CPU Comparison

The AMD Opteron 6272 and Intel Core i5-3570 represent two fundamentally different approaches to computing from the same era, and the benchmark data shows a clear, if narrow, overall winner. Across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Opteron 6272 wins every single one, with margins ranging from 6.0% to 6.8%. However, the average benchmark scores are nearly identical, 1288 for the Opteron versus 1286 for the i5, placing both at the 35th percentile of all CPUs. This paradox is explained by their architectural extremes: a 16-core server processor versus a 4-core desktop chip, both delivering comparable average performance through completely different means.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6272 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3570 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Opteron offers four times the core count.

Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core workloads?

A: The Opteron 6272 leads in every multi-core Cinebench test. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 4454 versus the i5-3570's 4187, a 6.4% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Opteron scores 1870 versus 1758, also a 6.4% lead.

Q: Does the Intel chip win in single-core tests?

A: No. The Opteron 6272 wins all single-core tests as well. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Opteron scores 628 versus 591, a 6.3% lead. The i5-3570 has a higher clock speed but still trails in every benchmark.

Q: What are the memory channel configurations?

A: The Opteron 6272 supports quad-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i5-3570 supports dual-channel DDR3 with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The Opteron has exactly double the memory bandwidth.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Opteron 6272 supports ECC memory, as expected for a server/workstation part. The i5-3570 does not support ECC memory.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Opteron 6272 has an average benchmark score of 1288, while the i5-3570 scores 1286. This puts them within 0.2% of each other, and both sit at the 35th percentile of all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of the design spectrum. The Opteron 6272 uses AMD's Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Interlagos, built on a 32nm process from GlobalFoundries. It is a server/workstation part for the AMD Socket G34, with a massive 2,400 million transistors spread across a dual-die design totaling 2x 315 mm². Its cache hierarchy is unusual: 768 KB of L1, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. It supports quad-channel DDR3 memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory, and uses PCIe Gen 2.

The i5-3570 uses Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a 22nm process from Intel's own fabs. It is a desktop part for Intel Socket 1155, with 1,400 million transistors on a single 160 mm² die. Its cache layout is more conventional: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, does not support ECC, and uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i5 also includes integrated Intel HD 2500 graphics, which the Opteron lacks entirely.

The clock speeds tell a similar story of divergent design goals. The Opteron 6272 runs at 2.10 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost, with a TDP of 115W. The i5-3570 runs at 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost, with a much lower TDP of 77W. The i5 achieves higher clocks with fewer cores and a smaller, more efficient die. The Opteron compensates with four times the core count and double the memory channels, targeting throughput over latency.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the Opteron 6272 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks. The margins are consistent, ranging from 6.0% to 6.8%, suggesting a systematic advantage rather than workload-specific variation.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 448 against the i5's 421, a 6.4% win. The single-core R15 test shows a 6.8% lead for the Opteron, with scores of 63 versus 59. This is the largest margin of any test. The pattern holds in R20: multicore scores of 1870 versus 1758 (6.4% lead) and single-core scores of 263 versus 248 (6.0% lead). The R23 results are nearly identical in percentage terms: 4454 versus 4187 for multicore (6.4%) and 628 versus 591 for single-core (6.3%).

The consistency of these margins is notable. Whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded, the Opteron maintains a roughly 6% advantage. This suggests the Bulldozer architecture's module-based design, while often criticized for weak per-core performance, delivers solid results in these specific Cinebench workloads. The i5's higher clock speed (3.80 GHz boost versus 3.00 GHz) is not enough to overcome the Opteron's architectural efficiency in these tests.

It is worth noting that the i5-3570 has additional Geekbench results in its benchmark list, 2251 multicore and 770 single-core, but the Opteron 6272 has no Geekbench data. Those scores cannot be directly compared, so the head-to-head analysis relies solely on the six Cinebench tests where both have results.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the AMD Opteron 6272 is the better performer. It wins every head-to-head benchmark by a consistent margin of roughly 6%, and its average benchmark score of 1288 is marginally higher than the i5-3570's 1286. The Opteron also offers quad-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, ECC support, and four times the core count, making it objectively more capable for multi-threaded server workloads.

