CPU Comparison

The AMD Opteron 6274 and Intel Core i5-4690 are from different eras and design philosophies, yet their benchmark results land them in nearly the same performance class. The Opteron is a 16-core server processor built for throughput, while the i5-4690 is a 4-core desktop chip focused on efficiency and responsiveness. Despite these differences, the data shows the Opteron 6274 wins every single head-to-head benchmark, albeit by very narrow margins ranging from 0.8% to 1.5%. The practical takeaway is that these are effectively equivalent in raw Cinebench performance, making the decision between them a matter of platform fit rather than outright speed.

Where Each One Wins

Looking strictly at the benchmark results, the AMD Opteron 6274 wins every single test in the head-to-head comparison. It takes all six Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 runs, in both multicore and singlecore variants. The largest margin of victory is a 1.5% lead in Cinebench R15 singlecore, where the Opteron scores 68 versus the Intel's 67. The smallest margin is 0.8% in Cinebench R15 multicore, with scores of 483 and 479 respectively.

The Intel Core i5-4690 does not win a single benchmark in this comparison. However, the data shows its scores are remarkably close across the board. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-4690 scores 4754 against the Opteron's 4796, a gap of only 0.9%. In singlecore R23, the difference is 671 versus 677, again 0.9%. This means the Intel chip loses every test but never by more than 1.5%, suggesting that in real workloads with less synthetic scaling, the two would be interchangeable in performance terms.

The Opteron's wins are consistent but narrow, which is significant because it uses 16 cores and threads to achieve what the i5-4690 does with just 4 cores and threads. The data indicates that the Opteron 6274 is the better performer in this specific benchmark suite, but the i5-4690 is far more efficient per core, as evidenced by its singlecore scores nearly matching the Opteron's despite having a quarter of the cores.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is stark. The AMD Opteron 6274 uses the Bulldozer architecture on the Interlagos codename, built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It is a dual-die design, with each die measuring 315 mm² and containing 8 MB of L3 cache per die, for a total of 16 MB across the package. The chip has 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz. Its cache hierarchy is unusual: 768 KB of shared L1, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. It supports quad-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s and includes ECC memory support. The Opteron uses PCIe Gen 2 and fits the AMD Socket G34. It is a server/workstation part with a TDP of 115 watts, and its launch MSRP was $639.

The Intel Core i5-4690 uses the Haswell architecture, built on a 22 nm process at Intel. It is a monolithic die of 177 mm² with 1,400 million transistors. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. Its cache is 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory, but the FACT PACK does not list a memory bandwidth figure for it. It does not support ECC memory. The i5-4690 uses PCIe Gen 3 and fits the Intel Socket 1150. It includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600) and is a desktop part with a TDP of 84 watts.

The transistor counts highlight the design difference: the Opteron has 2,400 million transistors across two dies, while the i5-4690 has 1,400 million on a single die. The Opteron's dual-die layout is why its memory bandwidth is much higher (51.2 GB/s) compared to the i5-4690's dual-channel setup, though the Intel chip's newer PCIe Gen 3 interface gives it an advantage in peripheral connectivity.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are uniform: the AMD Opteron 6274 wins all six tests, but the margins are tiny. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 483 versus the i5-4690's 479, a 0.8% lead. In R15 singlecore, the Opteron scores 68 versus 67, a 1.5% lead, the largest delta in the entire comparison. Moving to R20, the Opteron leads 2014 to 1996 in multicore, a 0.9% gap, and 284 to 281 in singlecore, a 1.1% gap. In R23, the Opteron wins multicore 4796 to 4754 (0.9%) and singlecore 677 to 671 (0.9%).

The singlecore results are particularly telling. The Opteron's boost clock is 3.10 GHz, while the i5-4690's is 3.80 GHz, yet the Opteron still edges out a win in every singlecore test. This suggests that the Opteron's Bulldozer cores, despite their lower clock speed, are not as far behind Haswell per-core performance as one might expect. The 16-core Opteron's multicore wins are more straightforward to understand: it simply has four times the cores of the i5-4690, which compensates for its lower clock speed and older architecture.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the Opteron 6274 sits at 1387, while the i5-4690 is at 1375. The Opteron's nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-9100TE at 1386 (0.1% delta), while the i5-4690's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-1030NG7 at 1376 (-0.1% delta). These figures place both CPUs in the 36-37th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are mid-pack performers in the overall database.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 6274 is the faster processor in every benchmark test, but the margins are so small that they are unlikely to be perceptible in real-world use. The Opteron wins multicore tests by 0.8% to 0.9% and singlecore tests by 0.9% to 1.5%. If you are choosing based purely on Cinebench scores, the Opteron 6274 is the correct pick.

However, the platform context matters more than the scores. The Opteron 6274 is a server/workstation chip for AMD Socket G34, with ECC memory support, quad-channel DDR3, and a 115 W TDP. It requires a G34 motherboard and registered memory to function. The i5-4690 is a desktop chip for Intel Socket 1150, with integrated graphics, no ECC support, dual-channel DDR3, and an 84 W TDP. It fits standard desktop boards.

For a system builder, the i5-4690 makes sense if you need a simple desktop platform with integrated graphics and lower power draw. The Opteron 6274 makes sense if you already have a G34 server board and want 16 cores for heavily threaded workloads, or if you require ECC memory for reliability. The benchmark performance is nearly identical, so the decision rests entirely on socket, memory, and feature requirements. The Opteron 6274's 6-0 win record in benchmarks gives it the performance edge, but the i5-4690's lower TDP and integrated graphics are practical advantages that the data does not capture.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6274 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4690 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Opteron 6274 scores 4796, and the i5-4690 scores 4754, giving the Opteron a 0.9% lead.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-4690 support ECC memory?

A: No, the FACT PACK lists ECC memory support as false for the i5-4690, while the Opteron 6274 supports ECC memory.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690 has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the AMD Opteron 6274 has a boost clock of 3.10 GHz.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each CPU?

A: The Opteron 6274 has an average benchmark score of 1387, and the i5-4690 has an average score of 1375.

Q: Which socket does each CPU use?

A: The AMD Opteron 6274 uses AMD Socket G34, and the Intel Core i5-4690 uses Intel Socket 1150.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Opteron 6274 | Intel Core i5-4690 |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | Bulldozer | Haswell |

| Codename | Interlagos | Haswell |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 2,400 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 2x 315 mm² | 177 mm² |

| Cores | 16 | 4 |

| Threads | 16 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| L1 Cache | 768 KB (shared) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per module) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (per die) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Intel HD 4600 |

| Socket | AMD Socket G34 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| TDP | 115 W | 84 W |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2011-11-13 | 2014-04-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $639 | Not listed |