AMD Opteron 6274 vs Intel Xeon D-1521 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a consistent, narrow advantage for the AMD Opteron 6274 across all six Cinebench tests. The largest margins appear in the single-core and multi-core R15 and R23 workloads, where the Opteron wins by 1.5 percent in every case. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 483 against the Xeon D-1521’s 476, a 1.5 percent gap. The single-core R15 result is similarly tight: 68 for the Opteron versus 67 for the Xeon, again a 1.5 percent margin. These differences, while real, are small enough that they would be imperceptible in most real-world workloads, but the pattern is uniform: the Opteron 6274 wins all six head-to-head matchups.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Opteron records 2014 in multi-core, while the Xeon D-1521 posts 1985. The delta is 1.5 percent. In single-core R20, the Opteron scores 284 and the Xeon scores 280, a 1.4 percent lead. The R23 results follow the same trajectory: multi-core shows 4796 for the Opteron versus 4728 for the Xeon (1.4 percent), and single-core shows 677 versus 667 (1.5 percent). Across all six tests, the Opteron’s largest margin is 1.5 percent and its smallest is 1.4 percent. There is no test where the Xeon D-1521 pulls ahead, even by a fraction of a point.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The Opteron 6274 holds an average score of 1387 across the database’s benchmark suite, while the Xeon D-1521 averages 1367. That is a 20-point gap, roughly 1.5 percent. In percentile ranking, the Opteron sits at the 37th percentile among all CPUs, and the Xeon sits at the 36th. Both processors are clustered near the lower-middle of the performance distribution, but the Opteron is consistently a notch above the Xeon in every measured category.

When placed against their nearest rivals, both CPUs occupy similar performance tiers. The Opteron 6274’s nearest competitor is the Intel Core i3-9100TE, which scores 1386, a 0.1 percent difference from the Opteron’s 1387. The AMD Opteron 6238 scores 1383 (0.3 percent behind), the Intel Core i7-3615QE scores 1381 (0.5 percent behind), and the AMD Opteron 6366 HE scores 1379 (0.6 percent behind). The Xeon D-1521’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-3820QM at 1366, a 0.1 percent difference. The Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 scores 1368 (0.1 percent ahead of the Xeon), the AMD Opteron 6376 scores 1370 (0.2 percent ahead), and the Intel Core i7-2600 scores 1370 (0.2 percent ahead). These rival clusters show that both chips are effectively peers in overall performance, with the Opteron holding a slim but consistent edge over the Xeon in direct comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing generations. The AMD Opteron 6274, part of the Opteron 6000 series, uses the Bulldozer architecture under the codename Interlagos. It is built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 2,400 million transistors spread across a dual-die design, each die measuring 315 mm². The Xeon D-1521 uses Intel’s Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-DE variant, built on a 14 nm process at Intel’s own fabs. It packs 3,200 million transistors onto a single 246 mm² die. The node advantage is substantial: Intel’s 14 nm process is several generations ahead of AMD’s 32 nm, which explains how the Xeon achieves comparable performance with far fewer cores and much lower power consumption.

Core and thread counts differ dramatically. The Opteron 6274 provides 16 cores and 16 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading. The Xeon D-1521 provides 4 cores and 8 threads, using Hyper-Threading to double its logical thread count. Despite having four times the physical cores, the Opteron’s per-core performance is weak enough that it only just edges out the Xeon in multi-threaded workloads. The Xeon’s higher base clock of 2.40 GHz and boost clock of 2.70 GHz, compared to the Opteron’s 2.20 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost, helps close the gap. The Opteron’s boost clock is actually higher than the Xeon’s, but the Bulldozer architecture’s shared floating-point units and module-based design limit its per-core efficiency.

Cache hierarchies are organized differently as well. The Opteron 6274 uses a shared L1 cache of 768 KB, an L2 cache of 2 MB per module, and 8 MB of L3 cache per die. The Xeon D-1521 uses per-core caches: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 1.5 MB of L3 per core. The total L3 amount is not directly comparable in the database, but the per-core allocations suggest the Xeon’s cache is better tuned for its lower core count. Memory support also diverges: the Opteron runs DDR3 in quad-channel mode with a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 in dual-channel mode, with no bandwidth figure recorded. The Opteron’s wider memory bus gives it a theoretical bandwidth advantage, though the Xeon’s support for DDR4 allows for faster memory types in practice.

PCIe connectivity differs by generation and lane count. The Opteron 6274 uses PCIe Gen 2, while the Xeon D-1521 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 24 lanes available to the CPU. The Xeon’s newer PCIe standard offers higher per-lane bandwidth, which matters for storage and network controllers in server environments. The Opteron’s older Gen 2 interface is a limitation for modern add-in cards. The Xeon also has a much lower thermal envelope at 45 W TDP versus the Opteron’s 115 W TDP, and it is built on a BGA 1667 socket, while the Opteron uses the large AMD Socket G34. The Opteron’s release date is recorded as November 2011, while the Xeon’s is October 2015, a four-year gap that explains the architectural and process differences.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Opteron 6274 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. In R15, it scores 483 versus the Xeon D-1521’s 476, a 1.5 percent margin. In R20, it scores 2014 versus 1985, also 1.5 percent. In R23, it scores 4796 versus 4728, a 1.4 percent lead.

