AMD Opteron 6282 SE vs Intel Core i7-8665U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Opteron 6282 SE has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8665U has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Opteron offers four times the physical core count, but the Core i7 uses Hyper-Threading to double its thread count.

Q: How do their benchmark scores compare overall?

A: The database shows the AMD Opteron 6282 SE wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. The margin is narrow, ranging from 3.6% to 4.1% across R15, R20, and R23 multicore and singlecore tests.

Q: What is the performance percentile of each CPU?

A: The AMD Opteron 6282 SE sits at the 39th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel Core i7-8665U sits at the 38th percentile. This places both chips in the lower-middle range of recorded processors.

Q: Which processor consumes more power?

A: The AMD Opteron 6282 SE has a TDP of 140 watts, while the Intel Core i7-8665U has a TDP of 15 watts. That is a 125-watt difference, making the Intel chip dramatically more power-efficient on paper.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The AMD Opteron 6282 SE supports DDR3 memory with a quad-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i7-8665U supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Do either of these processors include integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-8665U includes integrated graphics: the UHD Graphics 620. The AMD Opteron 6282 SE has no integrated graphics, which is typical for server-class processors.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 6282 SE is built on the Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Interlagos, and belongs to the Opteron 6000 series. It uses a 32 nm process node with a die size of 2x 315 mm² and contains 2,400 million transistors. The Intel Core i7-8665U uses the Whiskey Lake architecture, codenamed Whiskey Lake-U, on a 14 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The manufacturing process difference is significant: the Opteron uses an older, larger node, while the Core i7 uses a much more refined process.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Opteron has 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 8 MB of L3 cache per die. The Core i7 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron's L3 is distributed across two dies, whereas the Core i7's L3 is shared across all four cores.

The Opteron connects to the system via AMD Socket G34 and supports PCIe Gen 2. The Core i7 uses Intel BGA 1528 and supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Opteron supports ECC memory, the Core i7 does not. The Opteron is a server and workstation part, while the Core i7 is a mobile processor. Both are end-of-life products, with the Opteron released in 2011 and the Core i7 released in 2018.

The Opteron's memory bandwidth advantage is clear: 51.2 GB/s over a quad-channel DDR3 bus versus 38.4 GB/s over a dual-channel bus that can run DDR3 or DDR4. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are locked parts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a consistent but modest victory for the AMD Opteron 6282 SE across every Cinebench test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 546 against the Core i7's 527, a 3.6% advantage. In R15 singlecore, the Opteron scores 77 versus 74, a 4.1% margin, which is the largest percentage difference in any test.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore test shows the Opteron at 2279 and the Core i7 at 2197, a 3.7% lead. The singlecore R20 result is 321 for the Opteron and 309 for the Core i7, a 3.9% edge. In Cinebench R23, the multicore scores are 5427 for the Opteron and 5232 for the Core i7, again a 3.7% gap. The R23 singlecore test shows 766 versus 738, a 3.8% difference.

The pattern is remarkably uniform: the Opteron leads by roughly 3.6% to 4.1% in every scenario. The singlecore margins are slightly larger than the multicore margins, which is surprising given the Opteron's much higher core count and the Core i7's much higher boost clock. The Opteron's base clock is 2.60 GHz with a boost of 3.30 GHz, while the Core i7 has a base clock of 1900.00 MHz and a boost of 4.80 GHz. Despite the Core i7's higher boost frequency, the Opteron still wins singlecore tests, suggesting the Bulldozer architecture's per-core performance at 3.30 GHz edges out the Whiskey Lake core at 4.80 GHz in these specific workloads.

