AMD Opteron 6276 vs Intel Core i3-1115G4E Comparison

The AMD Opteron 6276 and Intel Core i3-1115G4E occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum despite posting nearly identical average benchmark scores. The Opteron 6276 is a 16-core server processor from the Opteron 6000 series, built on AMD’s Bulldozer architecture, while the Core i3-1115G4E is a 2-core mobile part based on Intel’s Tiger Lake architecture. Their average scores are 1560 and 1559, respectively, a delta of just 0.1%, placing both in the 39th percentile of all CPUs. This near-perfect parity in aggregate metrics hides a complete divergence in workload behavior, as the data shows a clean sweep in all six head-to-head Cinebench tests.

Where Each One Wins

The Opteron 6276 wins every single benchmark recorded in the comparison, taking all six head-to-head contests. Its advantages range from 19.9% to 20.6% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests. This is a uniform victory, not a narrow one. The largest margin is 20.6% in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the smallest is 19.9% in Cinebench R20 single-core. For multi-core workloads, the Opteron leads by 20.1% in R15, 20% in R20, and 20.1% in R23. The pattern is consistent: the Opteron 6276 is roughly one-fifth faster in every rendering test.

The Core i3-1115G4E, despite losing every head-to-head, does not lack a purpose. Its wins are structural rather than benchmark-driven. The data shows it is an active, mobile-market processor with integrated UHD Graphics G4 48EU, a feature entirely absent from the Opteron. It supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory, while the Opteron is limited to DDR3. The i3 also carries a 15 TDP versus the Opteron’s 115, indicating a fundamentally different power envelope. For any workload that depends on integrated graphics, low power draw, or modern memory types, the i3 is the only choice — the Opteron cannot compete in those areas because it lacks the hardware entirely.

Architecture Differences

The Opteron 6276 is built on AMD’s Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Interlagos, using a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It packs 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The chip is physically massive, with a die size of 2x 315 mm² and 2,400 million transistors. Its cache hierarchy is organized around modules: 768 KB of L1, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. Memory support is quad-channel DDR3 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and ECC memory is supported. The socket is AMD Socket G34, and PCIe is Gen 2. This is a server/workstation part, now end-of-life, released in 2011.

The Core i3-1115G4E uses Intel’s Tiger Lake architecture, specifically the Willow Cove-U generation, on a 10 nm process. It has only 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The die is 144 mm², and the cache layout is per-core: 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Memory support is dual-channel DDR4 or LPDDR4X, with no ECC support. The socket is Intel BGA 1449, and PCIe is Gen 4 with 4 lanes from the CPU. It includes integrated UHD Graphics G4 48EU, which the Opteron lacks entirely. The chip is active in production, released in 2020, and targets the mobile segment.

The architectural gulf is stark. The Opteron uses nearly twice the TDP (115 vs 15) and has eight times the cores (16 vs 2). The i3 compensates with a higher boost clock (3.90 vs 3.20 GHz) and a more modern process node (10 nm vs 32 nm). The Opteron’s memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s, while the i3’s is not listed. ECC memory is a server feature present only on the Opteron. The i3’s integrated graphics and Gen 4 PCIe are features the Opteron cannot match.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 543 against the i3’s 452, a 20.1% advantage. In single-core R15, the Opteron leads 76 to 63, a 20.6% margin. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Opteron wins multi-core 2265 to 1887 (20% ahead) and single-core 319 to 266 (19.9% ahead). In Cinebench R23, the Opteron scores 5395 multi-core versus 4493, again 20.1% ahead, and 761 single-core versus 634, a 20% lead.

These margins are remarkably consistent, hovering around 20% across every test. The Opteron’s single-core wins are particularly notable because the i3 has a higher boost clock (3.90 vs 3.20 GHz). Despite that clock disadvantage, the Opteron still outperforms the i3 in single-threaded Cinebench tests by roughly a fifth. This suggests the Opteron’s older architecture, despite lower clocks, delivers more work per cycle in these specific workloads. The multi-core results are less surprising given the 16-core count, but the 20% spread is still substantial.

The i3’s only benchmark advantage appears in Geekbench scores, which are not part of the head-to-head table. The i3 records a multi-core Geekbench score of 2972 and a single-core score of 1702. No Geekbench scores are listed for the Opteron, so a direct comparison is impossible from the data. The absence of Geekbench data for the Opteron means the head-to-head is entirely defined by Cinebench, where the Opteron wins all six contests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6276 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i3-1115G4E has 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

A: The Opteron 6276 has an average score of 1560, and the i3-1115G4E has 1559, a delta of 0.1% with the Opteron slightly ahead.

Q: Does the Core i3-1115G4E have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i3-1115G4E includes UHD Graphics G4 48EU. The Opteron 6276 has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6276 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i3-1115G4E does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Opteron 6276 has a TDP of 115, while the i3-1115G4E has a TDP of 15.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115G4E has a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the Opteron 6276 has a boost clock of 3.20 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field. The Opteron 6276 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the i3-1115G4E has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Opteron’s base clock is 2.30 GHz versus 2.20 GHz for the i3, but the i3’s boost clock is higher at 3.90 GHz versus 3.20 GHz. TDP is dramatically different: 115 for the Opteron, 15 for the i3. The Opteron uses AMD Socket G34, the i3 uses Intel BGA 1449. Architecture differs: Bulldozer (Interlagos) for AMD, Tiger Lake (Willow Cove-U) for Intel. Process node: 32 nm for AMD, 10 nm for Intel. The Opteron’s die is 2x 315 mm², the i3’s is 144 mm². Transistors are 2,400 million for the Opteron; no count is listed for the i3.

Cache structures differ as well. The Opteron has 768 KB L1, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die. The i3 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support: the Opteron uses DDR3 quad-channel with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC; the i3 uses DDR4 or LPDDR4X dual-channel with no ECC and no bandwidth listed. PCIe: the Opteron is Gen 2, the i3 is Gen 4 with 4 lanes. The Opteron has no integrated graphics; the i3 has UHD Graphics G4 48EU. Market segment: server/workstation for AMD, mobile for Intel. Production status: end-of-life for AMD, active for Intel. Release dates differ (2011 for AMD, 2020 for Intel). The Opteron supports no ECC? No — it does support ECC, while the i3 does not.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion. The AMD Opteron 6276 is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark, winning all six Cinebench tests with margins around 20%. If the task is pure rendering or CPU compute, the Opteron is the superior choice. Its 16-core design delivers consistently higher scores in both single-core and multi-core workloads, despite the i3’s higher boost clock and much newer architecture.

The Intel Core i3-1115G4E is the appropriate pick for a different set of requirements. It is an active, mobile-market processor with integrated graphics, a 15 TDP, and support for DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory. The Opteron cannot offer any of those features. For systems that need low power consumption, integrated GPU output, or modern memory types, the i3 is the only viable option among the two. The Opteron’s ECC support and quad-channel DDR3 bandwidth serve server workloads, but its end-of-life status and 115 TDP make it unsuitable for mobile or battery-powered designs.

In short: choose the Opteron 6276 for maximum benchmark performance, especially in multi-threaded rendering. Choose the Core i3-1115G4E for mobility, integrated graphics, and modern platform features. The near-identical average scores (1560 vs 1559) are misleading — they reflect two very different performance profiles, and the correct choice depends entirely on the workload and platform constraints.