CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2104G and AMD Opteron 6274 represent two distinct eras of server hardware, yet their benchmark scores place them in remarkably close competition. The Xeon E-2104G, a 4-core Coffee Lake part from 2018, edges out the 16-core Bulldozer-based Opteron from 2011 in every single Cinebench test recorded. The data shows a consistent, though narrow, margin of victory for the Intel chip across all six head-to-head benchmarks. The Opteron’s higher core count does not translate into a performance advantage in these workloads, with the Xeon winning the multi-core tests by margins of 1% to 1.1% and the single-core tests by 0% to 1.1%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the Intel Xeon E-2104G occurs in the Cinebench R20 single-core test, where it scores 287 against the Opteron’s 284, a delta of 1.1%. This pattern repeats in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, where the Xeon scores 4847 versus 4796 for the Opteron, again a 1.1% lead. The remaining four tests show a slightly smaller margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 488 against 483 (1% delta), and in R20 multi-core, it scores 2035 against 2014 (1% delta). The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows a 1% difference, with scores of 684 and 677 respectively.

Interestingly, the Cinebench R15 single-core test results in a perfect tie, with both processors scoring exactly 68 points. This is the only benchmark where the delta is 0%, and it underscores how closely matched these two very different architectures are in lightly-threaded, older workloads. The Xeon wins all six recorded head-to-head comparisons, giving it a clean 6-0 record. However, the average benchmark scores tell a similar story: the Xeon averages 1402 points, while the Opteron averages 1387, a difference of only 15 points. This places the Xeon’s percentile ranking at 37, with the Opteron also at 37, meaning both sit in the same performance tier relative to all CPUs in the database.

The nearest rivals for the Xeon E-2104G include the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 at 1401 points (0.1% delta) and the Intel Pentium Gold G7400TE at 1404 points (-0.2% delta). The Opteron 6274’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-9100TE at 1386 points (0.1% delta) and the AMD Opteron 6238 at 1383 points (0.3% delta). These figures confirm that both chips are clustered tightly with mid-range processors from their respective generations, and the 1% performance difference between the two is statistically minor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2104G leads in three of the four single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 287 in R20 vs 284, and 684 in R23 vs 677. The R15 test is a tie at 68 points each. The Xeon wins the single-core category overall, but only by 1% to 1.1%.

Q: Does the Opteron’s 16-core advantage help it in multi-core tests?

A: No. Despite having four times the core count, the Opteron 6274 loses every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon scores 4847 vs 4796 for the Opteron. The Opteron’s older Bulldozer architecture and lower 2.20 GHz base clock cannot overcome the Xeon’s newer design.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Xeon E-2104G has an average benchmark score of 1402, while the Opteron 6274 scores 1387. This translates to a 15-point difference, or roughly 1.1%. Both processors share the same 37th percentile ranking among all CPUs.

Q: How does the Opteron compare to its own closest rivals?

A: The Opteron 6274’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-9100TE, with an average score of 1386, a 0.1% delta. It also sits close to the AMD Opteron 6238 (1383 points) and the Intel Core i7-3615QE (1381 points). These rivals are all within 0.6% of the Opteron’s score.

Q: What is the difference in launch MSRP?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2104G has a launch MSRP of $193, while the AMD Opteron 6274 has a launch MSRP of $639. This information is provided for reference only.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. Both the Intel Xeon E-2104G and the AMD Opteron 6274 are marked as end-of-life in the data. The Xeon was released in July 2018, while the Opteron was released in November 2011.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The Intel Xeon E-2104G is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS variant, using a 14 nm process node from Intel. It features 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and no boost clock listed. The die size is 126 mm². In contrast, the AMD Opteron 6274 uses the Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Interlagos, fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 32 nm process. It packs 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz. Its die size is listed as 2x 315 mm², and it contains 2,400 million transistors.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with an 8 MB shared L3 cache. The Opteron uses a shared L1 cache of 768 KB, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. Memory support diverges as well: the Xeon supports DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the Opteron supports DDR3 in a quad-channel configuration with a higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. The Xeon also features integrated UHD Graphics P630 and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Opteron has no integrated graphics and relies on PCIe Gen 2.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly favors the Intel Xeon E-2104G, but the margin is so narrow that the choice between these two processors should be driven by platform requirements rather than raw performance. The Xeon wins all six head-to-head tests, but the largest margin is 1.1%, which is well within run-to-run variance for most workloads. The Xeon’s advantage comes from its far newer architecture, higher base clock, and more efficient 14 nm process, which delivers comparable or better performance than the Opteron’s 16 cores at 2.20 GHz. The Opteron’s only notable advantage in the data is its memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s vs 42.7 GB/s) and its quad-channel memory bus, which could matter in memory-bound scenarios, though no such benchmark is provided.

For a user choosing between these, the data suggests the Xeon E-2104G is the safer pick. It offers a 1% to 1.1% performance lead in every recorded test, a lower launch MSRP ($193 vs $639), and a more modern feature set including DDR4 support and integrated graphics. The Opteron 6274, while older and less efficient, still matches the Xeon closely in these specific workloads, indicating that its 16 cores provide some throughput capability. However, with a higher TDP of 115 watts versus 65 watts and a significantly higher launch price, the Opteron offers no performance justification in this dataset. The verdict is clear: the Intel Xeon E-2104G is the better performer in these benchmarks, though the practical difference is minimal.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E-2104G | AMD Opteron 6274 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 16 |

| Threads | 4 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.10 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 115 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket G34 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Bulldozer |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 32 nm |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 2x 315 mm² |

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

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

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

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics P630 | None |

| Launch MSRP | $193 | $639 |

| Release Date | 2018-07-11 | 2011-11-13 |

| Part Number | SR3WV | OS6274WKTGGGU |