AMD Opteron 6274 vs Intel Core i7-3820QM Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unusually close contest between two processors from different eras and market segments. The AMD Opteron 6274, a 16-core server part from the Opteron 6000 series, wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but by margins so narrow they border on statistical noise. The largest delta is just 1.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the remaining five tests show a 0.4% advantage. The Intel Core i7-3820QM, a mobile quad-core, trails by an average of 21 points across the shared Cinebench workloads, a difference of roughly 1.5% at most.

The database's average benchmark score tells the same story: the Opteron 6274 sits at 1387, the Core i7-3820QM at 1366. That 21-point gap places the AMD part in the 37th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part lands in the 36th percentile. Both processors occupy nearly identical positions in the overall performance distribution, surrounded by rivals like the Intel Core i3-9100TE (1386, 0.1% behind the Opteron) and the Intel Xeon D-1521 (1367, 0.1% ahead of the Core i7). For raw Cinebench throughput, the choice between these two comes down to single-digit percentage points, not meaningful performance tiers.

The real differentiators are context, not compute. The Opteron 6274 is a server and workstation part with 16 cores, a 115 W TDP, and support for ECC memory over a quad-channel DDR3 interface. The Core i7-3820QM is a 45 W mobile processor with integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, dual-channel memory, and no ECC support. Buyers should select the Opteron for multi-threaded server workloads, ECC reliability, and the higher core count, while the Core i7 suits mobile deployments, power-constrained systems, or any scenario requiring integrated graphics. Neither part offers a meaningful performance advantage in Cinebench, so the decision rests on platform requirements, not benchmark scores.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 6274 uses the Bulldozer architecture under the Interlagos codename, built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die design totaling 2x 315 mm². Cache is organized around modules: 768 KB of shared L1, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The 16 cores and 16 threads operate with no simultaneous multithreading, meaning each core handles exactly one thread. Base clock is 2.20 GHz with a boost to 3.10 GHz. The part uses AMD Socket G34, supports quad-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and includes ECC memory support. PCIe is Gen 2, and there is no integrated graphics. It was released in November 2011 with a launch MSRP of $639, and production has since ended.

The Intel Core i7-3820QM uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a 22 nm process at Intel's own fabs. It contains 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. Cache layout is per-core: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The processor has 4 cores and 8 threads, using Hyper-Threading to double the thread count. Base clock is 2.70 GHz with a boost to 3.70 GHz. It fits Intel BGA 1224, uses dual-channel memory, and lacks ECC support. Integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics are included. The part targets the mobile segment and was released in April 2012.

The process node difference is significant: 32 nm for AMD versus 22 nm for Intel, a generational gap that explains how a 45 W mobile chip can match a 115 W server chip in Cinebench. The Opteron's dual-die arrangement and massive transistor count (2,400 million versus 1,400 million) do not translate into a performance advantage in these workloads, largely because Bulldozer's module-based design shares execution resources between pairs of cores. The Core i7's per-core cache and higher clock speeds compensate for its lower core count.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test gives the Opteron 6274 a 483 to 481 win, a 0.4% margin. In single-core R15, the AMD part scores 68 against 67, a 1.5% edge that is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore result is 2014 for the Opteron against 2006 for the Core i7, again 0.4%. Single-core R20 shows 284 versus 283, also 0.4%. Cinebench R23 multicore delivers 4796 to 4777, a 19-point gap at 0.4%. Single-core R23 is 677 to 674, 0.4% again.

The pattern is consistent: the AMD Opteron 6274 wins every shared benchmark, but never by more than a rounding error. The 1.5% single-core R15 result is the standout, but even that margin would be imperceptible in real-world use. Notably, the Core i7-3820QM has additional Geekbench results in the database, scoring 2041 multicore and 601 singlecore, while the Opteron has no Geekbench entries. For any workload not covered by the Cinebench suite, the database offers no direct comparison.

The nearest-rival data reinforces how close these parts are. The Opteron 6274's closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-9100TE at 1386 average score, a 0.1% difference, followed by the AMD Opteron 6238 at 1383 (0.3%), the Intel Core i7-3615QE at 1381 (0.5%), and the AMD Opteron 6366 HE at 1379 (0.6%). The Core i7-3820QM sits near the Intel Xeon D-1521 at 1367 (-0.1%), the Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 at 1368 (-0.2%), the AMD Opteron 6376 at 1370 (-0.3%), and the Intel Core i5-8365UE at 1362 (0.3%). Both processors are effectively interchangeable in aggregate performance, each landing within 1% of a cluster of similarly scoring parts.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Opteron 6274 | Intel Core i7-3820QM |

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

| Cores | 16 | 4 |

| Threads | 16 | 8 |

| Base clock | 2.20 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 115 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket G34 | Intel BGA 1224 |

| Architecture | Bulldozer | Ivy Bridge |

| Process node | 32 nm | 22 nm |

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

| Die size | 2x 315 mm² | 160 mm² |

| 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) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not specified |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated graphics | None | Intel HD 4000 |

| Market segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Release date | November 2011 | April 2012 |

| Launch MSRP | $639 | Not specified |

The core count difference is the most striking: 16 cores versus 4, a 4x gap that the Core i7 overcomes with Hyper-Threading, higher clocks, and a more efficient architecture. The Opteron's TDP of 115 W is more than double the Core i7's 45 W, yet it produces nearly identical Cinebench scores. Memory bandwidth favors the Opteron at 51.2 GB/s over the Core i7's unspecified figure, and only the AMD part supports ECC. The Core i7 counters with integrated graphics, a smaller die, and a more recent process node.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in the head-to-head data?

A: The AMD Opteron 6274 wins all six shared Cinebench comparisons. It leads in R15 multicore (483 to 481), R15 single-core (68 to 67), R20 multicore (2014 to 2006), R20 single-core (284 to 283), R23 multicore (4796 to 4777), and R23 single-core (677 to 674).

Q: How large is the performance gap between the two?

A: The largest margin is 1.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core. All other head-to-head deltas are 0.4%. The average benchmark scores are 1387 for the AMD part and 1366 for the Intel part, a difference of 21 points.

Q: Can the Core i7-3820QM match the Opteron despite having only 4 cores?

A: Yes. The Core i7 has 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, higher base and boost clocks (2.70/3.70 GHz versus 2.20/3.10 GHz), and a 22 nm process versus 32 nm. Its Cinebench scores fall within 1.5% of the 16-core Opteron.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Opteron 6274 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-3820QM does not.

Q: What are the market segments for these processors?

A: The Opteron 6274 targets the server and workstation segment with a 115 W TDP and AMD Socket G34. The Core i7-3820QM targets the mobile segment with a 45 W TDP and Intel BGA 1224.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-3820QM includes Intel HD 4000 graphics. The AMD Opteron 6274 has no integrated graphics.