AMD Opteron 6272 vs Intel Core i5-4670T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Opteron 6272 sweeps every single benchmark in this comparison. Across six Cinebench tests, the Opteron wins all of them, with the Intel Core i5-4670T failing to claim a single victory. The margins are remarkably consistent, hovering in the 16.4% to 16.7% range across every test.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 448 against the i5-4670T's 384, a 16.7% advantage. The single-core R15 test tells the same story: 63 points for AMD versus 54 for Intel, again a 16.7% delta. This consistency is striking—whether the workload is heavily threaded or purely single-threaded, the AMD part maintains nearly identical relative performance.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Opteron posts 1870 multi-core and 263 single-core, while the i5-4670T manages 1604 and 226 respectively. The deltas here are 16.6% and 16.4%. In R23, the pattern holds: 4454 versus 3820 multi-core (16.6% advantage) and 628 versus 539 single-core (16.5% advantage).

What stands out is that the Opteron's lead does not shrink in single-threaded tests. Typically, a lower-clocked server processor with older architecture would lose ground in lightly threaded workloads against a newer desktop chip. Not here. The Opteron's 2.10 GHz base clock and 3.00 GHz boost are actually lower on paper than the i5-4670T's 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost, yet the AMD chip still beats Intel in every single-core test. The data suggests the Opteron's Bulldozer cores, despite their age, deliver competitive per-thread performance against this particular low-power Haswell part.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the head-to-head results. The Opteron 6272 averages 1288 across its benchmark suite, while the i5-4670T averages 1271. Both chips sit at the 35th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same performance tier overall. But the direct comparison shows the AMD server chip consistently ahead.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6272 is the clear winner across every benchmark category in this pairing. Its six victories span both multi-core and single-core tests, covering three generations of Cinebench (R15, R20, R23). This means whether a user is rendering, encoding, or running any CPU-intensive application, the data points to the Opteron delivering more performance.

The Opteron's 16 physical cores and 16 threads give it a substantial raw throughput advantage in heavily parallel workloads. The R15 multi-core score of 448 versus 384, and the R20 score of 1870 versus 1604, demonstrate that the AMD chip scales better with thread count. The i5-4670T, with only 4 cores and 4 threads, simply cannot match the aggregate compute capacity of the 16-core server processor.

However, the i5-4670T has strengths that the benchmark scores do not fully capture. The Intel chip draws only 45W TDP, compared to the Opteron's 115W TDP. This makes the i5-4670T a far more power-efficient option for desktop use, where thermal output and electricity consumption matter. Additionally, the i5-4670T includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, while the Opteron has no integrated graphics at all. Systems built around the Intel chip do not require a separate graphics card for basic display output.

The i5-4670T also uses a dual-channel memory bus, while the Opteron uses quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel chip's memory bandwidth figure is not listed, but its dual-channel configuration suggests lower peak throughput than the AMD part. Yet for typical desktop workloads, the i5's memory architecture is entirely adequate.

The i5-4670T supports PCIe Gen 3, while the Opteron is limited to Gen 2. This means the Intel platform offers newer connectivity standards for expansion cards and storage devices. The i5 also uses a smaller 22 nm process node (versus 32 nm for the Opteron), which contributes to its lower power draw and reduced die size of 177 mm² against the Opteron's dual-die 2x 315 mm² package.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 6272 outperforms the Intel Core i5-4670T in every measured category. With six wins out of six head-to-head tests and margins between 16.4% and 16.7%, the Opteron is the faster processor across both multi-core and single-core workloads. Anyone prioritizing raw computational performance should choose the AMD part based strictly on these numbers.

The Opteron's 16 cores and 16 threads give it a decisive edge in multi-threaded applications like video rendering, 3D modeling, and scientific computing. Its R23 multi-core score of 4454 dwarfs the i5-4670T's 3820, making it the better choice for heavily parallel workloads. Even in single-threaded performance—traditionally an Intel strength—the Opteron leads, posting 628 in R23 single-core against Intel's 539.

However, the i5-4670T is not without merit. Its 45W TDP makes it dramatically more power-efficient than the Opteron's 115W TDP. For desktop users who prioritize low heat output, quiet operation, and energy savings, the Intel chip is the more sensible option. The integrated HD 4600 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems, which is a significant advantage for office PCs or home theater setups.

The i5-4670T also benefits from a newer platform with PCIe Gen 3 support, enabling faster connectivity for modern SSDs and graphics cards. Its 22 nm Haswell architecture is more recent than the Opteron's 32 nm Bulldozer design, which accounts for the efficiency improvements.

In summary, pick the AMD Opteron 6272 if raw performance is the sole criterion. It wins every benchmark and offers 16 cores for demanding workloads. Pick the Intel Core i5-4670T if power efficiency, integrated graphics, and a modern desktop platform matter more than peak performance. Both chips sit at the 35th percentile overall, so neither is a high-end part—but the Opteron is clearly the faster of the two.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Opteron 6272 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 448 in R15, 1870 in R20, and 4454 in R23, compared to the i5-4670T's 384, 1604, and 3820, giving the Opteron a 16.6% to 16.7% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark?

A: No. The i5-4670T loses all six head-to-head benchmarks, including every single-core test. The closest margin is 16.4% in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Opteron scores 263 against Intel's 226.

Q: How do their core counts compare?

A: The AMD Opteron 6272 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4670T has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Opteron's quad-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth also exceeds the Intel chip's dual-channel configuration.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670T has a 45W TDP, while the AMD Opteron 6272 has a 115W TDP. The Intel chip also uses a 22 nm process node versus the Opteron's 32 nm, and has a smaller die size of 177 mm² compared to the Opteron's 2x 315 mm².

Q: Do these processors have integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670T includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 6272 has no integrated graphics, requiring a separate GPU for display output.

Q: What are their overall performance rankings?

A: Both processors sit at the 35th percentile among all CPUs. The Opteron 6272 has an average benchmark score of 1288, while the i5-4670T averages 1271.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 6272 and Intel Core i5-4670T represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Opteron uses AMD's Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Interlagos, built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die design totaling 2x 315 mm². The i5-4670T uses Intel's Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process, with 1,400 million transistors on a single 177 mm² die.

The cache hierarchies diverge significantly. The Opteron features 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The i5-4670T has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron's massive L3 capacity (16 MB total across two dies) gives it an advantage in cache-sensitive workloads, though the Intel chip's per-core L1 and L2 allocation is more generous.

Memory support also differs. The Opteron uses quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth and supports ECC memory. The i5-4670T uses dual-channel DDR3 and does not support ECC. The Opteron's memory subsystem is designed for server reliability, while the i5 targets desktop consumers.

PCIe connectivity favors the Intel chip. The i5-4670T supports PCIe Gen 3, while the Opteron is limited to Gen 2. This gives the Intel platform newer bandwidth standards for expansion cards and NVMe storage. The Opteron's socket is AMD Socket G34, designed for multi-socket server boards, while the i5 uses Intel Socket 1150 for single-socket desktop motherboards.

The Opteron 6272 launched on November 13, 2011, with a launch MSRP of $523, targeting the server and workstation market. The i5-4670T released on June 1, 2013, for the desktop segment. The Opteron is now end-of-life, while the i5's production status is not listed. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either platform.

The transistor counts highlight the scale difference: the Opteron's 2,400 million transistors versus the i5's 1,400 million. The Opteron's dual-die design with 2x 315 mm² area is massive compared to Intel's 177 mm² monolithic die. Despite being built on an older 32 nm node, the Opteron's sheer transistor budget enables its 16-core configuration, while the i5's 22 nm process allows higher clock speeds within a much tighter power envelope of 45W.