AMD Opteron 6234 vs Intel Core i5-3450 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3450 and AMD Opteron 6234 are products of two divergent design philosophies: a quad-core desktop processor from Intel's Ivy Bridge generation and a twelve-core server chip from AMD's Bulldozer architecture. In the five shared Cinebench tests, the i5-3450 wins every single one, with margins ranging from 11.0% to 11.3%. Despite having three times the core count, the Opteron cannot match the Intel part's per-core efficiency. The average benchmark score, however, tells a slightly different story: the Opteron 6234 records 1191 versus 1166 for the i5-3450, a difference that favors AMD, but that average includes benchmarks not present in the head-to-head set. Both processors sit at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison consists of five Cinebench tests, all of which the Intel Core i5-3450 wins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3450 scores 387 against 348 for the Opteron, an 11.2% advantage. This is a striking result because the Opteron has 12 cores to the i5's 4, yet the Intel part still leads by a wide margin. The single-core R20 test shows an 11.3% lead (227 vs 204), the largest delta in the set. The R20 multi-core test yields 1613 for the i5 versus 1453 for the Opteron, an 11.0% gap. The R23 multi-core test shows 3842 versus 3461, also an 11.0% difference, and the R23 single-core test records 542 versus 488, an 11.1% lead. The consistency of these margins, all hovering near 11%, points to a fundamental per-clock performance advantage for the Intel architecture rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Opteron 6234 does not have a Cinebench R15 single-core result in the database, so the comparison is limited to these five tests. Even in the multi-core tests, where the Opteron's core count should theoretically help, the i5-3450 maintains its lead. This suggests that the Opteron's Bulldozer modules, which share resources between pairs of cores, do not scale as efficiently as Intel's individual cores in these rendering workloads.

Context from the nearest rivals reinforces the picture. The i5-3450's closest competitor in average score is the AMD Opteron 6220, which scores 1168 with a delta of -0.2%, meaning the i5 is essentially tied with that Opteron. The Opteron 6234's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-4460T, which scores 1190 with a delta of 0.1%, so the Opteron is marginally ahead of that Intel part. These figures show that the Opteron 6234 is not a weak processor overall, but it simply cannot match the i5-3450 in the shared Cinebench tests.

Where Each One Wins

In the tested Cinebench workloads, the Intel Core i5-3450 wins outright. There is no benchmark in the head-to-head set where the Opteron 6234 takes the lead. However, the Opteron has strengths outside those tests that may matter for specific use cases. It supports ECC memory, which the i5 does not, a critical feature for server and workstation environments where data integrity is paramount. The Opteron also has a quad-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, double the 25.6 GB/s of the i5's dual-channel setup. This higher memory throughput could benefit workloads that are heavily memory-bound, though the Cinebench results do not reflect such a scenario.

The Opteron's cache hierarchy is also larger in aggregate: it has 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die, while the i5 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron's larger caches and higher memory bandwidth are typical of server-oriented designs, but they do not translate into wins in the rendering benchmarks. The i5-3450, on the other hand, includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500), which the Opteron lacks entirely. For a desktop system that does not use a discrete GPU, this is a practical advantage.

The average benchmark score, which includes tests beyond the head-to-head set, favors the Opteron: 1191 versus 1166. This suggests that in other workloads, the Opteron may perform relatively better, but the database does not provide those individual scores. The data we have shows that in the five Cinebench tests, the i5-3450 is consistently ahead, and that is the only direct comparison available.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded data, the Intel Core i5-3450 is the superior processor for the Cinebench workloads tested. It wins all five comparisons with margins around 11%, a decisive and consistent advantage. For users who prioritize single-threaded and multi-threaded performance in rendering tasks, the i5-3450 is the clear choice. The Opteron 6234, despite its higher core count and larger memory bandwidth, cannot overcome the per-core efficiency deficit. The data shows no benchmark where the Opteron wins, so any decision to choose it must be based on non-performance factors.

The Opteron 6234 may still be the right pick for a server environment that requires ECC memory and higher memory throughput, as those features are not present on the i5-3450. Its 12 cores and 12 threads could also be beneficial in workloads that are not represented in the Cinebench suite, but the available evidence does not support a performance advantage. Both processors are end-of-life, and both sit at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a top-tier part by modern standards. For the specific tests in the database, the Intel Core i5-3450 is the winner.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-3450 wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 387 versus 348 for the Opteron, an 11.2% lead. In R20 multi-core, it scores 1613 versus 1453, an 11% lead. In R23 multi-core, it scores 3842 versus 3461, an 11% lead.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 6234 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Opteron 6234 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-3450 does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Opteron 6234 has a quad-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i5-3450 has a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s.

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The i5-3450 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Opteron 6234 has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-3450 includes Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 6234 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of each?

A: The Intel Core i5-3450 had a launch MSRP of $174. The AMD Opteron 6234 had a launch MSRP of $377.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in their design and target markets. The i5-3450 is a desktop part built on Intel's 22 nm process, while the Opteron 6234 is a server chip on AMD's 32 nm process. The i5 uses the Ivy Bridge architecture and fits into Intel Socket 1155, whereas the Opteron uses the Bulldozer architecture (codenamed Interlagos) and fits into AMD Socket G34.

• Cores and Threads: i5-3450: 4 cores, 4 threads. Opteron 6234: 12 cores, 12 threads.
• Clock Speeds: i5-3450: base 3.10 GHz, boost 3.50 GHz. Opteron 6234: base 2.40 GHz, boost 3.00 GHz.
• TDP: i5-3450: 77 W. Opteron 6234: 115 W.
• Process Node: i5-3450: 22 nm. Opteron 6234: 32 nm.
• Foundry: i5-3450: Intel. Opteron 6234: GlobalFoundries.
• Transistors: i5-3450: 1,400 million. Opteron 6234: 2,400 million.
• Die Size: i5-3450: 160 mm². Opteron 6234: 2x 315 mm².
• Cache: i5-3450: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 6 MB shared L3. Opteron 6234: 768 KB L1 total, 2 MB L2 per module, 8 MB L3 per die.
• Memory Support: Both support DDR3, but the i5 uses dual-channel with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Opteron uses quad-channel with 51.2 GB/s.
• ECC Memory: i5-3450: not supported. Opteron 6234: supported.
• PCIe: i5-3450: Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only). Opteron 6234: Gen 2.
• Integrated Graphics: i5-3450: Intel HD 2500. Opteron 6234: none.
• Market Segment: i5-3450: Desktop. Opteron 6234: Server/Workstation.
• Release Date: i5-3450: 2012-04-28. Opteron 6234: 2011-11-13.
• Part Number: i5-3450: SR0PF. Opteron 6234: OS6234WKTCGGU.

The Opteron's larger die and higher transistor count reflect its 12-core design, but the i5's smaller 22 nm process and higher clock speeds give it a per-core advantage that dominates the Cinebench results. The Opteron's quad-channel memory and ECC support are server-oriented features that the i5 lacks, but they do not appear in the benchmark scores. The data shows that for the tested workloads, the i5-3450 is the more efficient and faster processor.