AMD Opteron 6234 vs Intel Core i5-2500 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores, the Intel Core i5-2500 or the AMD Opteron 6234?

A: The AMD Opteron 6234 has 12 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-2500 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the difference in base clock speed between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-2500 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz, while the AMD Opteron 6234 has a base clock of 2.40 GHz. The Intel part also boosts higher, to 3.70 GHz versus 3.00 GHz for the AMD.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-2500 has an average benchmark score of 1220, which places it at the 34th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Opteron 6234 has an average score of 1191, placing it at the 33rd percentile.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Opteron 6234 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-2500 does not.

Q: What is the memory bus configuration for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-2500 uses a dual-channel DDR3 memory bus. The AMD Opteron 6234 uses a quad-channel DDR3 bus with a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-2500 includes Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 6234 has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a remarkably close contest between these two processors, despite their very different designs. The Intel Core i5-2500 wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but the margins are consistently narrow, ranging from 0.5% to 1%. The Intel part holds a slight edge in both single-core and multi-core workloads across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

For desktop users seeking a compact, self-contained solution with integrated graphics and lower power consumption, the Intel Core i5-2500 is the clear choice from this data. Its 95 W TDP is lower than the AMD part's 115 W, and it carries the advantage of built-in Intel HD 2000 graphics, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems.

For server or workstation environments where ECC memory support is mandatory, the AMD Opteron 6234 becomes the necessary pick. Its quad-channel memory bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, combined with ECC support, make it suitable for reliability-focused deployments. The 12-core configuration also provides a foundation for heavily threaded server workloads, even if the recorded benchmark scores do not reflect a performance advantage over the Intel part.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the near-parity: the Intel Core i5-2500 sits at 1220 average, while the AMD Opteron 6234 sits at 1191. Both processors occupy similar percentile positions, 34th and 33rd respectively. Neither part offers a compelling performance lead over the other in the recorded tests, so the decision rests on platform features rather than raw speed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows the Intel Core i5-2500 winning every direct comparison, but by the slimmest of margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel part scores 350 against the AMD's 348, a delta of 0.6%. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where Intel scores 1461 versus AMD's 1453, again a 0.6% difference.

Single-core results follow the same trajectory. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel Core i5-2500 scores 206 against the Opteron's 204, a 1% advantage. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows 491 versus 488, a 0.6% margin. The largest relative gap in the entire comparison is that 1% single-core R20 result, still a negligible difference in real-world terms.

The multi-core Cinebench R23 result shows 3479 for Intel and 3461 for AMD, a 0.5% delta. This is particularly telling because the AMD Opteron 6234 has three times the core count of the Intel part (12 versus 4). Despite this massive core advantage, the AMD processor cannot outperform the Intel chip in any recorded multi-core test. The Intel Core i5-2500's higher clock speeds, 3.30 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost, appear to compensate fully for its lower core count in these workloads.

The Geekbench results, available only for the Intel part, show a multi-core score of 1883 and a single-core score of 670. These figures contribute to the Intel's average benchmark score of 1220, which edges out the AMD's 1191 by roughly 2.4%. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the Intel Core i7-3632QM at 1219 (0.1% delta) and the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 at 1218 (0.2% delta). The AMD Opteron 6234's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4460T at 1190 (0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i7-8665UE at 1193 (-0.1% delta).

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge significantly in core configuration. The Intel Core i5-2500 offers 4 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Opteron 6234 offers 12 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds also differ: the Intel part runs at 3.30 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost, while the AMD part runs at 2.40 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost.

Power consumption differs, with the Intel part rated at 95 W TDP and the AMD part at 115 W TDP. The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses Socket 1155, while AMD uses Socket G34. The Intel processor supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the AMD processor supports PCIe Gen 2.

Memory support shows clear differences. Both support DDR3, but the Intel part uses a dual-channel bus while the AMD part uses a quad-channel bus with a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the AMD Opteron 6234. The Intel Core i5-2500 includes Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics, while the AMD part has none.

The market segments differ: Intel targets desktop, AMD targets server and workstation. The AMD Opteron 6234 has a launch MSRP of $377, while the Intel part has no recorded launch MSRP. Both processors are end-of-life and have locked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-2500 is built on the Sandy Bridge architecture, fabricated on a 32 nm process at Intel's foundry. It contains 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3.

The AMD Opteron 6234 uses the Bulldozer architecture with the codename Interlagos, part of the Opteron 6000 series. It is fabricated on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries, containing 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die design measuring 2x 315 mm². The cache layout differs substantially: 768 KB L1 total, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die.

The Bulldozer architecture uses a modular design where pairs of cores share resources, which explains the cache organization. The Intel Sandy Bridge design uses a more traditional per-core cache arrangement with a shared L3 pool. The Intel part's integrated memory controller supports dual-channel DDR3, while the AMD part's controller supports quad-channel DDR3 with higher bandwidth.

The Intel Core i5-2500 was released in January 2011, while the AMD Opteron 6234 followed in November 2011. The Intel part belongs to the Core i5 (Sandy Bridge) generation, while the AMD part belongs to the Opteron (Interlagos) generation. The foundry difference is notable: Intel fabricated its own chip, while AMD relied on GlobalFoundries. The transistor count difference, 1,160 million versus 2,400 million, reflects the AMD part's larger dual-die design and higher core count.