AMD Opteron 6328 vs Intel Core i5-3570K Comparison

The AMD Opteron 6328 and Intel Core i5-3570K represent two very different approaches to computing from the same era, yet their benchmark results tell a surprisingly close story. The Opteron, a server-class part built on AMD’s Piledriver architecture, and the i5, a desktop-focused chip on Intel’s Ivy Bridge, land in the same performance percentile (35th) among all CPUs. However, the nature of their workloads and system requirements diverge sharply. This analysis dissects the head-to-head data, explores where each processor excels, and clarifies which user profile each chip serves, strictly based on the provided facts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 6328 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, though the margins are remarkably consistent and narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 454 against the i5-3570K’s 425, a delta of 6.8%. That same percentage repeats almost exactly across the board—6.9% in R20 multi-core (1894 vs 1772) and 6.8% in R23 multi-core (4510 vs 4221). This uniformity suggests the Opteron’s advantage is structural, not workload-specific.

The single-core results follow the identical pattern. Cinebench R15 single-core shows the Opteron at 64 points versus 60 for the Intel chip, a 6.7% lead. R20 single-core delivers 267 vs 250 (6.8%), and R23 single-core lands at 636 vs 596 (6.7%). It is noteworthy that a server processor with 8 cores and 8 threads beats a desktop quad-core in purely single-threaded tests, despite both having the same 3.80 GHz boost clock. The Opteron’s base clock is lower (3.20 GHz vs 3.40 GHz), yet it still edges ahead in every single-core scenario.

The most striking observation is the absence of any countervailing win for Intel. The head-to-head table records 6 wins for AMD and 0 for Intel. The i5-3570K does not appear in the head-to-head list for Geekbench tests, even though it has Geekbench scores in its own benchmark array (2245 multi-core, 776 single-core). The Opteron lacks those Geekbench entries entirely, meaning the comparison is exclusively Cinebench-based. Within that scope, the Opteron’s lead is real but modest—roughly 7% across the board, which translates to a tangible but not transformative performance edge.

Where Each One Wins

Given the head-to-head sweep, the Opteron 6328 wins every benchmark category that was directly compared. Its 8-core, 8-thread configuration, paired with a 2 MB L2 cache per module and 8 MB L3 per die, clearly outmuscles the i5-3570K’s 4 cores and 4 threads with 256 KB L2 per core and 6 MB shared L3. In multi-threaded rendering tasks like Cinebench R23, the Opteron’s 4510 score is 6.8% higher, which is the kind of margin that could matter in long batch renders.

However, the i5-3570K has its own territory where it wins by default—specifically in areas not covered by the head-to-head benchmarks. The data shows the i5 has an integrated GPU (Intel HD 4000), while the Opteron has none. For any system requiring a display output without a discrete graphics card, the i5 is the only functional choice. The i5 also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, whereas the Opteron is limited to PCIe Gen 2. For storage or GPU bandwidth, the i5’s newer PCIe standard offers a potential advantage, though no benchmark in the pack measures this directly.

Power consumption is another clear split. The i5-3570K has a 77 W TDP compared to the Opteron’s 115 W, a 38-watt difference that favors the desktop chip in thermally constrained environments. The i5 also has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the Opteron is locked. The i5’s dual-channel memory (25.6 GB/s bandwidth) is half the Opteron’s quad-channel capability (59.7 GB/s), but for most desktop tasks, the lower TDP and integrated graphics make the i5 the more self-contained package.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, choice for raw compute performance: the AMD Opteron 6328 is the faster processor in every Cinebench test, leading by 6.7% to 6.9%. This consistency across single-core and multi-core workloads suggests a fundamental architectural efficiency in Piledriver’s execution, despite its older 32 nm process node versus Intel’s 22 nm node. For users whose primary metric is Cinebench scores—such as 3D renderers or video editors—the Opteron delivers measurably more throughput per session.

That said, the i5-3570K is not a loser in the practical sense. It achieves 35th percentile standing against all CPUs, identical to the Opteron, and its average benchmark score (1293) is only 11 points lower than the Opteron’s (1304). The i5 also offers features the Opteron cannot match: integrated graphics, a lower TDP, an unlocked multiplier, and PCIe Gen 3 support. The Opteron, meanwhile, demands a discrete GPU, a server-class Socket G34 motherboard, and quad-channel ECC memory (DDR3 support with ECC enabled).

The verdict hinges on context. If the workload is purely server-side, headless compute with heavy multi-threading, the Opteron wins outright. If the use case is a desktop PC needing a complete, overclockable package with modest power draw, the i5-3570K is the superior system-level choice, even if it loses every head-to-head benchmark. The data does not support a universal winner; it supports a split decision based on platform requirements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Opteron 6328 scores 636, while the Intel Core i5-3570K scores 596. The Opteron leads by 6.7%.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-3570K better in any benchmark listed in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The Opteron 6328 wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, both single and multi-core), with deltas ranging from 6.7% to 6.9%.

Q: Do these two CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes for the Opteron (ECC memory is true), and no for the i5-3570K (ECC memory is false).

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The Opteron 6328 has quad-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-3570K has dual-channel memory with 25.6 GB/s. The Opteron offers more than double the bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-3570K, which includes Intel HD 4000. The AMD Opteron 6328 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Opteron’s average benchmark score is 1304, and the i5-3570K’s is 1293. The difference is 11 points, or roughly 0.9% in favor of the Opteron.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 6328 uses the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Abu Dhabi, built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die design (2x 315 mm²), with 8 cores and 8 threads. Its cache layout is module-based: 384 KB L1, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die. It supports quad-channel DDR3 memory with ECC, delivering 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, and connects via PCIe Gen 2.

The Intel Core i5-3570K uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a 22 nm process at Intel’s own fabs. It is a monolithic die of 160 mm² with 1,400 million transistors, housing 4 cores and 4 threads. Cache is per-core: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. It supports dual-channel DDR3 (no ECC) with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The i5 also includes Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, a feature entirely absent from the Opteron.

The process node difference (32 nm vs 22 nm) explains the transistor density gap—Intel fits 1.4 billion transistors in half the die area of one AMD die. However, AMD’s dual-die approach allows for more cores (8 vs 4), though at the cost of higher TDP (115 W vs 77 W). The Opteron is a server/workstation part on Socket G34, while the i5 is a desktop part on Socket 1155. Both are end-of-life, but they target entirely different market segments.

Specification Differences

The most consequential differences lie in core count, memory architecture, and feature set. The Opteron has 8 cores and 8 threads versus the i5’s 4 cores and 4 threads—a 2x core advantage. Base clocks differ: the Opteron runs at 3.20 GHz, the i5 at 3.40 GHz, but both boost to 3.80 GHz. TDP is a major split: 115 W for the Opteron, 77 W for the i5.

Memory support diverges sharply. The Opteron uses quad-channel DDR3 with ECC, achieving 59.7 GB/s. The i5 uses dual-channel DDR3 without ECC, capping at 25.6 GB/s. PCIe generations also differ: the Opteron is Gen 2, the i5 is Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics exist only on the i5 (Intel HD 4000); the Opteron has none. The multiplier is unlocked on the i5 but locked on the Opteron.

Physical and market specs also differ. The Opteron uses Socket G34, while the i5 uses Socket 1155. The Opteron’s part number is OS6328WKT8GHK; the i5’s is SR0PM. The Opteron targets the server/workstation segment, while the i5 is aimed at desktop users. Both launch in 2012 (April for the i5, November for the Opteron), and both are end-of-life. The Opteron’s launch MSRP is $575, and the i5’s is $212.