However, the i5-3570 is far from a poor choice. Its average score is within 0.2% of the Opteron, and it achieves this with a 77W TDP versus 115W, a much smaller die (160 mm² versus 2x 315 mm²), and integrated graphics. For a desktop user who does not need 16 cores or ECC memory, the i5 offers comparable average performance with far lower power consumption and physical footprint. The i5's dual-channel memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s is half the Opteron's, but that is unlikely to matter for typical desktop tasks.

The choice comes down to workload and platform. If the task is heavily threaded, server-oriented, or requires ECC memory, the Opteron 6272 is the clear winner. If the task is desktop-oriented, power-sensitive, or constrained by socket compatibility, the i5-3570 delivers nearly identical average performance at a fraction of the power draw.

Specification Differences

• Cores/Threads: Opteron 6272 has 16 cores/16 threads; i5-3570 has 4 cores/4 threads.
• Base Clock: Opteron 6272 runs at 2.10 GHz; i5-3570 runs at 3.40 GHz.
• Boost Clock: Opteron 6272 boosts to 3.00 GHz; i5-3570 boosts to 3.80 GHz.
• TDP: Opteron 6272 is rated at 115W; i5-3570 is rated at 77W.
• Socket: Opteron 6272 uses AMD Socket G34; i5-3570 uses Intel Socket 1155.
• Process Node: Opteron 6272 is 32nm; i5-3570 is 22nm.
• Transistors: Opteron 6272 has 2,400 million; i5-3570 has 1,400 million.
• Die Size: Opteron 6272 is 2x 315 mm²; i5-3570 is 160 mm².
• L1 Cache: Opteron 6272 has 768 KB; i5-3570 has 64 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: Opteron 6272 has 2 MB per module; i5-3570 has 256 KB per core.
• L3 Cache: Opteron 6272 has 8 MB per die; i5-3570 has 6 MB shared.
• Memory Bus: Opteron 6272 is quad-channel; i5-3570 is dual-channel.
• Memory Bandwidth: Opteron 6272 provides 51.2 GB/s; i5-3570 provides 25.6 GB/s.
• ECC Memory: Opteron 6272 supports it; i5-3570 does not.
• PCIe: Opteron 6272 uses Gen 2; i5-3570 uses Gen 3 with 16 lanes from CPU.
• Integrated Graphics: Opteron 6272 has none; i5-3570 has Intel HD 2500.
• Market Segment: Opteron 6272 is Server/Workstation; i5-3570 is Desktop.
• Release Date: Opteron 6272 released November 2011; i5-3570 released May 2012.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Opteron 6272 wins in: Every benchmark measured. It has a 6.4% lead in Cinebench R15 multicore, a 6.8% lead in R15 single-core, a 6.4% lead in R20 multicore, a 6.0% lead in R20 single-core, a 6.4% lead in R23 multicore, and a 6.3% lead in R23 single-core. It also wins on memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s), memory channels (quad versus dual), ECC support, and core count. For server workloads, virtualization, or any heavily parallel task, the Opteron is the stronger part.

Intel Core i5-3570 wins in: Power efficiency. Its 77W TDP is significantly lower than the Opteron's 115W, meaning less heat output and lower cooling requirements. It also wins on clock speed (3.40 GHz base, 3.80 GHz boost versus 2.10/3.00 GHz), process node (22nm versus 32nm), and die size (160 mm² versus 630 mm² total). The i5's integrated graphics and PCIe Gen 3 support give it an edge for desktop systems that need GPU output without a discrete card. The lower transistor count (1,400 million versus 2,400 million) also reflects a simpler, more power-efficient design. For a desktop build where power draw and physical space matter, the i5 is the practical choice.