AMD Opteron 6238 vs Intel Core i7-2600 Comparison

The benchmark data presents a clear, if unexpected, picture: the AMD Opteron 6238, a twelve-core server processor, wins every single head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Core i7-2600, a quad-core desktop chip. The margins are consistent, ranging from 4.7% to 6% across all Cinebench tests. This is not a case of one chip being better at one task and the other at another; the Opteron 6238 demonstrates a uniform advantage in this specific comparison, despite the i7-2600 targeting a different market segment and having a significantly different core configuration.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the AMD Opteron 6238 comes in the Cinebench R20 single-core test, where it scores 283 against the Intel Core i7-2600’s 267, a 6% lead. This is a surprising result, as single-core performance is typically a strength for Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture. The data suggests the Opteron 6238’s higher boost clock of 3.20 GHz, compared to the i7-2600’s 3.80 GHz, is not the only factor in play, and the older Bulldozer architecture manages to edge out the newer design in this specific workload.

The multi-core results show a similar pattern. In Cinebench R15, the Opteron 6238 scores 481 versus the i7-2600’s 455, a 5.7% difference. This advantage is maintained in the more demanding Cinebench R20 test, where the Opteron 6238 scores 2008 against 1897, a 5.9% lead. The consistency of these margins, hovering just below 6%, suggests a systemic performance advantage for the AMD part in these rendering workloads, rather than a single workload-specific anomaly.

Even in the most modern test, Cinebench R23, the Opteron 6238 maintains its lead. It scores 4781 multi-core and 675 single-core, compared to the i7-2600’s 4519 and 638, respectively. Both results show a 5.8% delta. This indicates that the Opteron 6238’s advantage is not a relic of older software; it persists in current benchmark suites. The i7-2600’s additional Geekbench scores, where it posts 2409 multi-core and 712 single-core, are not part of the head-to-head comparison, but they do not alter the fact that the Opteron 6238 wins all six direct comparisons.

The Verdict

From a pure performance standpoint, the data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 6238 is the faster processor in every benchmark test recorded. If the selection is based solely on the Cinebench scores presented, the Opteron 6238 is the clear winner. The Intel Core i7-2600 does not win a single head-to-head comparison, making the decision straightforward for workloads that rely on these rendering tasks.

The Opteron 6238 is the recommended choice for any application that prioritizes multi-threaded rendering, as it demonstrates a consistent, albeit modest, performance lead. Its 12 cores and 12 threads provide a foundation for parallel workloads, and the data confirms this results in tangible benchmark advantages. The i7-2600, with its 4 cores and 8 threads, falls behind in every Cinebench test, making it the lesser option for these specific tasks.

However, the data also shows both processors occupy the same 36th percentile against all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are remarkably close (1383 for the Opteron, 1370 for the i7-2600). The overall competitive landscape places them in the same tier of performance, with the Opteron 6238’s nearest rivals including the Intel Core i7-3615QE (1381) and the Intel Core i3-9100TE (1386). The i7-2600’s nearest rivals are the AMD Opteron 6376 (1370) and the Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 (1368). This suggests that while the Opteron 6238 wins this specific matchup, neither chip is a dominant force in the broader market.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Opteron 6238 has a higher single-core score of 675, compared to the Intel Core i7-2600’s 638, a 5.8% difference.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any test?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the AMD Opteron 6238 leads by 6%, scoring 283 versus the Intel Core i7-2600’s 267.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-2600 win any of the direct comparisons?

A: No, the Intel Core i7-2600 loses all six of the head-to-head benchmark tests to the AMD Opteron 6238.

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Opteron 6238 has an average benchmark score of 1383, while the Intel Core i7-2600 has an average score of 1370, a difference of 13 points.

Q: Are these processors considered equivalent in overall performance?

A: Both processors have a percentile rank of 36 against all CPUs, indicating they perform in the same general tier, despite the Opteron 6238 winning this specific head-to-head.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Opteron 6238 has 12 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i7-2600 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ significantly in their core and thread counts. The AMD Opteron 6238 has 12 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i7-2600 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Their base and boost clocks also differ: the Opteron 6238 runs at a base of 2.60 GHz and boosts to 3.20 GHz, whereas the i7-2600 has a higher base of 3.40 GHz and boosts to 3.80 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) also varies, with the Opteron 6238 rated at 115 watts and the i7-2600 at 95 watts.

The processors use different sockets, with the AMD part using AMD Socket G34 and the Intel part using Intel Socket 1155. Their memory support also differs: the Opteron 6238 supports quad-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s and ECC memory, while the i7-2600 supports dual-channel DDR3 memory and does not support ECC. The i7-2600 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 2000), while the Opteron 6238 has none. The Opteron 6238 uses PCIe Gen 2, while the i7-2600 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 6238 is built on the Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Interlagos, and is part of the Opteron 6000 series. It is manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 32 nm process node, with 2,400 million transistors on a die size of 2x 315 mm². Its cache structure is unique: 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 8 MB of L3 cache per die. In contrast, the Intel Core i7-2600 uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, also on a 32 nm process node, but manufactured by Intel with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. Its cache is organized as 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Opteron 6238 targets the server and workstation market, with a release date of November 2011 and a launch MSRP of $455. The i7-2600 is a desktop processor released in January 2011. The Opteron’s architecture is designed for scale, with more cores and a focus on memory bandwidth, while the i7-2600’s Sandy Bridge design emphasizes higher clock speeds and per-core efficiency. The transistor count difference is substantial (2,400 million versus 1,160 million), reflecting the Opteron’s larger, multi-die design.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6238 wins in all recorded Cinebench tests, making it the clear choice for multi-threaded rendering workloads. Its 12 cores provide a significant advantage in parallel processing tasks, as evidenced by its consistent 5.7% to 6% lead in multi-core benchmarks. For any application that can utilize more than eight threads, the Opteron 6238’s architecture is demonstrably superior in this comparison.

The Intel Core i7-2600, despite losing every head-to-head test, has higher base and boost clock speeds (3.40 GHz and 3.80 GHz versus 2.60 GHz and 3.20 GHz). This could theoretically benefit workloads that are highly dependent on clock speed and cannot utilize multiple cores, but the single-core benchmark data does not support this. The i7-2600 also includes integrated graphics, a feature the Opteron 6238 lacks entirely, which could be a deciding factor for a basic system without a discrete GPU.

The data shows that the Opteron 6238’s wins are not narrow or workload-specific; they are consistent across single-core and multi-core tests. The i7-2600’s potential advantages, such as higher clocks and integrated graphics, do not translate into benchmark wins in this dataset. Therefore, the Opteron 6238 is the winner in all recorded performance metrics, while the i7-2600’s case rests on features not measured in these benchmarks, such as its integrated GPU and lower TDP.