AMD Opteron 6282 SE vs Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data shows a clear, though narrow, overall advantage for the AMD Opteron 6282 SE. Across all six Cinebench tests, the AMD part wins. The Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 does not secure a single victory in any of the measured workloads. The margins are consistent, ranging from 1.9% to 2.7%, which indicates that the AMD chip holds a small but repeatable performance lead in both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering tasks.

For single-core workloads, the Opteron 6282 SE wins by 2.7% in Cinebench R15 (77 vs. 75), 1.9% in R20 (321 vs. 315), and 2.1% in R23 (766 vs. 750). These are modest differences, but they are present in every generation of the Cinebench test suite. In multi-core workloads, the AMD chip wins by 2.1% in R15 (546 vs. 535), 2.1% in R20 (2279 vs. 2232), and 2.1% in R23 (5427 vs. 5316). The consistency of the delta across both single and multi-core tests suggests a fundamental per-clock or per-thread efficiency advantage that scales evenly across the entire workload spectrum.

The Xeon E5-1428L v2 does not win any category, but its scores are close enough that in real-world usage the difference would be hard to feel. The data positions the AMD part as the faster CPU in every measured scenario, while the Intel part remains competitive. The average benchmark score reinforces this: the Opteron 6282 SE averages 1569 across all recorded benchmarks, while the Xeon E5-1428L v2 averages 1537. That is a 2.1% gap in the overall average, which aligns with the per-test deltas.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 6282 SE uses the Bulldozer architecture, codenamed Interlagos, built on a 32 nm process. It packs 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The thermal design power is 140 watts. The chip is built from 2,400 million transistors spread across a die size of 2x 315 mm². The cache layout is unusual: 768 KB of L1, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die.

The Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, codenamed Ivy Bridge-EN, built on a 22 nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 2.70 GHz. The thermal design power is dramatically lower at 60 watts. Intel's chip uses 1,860 million transistors on a single 257 mm² die. The cache structure is different as well: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 15 MB of shared L3.

Memory support also differs. Both support DDR3 and ECC memory, but the AMD part uses a quad-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Intel part uses a triple-channel bus with 32.0 GB/s. The AMD chip has PCIe Gen 2, while the Intel chip has PCIe Gen 3 with 24 lanes (CPU only). The sockets are incompatible: the AMD part uses Socket G34, the Intel part uses Socket 1356.

The release dates are notable. The AMD Opteron 6282 SE was released in November 2011, while the Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 was released in January 2014. Both are end-of-life products. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and neither includes integrated graphics.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The AMD Opteron 6282 SE wins every multi-core test in the database. It scores 546 vs. 535 in R15, 2279 vs. 2232 in R20, and 5427 vs. 5316 in R23. The advantage is 2.1% in each case.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 win any benchmark?

A: No. The recorded data shows zero wins for the Intel part. The AMD Opteron 6282 SE wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons.

Q: How does the single-core performance compare?

A: The AMD part wins all three single-core tests. In R15 it scores 77 vs. 75 (2.7% ahead), in R20 it scores 321 vs. 315 (1.9% ahead), and in R23 it scores 766 vs. 750 (2.1% ahead).

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The AMD Opteron 6282 SE has 16 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the Intel part with hyper-threading reaches 12 threads, which helps keep its multi-core scores close.

Q: Why is the Intel chip's multi-core score so close despite having far fewer cores?

A: The Intel part has a higher per-core efficiency from the Ivy Bridge architecture, plus a shared 15 MB L3 cache and a 22 nm process node. The AMD chip compensates with more cores and a higher boost clock of 3.30 GHz vs. 2.70 GHz. The result is a near tie in multi-core performance.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The AMD Opteron 6282 SE uses a quad-channel DDR3 bus with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 uses a triple-channel DDR3 bus with 32.0 GB/s. The AMD part offers 60% more memory bandwidth on paper.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every major specification category. The AMD Opteron 6282 SE has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ: 2.60 GHz for AMD vs. 2.20 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks differ: 3.30 GHz vs. 2.70 GHz. The thermal design power is a major separator: 140 watts for AMD vs. 60 watts for Intel.