Q: Is the Intel Xeon D-1521 faster in single-core tests?

A: No. The Opteron 6274 wins every single-core test as well, though by the same narrow margins. R15 single-core is 68 versus 67, R20 single-core is 284 versus 280, and R23 single-core is 677 versus 667. The Xeon never takes a lead in any recorded benchmark.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Opteron 6274 has an average benchmark score of 1387, placing it at the 37th percentile among all CPUs. The Xeon D-1521 has an average score of 1367, placing it at the 36th percentile. The Opteron’s average is 20 points higher, roughly a 1.5 percent advantage.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each CPU?

A: The Opteron 6274 has 16 cores and 16 threads, with no multithreading. The Xeon D-1521 has 4 cores and 8 threads, using Hyper-Threading. The Opteron has four times the physical cores, but the Xeon’s higher base clock and architectural efficiency compensate.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes. Both the AMD Opteron 6274 and the Intel Xeon D-1521 have ECC memory support listed in the database. However, the Opteron uses DDR3 in quad-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 in dual-channel mode with no recorded bandwidth figure.

Q: Which chip has a newer manufacturing process?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1521 uses a 14 nm process at Intel’s foundry, while the AMD Opteron 6274 uses a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Xeon’s process is significantly newer and denser, allowing 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die, compared to 2,400 million on the Opteron’s dual 315 mm² dies.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Opteron 6274 | Intel Xeon D-1521 |

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

| Cores | 16 | 4 |

| Threads | 16 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.10 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| TDP | 115 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket G34 | Intel BGA 1667 |

| Architecture | Bulldozer | Broadwell |

| Codename | Interlagos | Broadwell |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 2,400 million | 3,200 million |

| Die Size | 2x 315 mm² | 246 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) | 1.5 MB (per core) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR3, DDR4 |

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

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

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3, 24 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Release Date | 2011-11-13 | 2015-10-31 |

| Launch MSRP | $639 | $199 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Part Number | OS6274WKTGGGU | SR2DF |

The Verdict

The data presents a clear, though narrow, overall winner: the AMD Opteron 6274. It wins every recorded benchmark against the Intel Xeon D-1521, from single-core to multi-core, across three Cinebench versions. Its average benchmark score is higher, its percentile ranking is higher, and its head-to-head record is a perfect 6 wins and 0 losses. The margins are consistent, between 1.4 and 1.5 percent, which suggests a stable performance advantage rather than a workload-specific fluke.

That said, the practical significance of a 1.5 percent lead is minimal. In real server deployments, the Xeon D-1521’s massively lower power draw (45 W versus 115 W) and its newer platform features, such as PCIe Gen 3 and DDR4 support, may outweigh the small performance deficit. The Xeon also has a much lower launch MSRP of $199 versus the Opteron’s $639, though pricing considerations are outside the scope of this analysis. The Opteron’s advantage is real but narrow, and it comes with a significantly higher thermal and power cost.

For workloads that are purely CPU-bound and can use all available cores, the Opteron 6274 offers a slight edge. For environments where power efficiency, modern I/O, or platform longevity matter more than a 1.5 percent benchmark margin, the Xeon D-1521 is the more sensible choice. The data does not support calling the Xeon a faster processor, but it does support calling it a more efficient one. The Opteron’s status as an end-of-life product also contrasts with the Xeon’s active production status, which may affect long-term availability and support.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6274 wins in every directly measured benchmark category. It takes the multi-core Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests with scores of 483, 2014, and 4796 respectively, compared to the Xeon’s 476, 1985, and 4728. It also wins every single-core test: 68 versus 67 in R15, 284 versus 280 in R20, and 677 versus 667 in R23. Its average benchmark score of 1387 exceeds the Xeon’s 1367, and its 37th percentile ranking beats the Xeon’s 36th. If the criterion is raw benchmark performance, the Opteron wins all six head-to-head matchups.

The Intel Xeon D-1521 wins in areas that are not captured by Cinebench scores but are still present in the recorded specifications. It has a lower TDP of 45 W versus 115 W, which makes it far more power-efficient. It supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the Opteron is limited to DDR3. It uses PCIe Gen 3 with 24 CPU lanes, whereas the Opteron uses PCIe Gen 2. It has a newer manufacturing process at 14 nm versus 32 nm, and it carries a lower launch MSRP of $199 against the Opteron’s $639. It is also listed as an active production part, while the Opteron is end-of-life. For workloads that are I/O sensitive, memory-bandwidth flexible, or constrained by power and thermals, the Xeon’s architectural advantages are meaningful even though its benchmark scores are slightly lower.

In practical terms, the Opteron 6274 is the choice for maximizing multi-threaded compute throughput on legacy infrastructure, provided the power budget and older platform are acceptable. The Xeon D-1521 is the choice for modern, power-conscious server deployments that need ECC memory, PCIe Gen 3 connectivity, and the flexibility of DDR4. The benchmark data shows the Opteron as the faster chip, but the specification data shows the Xeon as the more advanced platform.