In the database's nearest rival comparisons, the Opteron's average benchmark score is 1569, placing it 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i3-8300, 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-6600T, 0.5% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X, and 0.6% ahead of the AMD Opteron 6276. The Core i7-8665U has an average score of 1513, which is 0.7% behind the Intel Pentium Gold G7400E, 0.9% behind the Intel Core i5-4670S, 0.9% behind the Intel Core i5-7440HQ, and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i3-8100T. These rival deltas confirm that both chips perform in a similar tier despite their architectural differences.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Opteron 6282 SE | Intel Core i7-8665U |

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

| Cores | 16 | 4 |

| Threads | 16 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 1900.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket G34 | Intel BGA 1528 |

| Architecture | Bulldozer | Whiskey Lake |

| Codename | Interlagos | Whiskey Lake-U |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| L1 Cache | 768 KB | 64 KB per core |

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

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

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR3, DDR4 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

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

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 620 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2011-11-13 | 2018-09-30 |

| Part Number | OS6282YETGGGU | SRF9W |

The core and thread count disparity is the most obvious difference, followed by the massive TDP gap. The Opteron draws 140 watts, the Core i7 draws 15 watts. The process node difference (32 nm versus 14 nm) explains much of the efficiency gap. The memory bus is also fundamentally different: quad-channel versus dual-channel, with corresponding bandwidth figures of 51.2 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6282 SE wins every recorded benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. It leads by 3.6% in R15 multicore, 4.1% in R15 singlecore, 3.7% in R20 multicore, 3.9% in R20 singlecore, 3.7% in R23 multicore, and 3.8% in R23 singlecore. The data shows no test where the Intel Core i7-8665U takes the lead. This means the Opteron wins all six benchmark comparisons, and the Core i7 wins zero.

The Core i7's advantages lie outside raw Cinebench performance. It has integrated graphics, which the Opteron lacks entirely. It supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the Opteron only supports DDR3. It uses PCIe Gen 3, a newer standard than the Opteron's Gen 2. Its TDP of 15 watts makes it suitable for mobile platforms, whereas the Opteron's 140-watt TDP requires a server-class power delivery system. The Core i7 is also seven years newer in release date, which explains its more modern feature set.

For scenarios where memory bandwidth matters, the Opteron has the clear edge with 51.2 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. For scenarios where ECC memory is required, the Opteron supports it and the Core i7 does not. For scenarios where integrated graphics are needed, only the Core i7 qualifies.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Opteron 6282 SE as the performance winner in every measured benchmark. It exceeds the Intel Core i7-8665U by margins between 3.6% and 4.1% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both in multicore and singlecore workloads. The Opteron's 16 cores and 16 threads give it a structural advantage in threaded workloads, but its singlecore lead over a chip with a 4.80 GHz boost clock indicates that the Bulldozer architecture at 3.30 GHz outperforms Whiskey Lake at 4.80 GHz in these specific tests.

The Intel Core i7-8665U is the only option for users who need integrated graphics, dual-channel DDR4 support, or PCIe Gen 3 connectivity. Its 15-watt TDP makes it viable for thin-and-light mobile devices, a form factor the Opteron cannot serve. The Core i7's 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth is lower, but it supports a newer memory standard. The Core i7's nearest rivals include the Pentium Gold G7400E and Core i5-4670S, with performance deltas under 1%, placing it in a well-populated performance tier.

The Opteron's nearest rivals include the Core i3-8300 and Ryzen 3 1300X, with deltas under 1%, meaning it sits at the edge of a different competitive set. Its quad-channel memory and ECC support target server and workstation workloads, where the Core i7 cannot compete due to its lack of ECC and dual-channel bus. The Opteron's 140-watt TDP is a severe constraint for any deployment, but the benchmark results show that raw performance favors the older, larger chip.

For a server or workstation workload requiring ECC memory and maximum memory bandwidth, the AMD Opteron 6282 SE is the correct choice based on the recorded data. For a mobile workload requiring integrated graphics, low power consumption, and a modern PCIe interface, the Intel Core i7-8665U is the only viable option. The benchmark scores favor the Opteron, but the platform requirements will ultimately decide which processor fits a given use case. The Core i7's 38th percentile and the Opteron's 39th percentile show they are nearly equivalent in the overall database ranking, confirming that the performance gap is real but narrow.