The process nodes differ: 32 nm for AMD vs. 22 nm for Intel. The transistor counts differ: 2,400 million vs. 1,860 million. The die sizes differ: 2x 315 mm² vs. 257 mm². Cache configurations are completely different: AMD uses 768 KB L1, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die; Intel uses 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 15 MB shared L3.

Memory channels differ: quad-channel for AMD vs. triple-channel for Intel. Memory bandwidth differs: 51.2 GB/s vs. 32.0 GB/s. PCIe generation differs: Gen 2 for AMD vs. Gen 3 for Intel. Sockets differ: AMD Socket G34 vs. Intel Socket 1356. Release dates differ: November 2011 vs. January 2014. The launch MSRP is $1019 for the AMD part and $494 for the Intel part, stated once here for reference.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive win for the AMD Opteron 6282 SE comes in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where it scores 77 against the Intel part's 75, a 2.7% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison. The R20 single-core test shows the smallest margin at 1.9%, with scores of 321 vs. 315. The R23 single-core test lands in the middle at 2.1%, with 766 vs. 750.

The multi-core tests are all identical in margin at 2.1%. In R15, the AMD chip scores 546 vs. 535. In R20, it scores 2279 vs. 2232. In R23, it scores 5427 vs. 5316. The consistency of the 2.1% delta across three different Cinebench versions suggests that the performance relationship between these two CPUs is stable and not workload-sensitive within this benchmark suite.

The average benchmark scores from the database tell the same story. The AMD Opteron 6282 SE has an average score of 1569, while the Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 has an average of 1537. That is a 2.1% overall difference, matching the head-to-head multi-core deltas exactly. The percentile rankings are also close: the AMD part sits at the 39th percentile against all CPUs, while the Intel part sits at the 38th percentile.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database provides context. The AMD Opteron 6282 SE is 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 Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 is 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i5-7440HQ, 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i5-4670S, 0.9% ahead of the Intel Pentium Gold G7400E, and 0.8% behind the Intel Core i7-4760HQ. Both CPUs sit in a dense pack of similar-performing parts, and their direct head-to-head margin is small enough that other factors like platform cost, power draw, and memory support will matter more in a real purchase decision.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 6282 SE wins every benchmark in the comparison. If the only criterion is raw Cinebench performance, the AMD part is the correct choice. It leads by 2.1% in multi-core across all three Cinebench versions, and by 1.9% to 2.7% in single-core tests. The 16-core design, combined with a 3.30 GHz boost clock, delivers a consistent edge over the 6-core Intel part with its 2.70 GHz boost clock.

However, the Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 has its own strengths that the benchmark scores do not capture. Its 60 watt thermal design power is less than half of the AMD part's 140 watts. For a dense server environment or a workstation where power draw and heat output are critical constraints, the Intel part offers a far more efficient platform. The 22 nm process node and the 15 MB shared L3 cache also indicate a more modern design, despite the lower core count.

The memory bandwidth difference favors AMD significantly: 51.2 GB/s vs. 32.0 GB/s. Workloads that are sensitive to memory bandwidth, such as certain database or HPC tasks, would see a larger gap than the Cinebench scores suggest. Conversely, the Intel part supports PCIe Gen 3, which may matter for newer storage or accelerator cards.

For a builder prioritizing absolute performance in threaded rendering workloads, the AMD Opteron 6282 SE is the pick from the recorded data. For a builder prioritizing power efficiency, lower heat output, and a more modern platform with PCIe Gen 3, the Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 is the rational choice, accepting a small performance deficit. The benchmark results indicate that neither chip is dramatically superior; the decision should be driven by platform needs and power constraints rather than the narrow performance delta.