AMD Opteron 6238 vs Intel Core i5-6500T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a remarkably consistent picture: the AMD Opteron 6238 wins every single recorded comparison against the Intel Core i5-6500T. Across six Cinebench tests, the Opteron holds a lead that never dips below 17.5% and peaks at exactly 18%. This is not a case of one chip edging out another in a single workload; it is a systematic margin that repeats across every render test in the database.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron 6238 scores 481 against 408 for the i5-6500T, a 17.9% advantage. The single-core R15 result is nearly identical in percentage terms: 67 versus 57, a 17.5% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore gap expands slightly to 18% with scores of 2008 and 1702, while the single-core test shows 283 versus 240, again a 17.9% difference. Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern: 4781 against 4054 in multicore (17.9%) and 675 versus 572 in single-core (exactly 18%).

What stands out is the consistency of the delta. Whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded, the percentage gap hovers in a narrow band between 17.5% and 18%. This suggests the performance difference is not workload-dependent but rather a fundamental throughput characteristic baked into the two designs. The Opteron simply delivers more compute per clock cycle in these render tests, regardless of how many threads are active.

The average benchmark score reinforces the story. The Opteron 6238 carries an average score of 1383, while the i5-6500T sits at 1362. The difference of 21 points is modest, but the average includes the i5's additional Geekbench results, which the Opteron lacks in the database. Within the shared Cinebench suite, the Opteron's dominance is unambiguous. Both processors land in the 36th percentile of all CPUs, but that equal percentile masks the consistent head-to-head margin.

The i5-6500T does have one recorded benchmark category the Opteron does not: Geekbench. The i5 posts 2843 in Geekbench multicore and 1016 in single-core. These scores cannot be compared directly to the Opteron because no Geekbench data exists for the AMD part in the database. For users relying solely on Cinebench numbers, the Opteron is the clear winner in every measured scenario.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing eras. The AMD Opteron 6238 belongs to the Opteron 6000 series, built on the Bulldozer architecture with the codename Interlagos. It uses a 32 nm process node from GlobalFoundries and packs 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die layout totaling 2x 315 mm². The Intel Core i5-6500T, by contrast, is a Skylake part built on Intel's 14 nm process, with a die size of 122 mm² and no transistor count recorded in the database.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The Opteron offers 12 cores and 12 threads, while the i5-6500T provides 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither chip supports simultaneous multithreading, so thread counts equal core counts. The Opteron compensates for its older architecture with triple the core count, and the benchmark results show that this raw parallelism advantage translates into consistent render performance wins.

Cache hierarchies reflect the different design targets. The Opteron has 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The i5-6500T uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron's per-die L3 arrangement means the total cache pool depends on the dual-die structure, while the Intel part uses a single shared pool. The Bulldozer module-based L2 design also differs from Skylake's per-core L2 allocation.

Memory support separates the two further. The Opteron uses DDR3 memory over a quad-channel bus, delivering 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The i5-6500T supports both DDR3 and DDR4 over a dual-channel bus, with 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The Opteron also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i5. The AMD part's higher memory bandwidth aligns with its server/workstation positioning, while the Intel chip's dual-channel setup suits a desktop power envelope.

PCIe generations differ as well. The Opteron provides PCIe Gen 2, while the i5-6500T offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU. The Intel chip includes integrated graphics in the form of HD Graphics 530; the Opteron has no integrated graphics at all, which is typical for a server-oriented processor. The Opteron's socket is AMD Socket G34, while the i5 uses Intel Socket 1151.

Where Each One Wins

The Opteron 6238 wins every Cinebench test in the database, both single-core and multicore. That means for rendering workloads measured by Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the AMD part is the faster processor across the board. The largest margin is 18% in Cinebench R20 multicore and Cinebench R23 single-core, while the smallest is 17.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core. There is no scenario in the recorded data where the i5-6500T comes out ahead.

The i5-6500T's only recorded advantage is having Geekbench results at all. With a Geekbench multicore score of 2843 and a single-core score of 1016, it offers data for that benchmark suite, but the Opteron has no Geekbench entry in the database, so no direct comparison is possible. For users who prioritize Geekbench as a metric, the i5 at least provides a measurable data point, but it cannot claim a head-to-head win without a corresponding Opteron score.

The Opteron's consistent 18% lead in single-core tests is particularly notable. Bulldozer's reputation for weak single-thread performance does not hold up in this direct comparison. Against the low-power Skylake part, the Opteron's single-core Cinebench scores are decisively higher. The i5-6500T's 35 W TDP and low clock speeds likely contribute to this outcome, as the Opteron runs at a 2.60 GHz base clock and 3.20 GHz boost, slightly higher than the i5's 2.50 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost.

In multicore workloads, the Opteron's 12 cores versus 4 cores should produce a much larger gap than 18%, but the older Bulldozer architecture and the Cinebench scaling curve compress the difference. The data shows that the Opteron's additional cores do help, but not proportionally to the 3x core count advantage. The i5's newer Skylake cores are more efficient per thread, yet they still fall short in every measured test.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category in the database. Core counts: the Opteron has 12 cores, the i5 has 4. Threads: 12 versus 4. Base clock: 2.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz. Boost clock: 3.20 GHz versus 3.10 GHz. TDP: 115 W versus 35 W. The Opteron draws substantially more power, reflecting its server-grade design and higher core count.

Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket G34 for the Opteron, Intel Socket 1151 for the i5. Architecture and codename differ completely: Bulldozer/Interlagos versus Skylake/Skylake. Process node: 32 nm from GlobalFoundries versus 14 nm from Intel. Die size: 2x 315 mm² versus 122 mm². The Opteron's dual-die design is physically much larger.

Memory specifications diverge on bus width and bandwidth. The Opteron uses quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The i5 uses dual-channel DDR3 or DDR4 with 34.1 GB/s. ECC support: the Opteron has it, the i5 does not. PCIe: the Opteron is Gen 2, the i5 is Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics: the Opteron has none, the i5 includes HD Graphics 530.

Cache layouts differ in structure and allocation. The Opteron has 768 KB L1, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die. The i5 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The market segments differ: server/workstation for the Opteron, desktop for the i5. Both are end-of-life and both have locked multipliers. The Opteron's launch MSRP was $455; no launch MSRP is recorded for the i5-6500T. The Opteron released in 2011, the i5 in 2015. Part numbers: OS6238WKTCGGU for the Opteron, SR2L8 for the i5.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6238 has 12 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i5-6500T has 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither chip supports additional threads beyond its core count.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The Opteron leads by 18% in two tests: Cinebench R20 multicore and Cinebench R23 single-core. The smallest margin is 17.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-6500T win any benchmark in the database?

A: No. The i5-6500T wins zero of the six head-to-head Cinebench tests recorded. The Opteron 6238 wins all six. The i5 does have Geekbench scores (2843 multicore, 1016 single-core) that the Opteron lacks, but those are not head-to-head comparisons.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The Opteron 6238 supports 51.2 GB/s over quad-channel DDR3. The i5-6500T supports 34.1 GB/s over dual-channel DDR3 or DDR4. The Opteron also supports ECC memory, while the i5 does not.

Q: Are the average benchmark scores close?

A: The Opteron has an average benchmark score of 1383, and the i5 has 1362. The 21-point difference is modest because the i5's average includes Geekbench results that the Opteron does not have. In the shared Cinebench tests, the Opteron consistently leads by roughly 18%.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The i5-6500T includes Intel HD Graphics 530. The Opteron 6238 has no integrated graphics, which aligns with its server/workstation market segment.