AMD Opteron 6234 vs Intel Core i5-4440 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive picture: the Intel Core i5-4440 wins all five recorded head-to-head comparisons against the AMD Opteron 6234. The most striking pattern is the consistency of the margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4440 scores 410 against the Opteron's 348, a 15.1% advantage. That same 15.1% delta appears again in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1712 vs 1453) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (4077 vs 3461). The single-core results tell a similar story, with the i5-4440 leading by 15.4% in Cinebench R20 single-core (241 vs 204) and by 15.1% in Cinebench R23 single-core (575 vs 488).

What makes this outcome notable is the hardware disparity. The Opteron 6234 is a 12-core, 12-thread server processor with a 2.40 GHz base clock and 3.00 GHz boost. The i5-4440 is a 4-core, 4-thread desktop chip with a 3.10 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. Despite having three times the core count, the Opteron cannot overcome the per-core efficiency gap. The data shows that the i5-4440's higher clock speeds and more modern architecture deliver superior results across every workload tested.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this hierarchy. The Opteron 6234 posts an average benchmark score of 1191, while the i5-4440 sits at 1179. These figures are remarkably close, differing by only 1.0%, yet the head-to-head results show a consistent 15% gap in the Cinebench suite. This suggests that the Opteron's average score benefits from workloads outside the Cinebench family where its core count may be more relevant, but within the tested benchmarks, the Intel part is uniformly faster. Both processors sit at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier overall, but the i5-4440's wins are unambiguous.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 6234 uses the Bulldozer architecture on a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries, built on the Interlagos codename. It packs 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die design spanning 2x 315 mm². The Intel Core i5-4440 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process from Intel's own fabs, with 1,400 million transistors on a single 177 mm² die. The process node advantage alone — 22 nm versus 32 nm — explains much of the efficiency gap.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Opteron 6234 has 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The i5-4440 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron's total cache capacity is larger, but the i5-4440's per-core allocation is more generous for its four cores. The Opteron's L2 is organized per module, reflecting Bulldozer's shared floating-point unit design, while the i5-4440 gives each core dedicated L2.

Memory architecture also diverges. The Opteron 6234 supports quad-channel DDR3 with a theoretical bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s and full ECC support, appropriate for its server/workstation market segment. The i5-4440 uses dual-channel DDR3 with no ECC capability, reflecting its desktop positioning. The Opteron also carries PCIe Gen 2, while the i5-4440 has PCIe Gen 3. The Intel part includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600); the Opteron has none. The Opteron uses AMD Socket G34, while the i5-4440 uses Intel Socket 1150.

Market positioning further distinguishes them. The Opteron 6234 is a server/workstation part, released in November 2011 with a launch MSRP of $377 and now end-of-life. The i5-4440 is a desktop processor, released in August 2013. The Opteron's generation is listed as "Opteron (Interlagos)," while the i5-4440 is "Core i5 (Haswell)." Both have locked multipliers, so neither offers overclocking headroom out of the box.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-4440 wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 4077 versus the Opteron 6234's 3461, a 15.1% lead. The same 15.1% margin appears in Cinebench R15 (410 vs 348) and Cinebench R20 (1712 vs 1453).

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The i5-4440 leads by 15.4% in Cinebench R20 single-core (241 vs 204) and by 15.1% in Cinebench R23 single-core (575 vs 488). The Opteron 6234 has no single-core R15 score recorded, while the i5-4440 posts 57 in that test.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The Opteron 6234 has an average score of 1191, and the i5-4440 has 1179. The difference is just 1.0%, with the Opteron slightly ahead in this aggregate metric despite losing every head-to-head test.

Q: Do both processors occupy the same performance percentile?

A: Yes. Both the Opteron 6234 and the i5-4440 sit at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they perform in the same overall tier despite their architectural differences.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6234 supports ECC memory, consistent with its server/workstation market segment. The Intel Core i5-4440 does not support ECC, reflecting its desktop orientation.

Q: What are the transistor counts for each chip?

A: The Opteron 6234 contains 2,400 million transistors across its dual-die design (2x 315 mm²). The i5-4440 has 1,400 million transistors on a single 177 mm² die.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Opteron 6234 | Intel Core i5-4440 |

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

| Cores | 12 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 4 |

| Base clock | 2.40 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| TDP | 115 W | 84 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket G34 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Bulldozer | Haswell |

| Codename | Interlagos | Haswell |

| Process node | 32 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

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

| Die size | 2x 315 mm² | 177 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 specified |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3 |

| Integrated graphics | None | Intel HD 4600 |

| Market segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Release date | 2011-11-13 | 2013-08-31 |

| Part number | OS6234WKTCGGU | SR14F |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4440 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. It takes all five Cinebench tests, including both multi-core and single-core variants. The i5-4440's advantages are consistent across the board, with deltas of 15.1% or 15.4% in every test. This makes it the clear choice for any workload represented by the Cinebench suite, which typically stresses both multi-threaded rendering and single-threaded performance. The i5-4440's higher clock speeds (3.10 GHz base, 3.30 GHz boost) and efficient Haswell architecture underpin these results.

The AMD Opteron 6234 does not win any of the five head-to-head benchmarks. However, its strengths lie outside these specific tests. The Opteron offers 12 cores, quad-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC support — features absent from the i5-4440. Its average benchmark score of 1191 is slightly higher than the i5-4440's 1179, indicating that in aggregate performance across its full benchmark suite, the Opteron is marginally ahead. This suggests workloads that heavily leverage core count, memory bandwidth, or error-correcting memory could favor the Opteron, even though the Cinebench results do not reflect that.

The market segments tell the story. The Opteron 6234 is a server/workstation processor with a 115 W TDP, designed for multi-socket systems on G34. The i5-4440 is a desktop chip with an 84 W TDP and integrated graphics, built for single-socket consumer motherboards on Socket 1150. The i5-4440's PCIe Gen 3 support and integrated GPU make it more suitable for general desktop use, while the Opteron's ECC and quad-channel memory target reliability and throughput in server environments.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4440 outperforms the AMD Opteron 6234 in every recorded Cinebench test. With a consistent 15.1% lead across multi-core tests and a 15.4% lead in single-core performance, the i5-4440 is the superior processor for the workloads represented in this benchmark suite. Its 4 cores and 4 threads are enough to exceed the 12-core Opteron in rendering tasks, which speaks to the efficiency of the Haswell architecture compared to Bulldozer.

The Opteron 6234 should be chosen by users who need its server-specific features: ECC memory support, quad-channel memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and the ability to operate in multi-socket G34 platforms. Its higher average benchmark score (1191 vs 1179) hints that outside the Cinebench suite, the Opteron may hold its own or even excel. For server workloads that are not captured by these tests, the Opteron's 12 cores and 2,400 million transistors offer capabilities the i5-4440 simply does not have.

The i5-4440 should be chosen by desktop users who prioritize application performance as measured by Cinebench. Its lower 84 W TDP, integrated HD 4600 graphics, and PCIe Gen 3 support make it a practical, efficient choice for a consumer system. Both processors sit at the 33rd percentile, so neither is a performance leader in the broader CPU landscape, but within this comparison, the i5-4440 is demonstrably faster. The Opteron 6234 remains relevant only for specific server use cases where its memory bandwidth, ECC, and core count matter more than raw Cinebench scores. For anyone comparing these two purely on benchmark performance, the data points squarely to the Intel Core i5-4440.