AMD Opteron 6274 vs AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 Comparison

The AMD Opteron 6274 and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 represent two very different eras of AMD design, yet their benchmark scores paint a surprisingly close picture. The data shows a 16-core server chip from 2011 and a 4-core desktop chip from 2017 landing within a hair of each other in every Cinebench test. The Opteron 6274 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, but the margins are almost negligible.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Opteron 6274 takes the win in every recorded test, but the largest margin is a mere 1.5 percent. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the Opteron scores 483 against the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200’s 480, a 0.6 percent lead. The single-core R15 result shows the Opteron ahead by 1.5 percent, scoring 68 to 67. That is the biggest delta in the entire comparison, and it is still within the range of run-to-run variance.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The Opteron scores 2014 in multicore, versus 2002 for the Ryzen, another 0.6 percent gap. In single-core R20, the Opteron’s 284 beats the Ryzen’s 282 by 0.7 percent. The Cinebench R23 results mirror the others: 4796 versus 4767 in multicore (0.6 percent) and 677 versus 673 in single-core (0.6 percent). The consistency of these deltas suggests a systematic, albeit tiny, advantage for the older chip across all workloads tested.

The overall average benchmark score tells the same story. The Opteron 6274 averages 1387, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 averages 1379. That puts the Opteron at the 37th percentile of all CPUs, with the Ryzen just one point behind at the 36th percentile. The nearest rival to the Opteron is the Intel Core i3-9100TE, with an average score of 1386 and a deltaPct of 0.1 percent. The Ryzen’s closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U, which matches its 1379 average exactly. Both chips also sit within 0.6 percent of the AMD Opteron 6366 HE, indicating they occupy a tightly clustered performance tier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in this comparison?

A: The AMD Opteron 6274 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 does not win any, though the largest margin of victory is only 1.5 percent.

Q: How big is the performance gap between the two chips?

A: The gap is very small. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Opteron 6274 leads by between 0.6 percent and 1.5 percent. The average benchmark scores are 1387 for the Opteron and 1379 for the Ryzen.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Opteron 6274 has 16 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Despite having four times the core count, the Opteron only manages a marginal lead in multicore tests.

Q: What is the difference in TDP between the two processors?

A: The Opteron 6274 has a TDP of 115 watts. The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has a TDP of 65 watts. The Ryzen delivers nearly identical performance at nearly half the power draw.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Opteron 6274 and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 list ECC memory support in their specifications.

Q: Are either of these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has an unlocked multiplier. The Opteron 6274 does not have a multiplier unlock.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Opteron 6274 uses the Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Interlagos, and belongs to the Opteron 6000 series. It is fabricated on a 32 nm process node at GlobalFoundries, with the die composed of two 315 mm² pieces. The transistor count is listed at 2,400 million. This is a server and workstation part designed for AMD Socket G34, with a release date in November 2011.

The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Summit Ridge, and belongs to the 1000 series. It is built on a 14 nm process node, also at GlobalFoundries, but with a single 213 mm² die. Transistor count is higher at 4,800 million, despite the smaller physical size. This is a desktop part for AMD Socket AM4, released in June 2017.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The Opteron uses a shared 768 KB L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The Ryzen uses 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Memory support also diverges: the Opteron uses DDR3 with a quad-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Ryzen uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 4256 MB/s of bandwidth. The PCIe interface is Gen 2 on the Opteron and Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes on the Ryzen.

The production status tells the rest of the story. The Opteron 6274 is end-of-life, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 remains active. The Opteron also carries a launch MSRP of $639, a figure the Ryzen does not have recorded.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the AMD Opteron 6274 and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 deliver functionally identical performance in Cinebench workloads. The Opteron’s six wins are statistically meaningless given the 0.6 to 1.5 percent margins. The average benchmark scores differ by only 8 points out of roughly 1380. Any user choosing between these two solely on computational throughput would be splitting hairs.

The decision should come down to platform characteristics. The Opteron 6274 offers 16 cores, quad-channel DDR3 memory, and a massive 115 watt TDP. It is a legacy server part, end-of-life, and locked. The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 offers 4 cores, dual-channel DDR4, a 65 watt TDP, and an unlocked multiplier. It is an active desktop product.

For a modern desktop build, the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 is the clear choice from the data. It matches the older chip’s performance while drawing 50 fewer watts, using a current socket, and supporting faster PCIe Gen 3. It also remains in production. For anyone maintaining legacy server infrastructure on Socket G34, the Opteron 6274 remains a viable option, but the benchmark results show no performance reason to choose it over the Ryzen in a new system. The Opteron’s only advantages are its higher core count and quad-channel memory bandwidth, neither of which translates into a meaningful Cinebench lead.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Opteron 6274 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.20 GHz for the Opteron and 3.10 GHz for the Ryzen. Boost clocks are 3.10 GHz and 3.40 GHz, respectively.

TDP is 115 watts for the Opteron versus 65 watts for the Ryzen. The Opteron uses AMD Socket G34 and the Bulldozer architecture, while the Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4 and the Zen architecture. Process nodes are 32 nm and 14 nm, respectively. The Opteron’s die is 2x 315 mm² with 2,400 million transistors; the Ryzen’s die is 213 mm² with 4,800 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ: the Opteron has 768 KB shared L1, 2 MB per module L2, and 8 MB per die L3. The Ryzen has 96 KB per core L1, 512 KB per core L2, and 8 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR3 with quad-channel 51.2 GB/s bandwidth for the Opteron, versus DDR4 with dual-channel 4256 MB/s for the Ryzen. The Opteron supports PCIe Gen 2; the Ryzen supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes.

Market segments differ: the Opteron is server/workstation and end-of-life, while the Ryzen is desktop and active. The Opteron launched in 2011 with an MSRP of $639; the Ryzen launched in 2017 with no recorded MSRP. The Opteron’s multiplier is locked; the Ryzen’s is unlocked. Part numbers are OS6274WKTGGGU for the Opteron and YD120BBBM4KAE for the Ryzen.