AMD Opteron 6274 vs Intel Core i5-6500T Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Opteron 6274 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-6500T has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Opteron is a server/workstation part, while the Core i5 is a desktop processor.

Q: What are the benchmark results for single-core performance?

A: The AMD Opteron 6274 scores higher in every recorded single-core test. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 68 versus 57 for the Intel Core i5-6500T, a 19.3% difference. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Opteron scores 677 versus 572, an 18.4% gap.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Opteron 6274 wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 483 versus 408 for the Intel Core i5-6500T, an 18.4% lead. The margin is consistent across newer Cinebench versions, with R23 multicore showing 4796 versus 4054, an 18.3% difference.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Opteron 6274 has an average benchmark score of 1387, while the Intel Core i5-6500T has an average of 1362. The Opteron sits at the 37th percentile of all CPUs, and the Core i5 sits at the 36th percentile.

Q: What are the differences in memory support?

A: The AMD Opteron 6274 supports DDR3 memory with a quad-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, plus ECC support. The Intel Core i5-6500T supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, but lacks ECC support.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 6274, codenamed Interlagos, belongs to the Opteron 6000 series and uses the Bulldozer architecture on a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It is a dual-die design with 2,400 million transistors across two 315 mm² dies. The core layout is module-based: each module pairs two integer cores with shared resources, resulting in 16 cores and 16 threads. Cache is organized with 768 KB shared L1, 2 MB per module for L2, and 8 MB per die for L3.

The Intel Core i5-6500T, codenamed Skylake, is a monolithic 14 nm part from Intel with a die size of 122 mm². It uses a traditional four-core, four-thread design with per-core cache allocation: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The architecture is optimized for low power consumption, with a 35 W TDP compared to 115 W for the Opteron.

The two chips target different market segments. The Opteron is explicitly a server/workstation processor, socketed on AMD Socket G34, while the Core i5 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1151. The Opteron supports quad-channel DDR3 with ECC, a critical feature for reliability in server environments. The Core i5 supports dual-channel DDR3 or DDR4 without ECC, reflecting its consumer orientation.

Integrated graphics is another major architectural differentiator. The Opteron has no integrated graphics, relying on discrete or remote management solutions. The Core i5 includes HD Graphics 530, which provides basic display output without a dedicated GPU. This alone can shift platform decisions for users who need a simple display output versus those who prioritize raw compute in a headless server.

PCIe support also differs. The Opteron uses PCIe Gen 2, while the Core i5 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. This gives the Intel part a newer interconnect standard, though the Opteron's server platform typically offers more total expansion lanes across the chipset.

Both processors are end-of-life products and have locked multipliers, meaning no overclocking via the multiplier. The Opteron was released in November 2011, and the Core i5 in July 2015, roughly four years apart. The die size difference, 2x 315 mm² versus 122 mm², and transistor count reflect the different design philosophies: the Opteron scales via massive core count and dual dies, while the Core i5 relies on a smaller, more power-efficient single die.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6274 wins every recorded benchmark in this comparison, but the nature of those wins varies by workload. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core scores favor the Opteron. The multi-core advantage is consistent at 18.3% to 18.4%, which points to the 16-core design providing a sustained throughput advantage over the 4-core Intel part, even though the Opteron's individual cores are older and less efficient per clock.

The single-core results are more surprising. The Opteron leads by 19.3% in R15 single-core and 18.4% in R23 single-core. This suggests that the Opteron's higher base clock of 2.20 GHz and boost clock of 3.10 GHz, combined with the specific benchmark workload, deliver better per-thread performance than the Core i5-6500T, which also boosts to 3.10 GHz but has a lower TDP envelope. The Core i5's lower power limit may restrict sustained boost behavior in these tests.

The Intel Core i5-6500T's only recorded advantage outside the Cinebench suite is in Geekbench, where it scores 2843 multi-core and 1016 single-core. However, since no Geekbench results exist for the Opteron in this database, this cannot be used as a head-to-head comparison. The database's head-to-head results show 6 wins for the Opteron and 0 for the Core i5.

