe is Gen 2, while the Intel chip's is Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU. The i5-2400 includes integrated Intel HD 2000 graphics; the Opteron 6234 has none. The market segments reflect this: the Opteron 6234 is a server/workstation part, while the i5-2400 is a desktop part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6234 has 12 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i5-2400 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Opteron 6234 scores 488 versus the i5-2400's 462, a 5.6% advantage for the AMD chip. In R20 single-core, the Opteron 6234 leads 204 to 194, a 5.2% edge.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Opteron 6234 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-2400 does not support ECC memory.

Q: What are the memory channel configurations?

A: The Opteron 6234 uses quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The i5-2400 uses dual-channel DDR3, with no bandwidth figure listed in the data.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-2400 includes Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 6234 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The Opteron 6234 has an average benchmark score of 1191. The i5-2400 has an average score of 1187, a difference of 0.3% in favor of the AMD part.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6234 wins in every Cinebench test recorded, making it the clear choice for multi-threaded rendering workloads in this comparison. Its 12-core configuration and quad-channel memory bus give it a structural advantage in tasks that scale with core count and memory bandwidth. The 5.8% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and R23 multi-core, along with the 5.7% lead in R20 multi-core, indicates that the Opteron 6234 is the stronger compute engine for CPU-bound server or workstation tasks. Its ECC memory support further positions it for reliability-critical environments.

The Intel Core i5-2400 wins in no benchmark category, but its profile suggests different strengths. It has a lower 95W TDP versus the Opteron's 115W, making it the more energy-efficient option. It includes integrated graphics, which the AMD chip lacks entirely. Its dual-channel memory setup is simpler and more common in desktop motherboards. The i5-2400's higher base clock of 3.10 GHz and boost clock of 3.40 GHz narrow the single-core gap to just 5.2-5.6%, which is remarkable given the core count difference. For users constrained by power, cooling, or platform simplicity, the i5-2400 is the practical choice, even though it loses every benchmark recorded here.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Opteron 6234 | Intel Core i5-2400 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 12 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| TDP | 115 W | 95 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket G34 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Bulldozer | Sandy Bridge |

| Codename | Interlagos | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 32 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 2,400 million | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | 2x 315 mm² | 216 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 768 KB | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per module) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (per die) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Intel HD 2000 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2011-11-13 | 2011-01-08 |

| Launch MSRP | $377 | Not listed |

The specification table reveals why the benchmark results are so close. The Opteron 6234 compensates for lower clock speeds with triple the cores and more than double the transistors. The i5-2400 compensates for fewer cores with significantly higher clocks and a more efficient per-core design. The result is a near-tie in average benchmark score, with the AMD chip edging ahead by 4 points. The release dates are ten months apart, with the i5-2400 arriving in January 2011 and the Opteron 6234 in November 2011. Both are end-of-life products, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.