AMD Opteron 6272 vs Intel Core i5-4670R Comparison

The AMD Opteron 6272 and Intel Core i5-4670R present a striking case of benchmark parity despite fundamentally different designs. The data shows a 16-core server processor and a 4-core desktop chip landing within 0.2% of each other in average benchmark score, with the Opteron 6272 holding a razor-thin 1288-to-1286 edge. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Opteron wins every round, but the largest margin is a mere 0.2% — a statistical tie in practical terms. This is a contest where architectural philosophy, not raw performance, decides the outcome.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent, with no test producing a meaningful victory for either side. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, both processors score exactly 448 points, a perfect dead heat. The single-core R15 test is equally tied at 63 points for each. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Opteron 6272 edges ahead by a 0.1% margin, scoring 1870 against the i5-4670R's 1868. Single-core R20 repeats the tie at 263 points for both. The R23 multi-core test shows the Opteron ahead again by 0.1%, with scores of 4454 versus 4448, while R23 single-core gives the Opteron its largest win at 0.2% — 628 points against 627.

These deltas are negligible. The Opteron 6272 technically claims all six wins, but every result falls within the noise floor of benchmarking. Consider the context from the nearest-rival data: the Opteron's average score of 1288 is 0.1% above the i5-4670R's 1286, and both sit at the 35th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i7-3630QM (1289) and Core i5-3570K (1293) are equally close, meaning neither processor stands out even within its immediate competitive cluster. What the scores reveal is that the Opteron's 16 cores deliver no multi-threaded advantage over the i5's 4 cores in these workloads, while the i5's higher clock speed fails to translate into single-thread dominance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Opteron 6272 averages 1288 points, marginally ahead of the Intel Core i5-4670R at 1286 points — a 0.1% difference.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Opteron 6272 scores 4454, beating the i5-4670R's 4448 by 0.1%. This is the largest multi-core margin in the head-to-head data.

Q: Is there any test where the Intel processor wins?

A: No. The i5-4670R records zero wins across the six head-to-head benchmarks, though it ties the Opteron in R15 multi-core (448 each) and R15 single-core (63 each).

Q: What is the percentile ranking for both chips?

A: Both the AMD Opteron 6272 and Intel Core i5-4670R sit at the 35th percentile when compared against all CPUs in the database.

Q: Do the processors differ in memory error correction support?

A: Yes. The Opteron 6272 supports ECC memory, while the i5-4670R does not.

Q: Which processor carries integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-4670R includes integrated graphics, featuring Intel Iris? Pro 5200. The AMD Opteron 6272 has no integrated graphics.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from opposite ends of the design spectrum. The AMD Opteron 6272 uses the Bulldozer architecture on a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries, packing 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die layout of 2x 315 mm². It is built for the Opteron 6000 series server line, featuring 16 cores and 16 threads with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. Its cache hierarchy is organized per module: 768 KB of L1, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The chip runs on AMD Socket G34 with quad-channel DDR3 memory support and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, plus ECC memory capability. It connects via PCIe Gen 2 and targets the server/workstation market segment.

The Intel Core i5-4670R uses the Haswell architecture on Intel's 22 nm process, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. It presents a conventional desktop configuration: 4 cores, 4 threads, a 3.00 GHz base clock, and a 3.70 GHz boost clock. Cache is laid out per core — 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core — with a shared 4 MB L3. It uses Intel BGA 1364, supports DDR3 memory without ECC, and integrates Intel Iris? Pro 5200 graphics. The i5 is marked as having an unlocked multiplier, while the Opteron is locked. Crucially, the i5-4670R is listed as Active production status, while the Opteron 6272 is End-of-life, released in November 2011 versus June 2013 for the Intel part.

The TDP figures reflect their different missions: the Opteron draws 115 W to feed 16 cores, while the i5-4670R draws 65 W for 4 cores. Despite the Opteron's 4x core count and 50 W higher TDP, the benchmark data shows no performance benefit, which points to Bulldozer's inefficiency in Cinebench workloads relative to Haswell's per-core strength.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: these processors perform identically in the tested Cinebench suite, so the choice comes down to platform features, not performance. The AMD Opteron 6272 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, but the largest margin is 0.2%, and the average score difference is 0.1%. No workload in this data set gives either chip a meaningful advantage.

For a server or workstation environment requiring ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth, and 16 physical cores, the Opteron 6272 is the functional pick — its 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth and ECC support are features the i5-4670R simply lacks. However, the i5-4670R counters with integrated Intel Iris? Pro 5200 graphics, a 65 W TDP (less than 60% of the Opteron's 115 W), and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The i5 also remains in active production, whereas the Opteron is end-of-life.

From a pure benchmark perspective, there is no winner. Both sit at the 35th percentile, and their nearest rivals (Core i7-3630QM, Core i5-3570, Core i5-3570K) all fall within a 0.6% band of each other. The verdict is that the Opteron 6272 is the right choice only when its server-specific features matter; the i5-4670R is the better all-around desktop part despite losing every benchmark by a hair.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. The Opteron 6272 has 16 cores and 16 threads versus the i5-4670R's 4 cores and 4 threads. Clock speeds favor Intel: 3.00 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost against AMD's 2.10 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. TDP goes to Intel at 65 W versus AMD's 115 W. The Opteron uses AMD Socket G34 while the i5 uses Intel BGA 1364. Process node favors Intel at 22 nm versus AMD's 32 nm, and transistor count favors AMD at 2,400 million versus 1,400 million, with die sizes of 2x 315 mm² versus 177 mm².

Cache configurations are structured differently: the Opteron offers 768 KB L1, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die, while the i5 provides 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR3 for both, but the Opteron has quad-channel bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s with ECC, while the i5 has no listed memory bus or bandwidth and lacks ECC. The Opteron includes PCIe Gen 2; the i5 has no listed PCIe. Integrated graphics exist only on the i5 (Intel Iris? Pro 5200). The Opteron is an end-of-life server part from 2011 with a launch MSRP of $523; the i5 is active desktop silicon from 2013 with no launch MSRP listed. The Opteron's multiplier is locked; the i5's is unlocked.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6272 wins in server-oriented categories. It offers ECC memory support, which the i5-4670R cannot match, and quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth versus no listed memory bandwidth for Intel. Its 16 cores provide headroom for heavily threaded server workloads, even if Cinebench shows no gain. The Opteron's 2,400 million transistors and dual-die 2x 315 mm² design indicate a chip built for throughput in multi-socket server configurations, and its PCIe Gen 2 support suits workstation expansion.

The Intel Core i5-4670R wins in every practical desktop category. Its 65 W TDP makes it far more efficient than the 115 W Opteron, and its unlocked multiplier appeals to overclockers. The integrated Intel Iris? Pro 5200 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. At 22 nm, Intel's process is more advanced, and the chip remains in active production while the Opteron is end-of-life. In benchmarks, the i5 essentially matches the Opteron despite using a quarter of the cores, which speaks to the efficiency of the Haswell architecture.

The data-driven split is this: choose the Opteron 6272 for ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth, and server-grade features. Choose the i5-4670R for lower power draw, integrated graphics, overclocking capability, and an active production status. In raw compute, the two are indistinguishable, with the Opteron's six benchmark wins totaling a 0.2% maximum margin — a result that favors neither in real-world use.