The use-case split is therefore clear. The Opteron is built for scenarios where core count and memory bandwidth matter: virtualization, multi-threaded server workloads, and compute-heavy tasks that can utilize 16 threads. Its quad-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support make it suitable for memory-intensive server operations. The Core i5-6500T, with its 35 W TDP, integrated graphics, and dual-channel memory, fits desktop or low-power applications where energy efficiency and a simple GPU are more important than raw throughput. In this specific comparison, though, the Opteron wins every shared benchmark.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ significantly across nearly every specification field. Core count is the most pronounced: 16 cores for the Opteron versus 4 for the Core i5. Threads follow the same pattern, 16 versus 4, as neither chip uses simultaneous multithreading. Base clocks differ, with the Opteron at 2.20 GHz and the Core i5 at 2.50 GHz, but both boost to 3.10 GHz.

TDP is a major separator. The Opteron draws 115 W, while the Core i5 is rated at 35 W, a difference of 80 W. This impacts cooling requirements, system power supplies, and operating costs. The Opteron requires a server platform with robust thermal management, while the Core i5 can run in compact desktops with modest cooling.

Process node and foundry differ by generation: the Opteron uses 32 nm from GlobalFoundries, while the Core i5 uses 14 nm from Intel. The Opteron's die size is 2x 315 mm², versus 122 mm² for the Core i5. The Opteron's transistor count is listed at 2,400 million, while the Core i5's is not recorded in the database. Cache organization is entirely different: the Opteron has 768 KB shared L1, 2 MB per module L2, and 8 MB per die L3; the Core i5 has 64 KB per core L1, 256 KB per core L2, and 6 MB shared L3.

Memory support differs on multiple axes. The Opteron supports DDR3 only, with a quad-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC. The Core i5 supports DDR3 and DDR4, with a dual-channel bus and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, without ECC. PCIe generation differs as well: Gen 2 for the Opteron, Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes for the Core i5.

Integrated graphics is exclusive to the Core i5, which includes HD Graphics 530; the Opteron has none. The market segment, socket, and release date all differ. The Opteron is server/workstation on Socket G34, released November 2011. The Core i5 is desktop on Socket 1151, released July 2015. The Opteron carries a launch MSRP of $639, while the Core i5 has no recorded launch MSRP. Both are end-of-life and have locked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six head-to-head benchmark results, all from the Cinebench suite, and the AMD Opteron 6274 wins all six. The margins are strikingly uniform, ranging from 18.3% to 19.3%. This consistency suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 483 against 408 for the Core i5, an 18.4% lead. The single-core R15 result is even larger: 68 versus 57, a 19.3% difference. This single-core win is notable because the Core i5 has a higher base clock (2.50 GHz versus 2.20 GHz) and a newer architecture, yet the Opteron's boost clock of 3.10 GHz matches the Core i5's boost, and the Opteron still pulls ahead.

Cinebench R20 multicore shows 2014 for the Opteron versus 1702 for the Core i5, an 18.3% gap. The R20 single-core test repeats the same pattern: 284 versus 240, also 18.3%. Cinebench R23 multicore continues the trend with 4796 versus 4054, an 18.3% difference, and R23 single-core with 677 versus 572, an 18.4% margin.

The uniformity of these deltas, all clustering between 18.3% and 19.3%, indicates that the Opteron's advantage is not tied to a specific benchmark version or workload type. The 16-core design clearly dominates in multi-threaded rendering, but the single-core wins suggest that the Opteron's per-thread performance, at least under these test conditions, is also superior. This may reflect the Core i5's 35 W TDP limiting sustained single-core boost, while the Opteron's 115 W envelope allows higher sustained clocks.

The overall benchmark picture is unambiguous: the Opteron holds a consistent 18% lead across every Cinebench test in the database. The Core i5's Geekbench scores (2843 multi-core, 1016 single-core) exist in the database, but with no corresponding Opteron Geekbench results, they cannot be compared directly. For users relying on Cinebench as a proxy for rendering or general compute performance, the Opteron is the clear winner in this matchup.