AMD Opteron 6328 vs Intel Core i5-4460S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 6328 wins every recorded head-to-head test against the Intel Core i5-4460S. Across all six Cinebench comparisons, the Opteron holds a consistent advantage of roughly 12.3% to 12.5%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 454 against 398 for the Intel part, a 12.3% lead. The single-core R15 result shows 64 versus 56, a 12.5% margin. The pattern repeats in R20: multicore 1894 versus 1661, and single-core 267 versus 234, again with deltas of 12.3% and 12.4% respectively. In Cinebench R23, the Opteron posts 4510 multicore and 636 single-core, while the i5-4460S manages 3955 and 558, both 12.3% behind.

Notably, the Opteron does not merely edge out the Intel chip; it wins by a nearly identical percentage in every workload. That consistency suggests a fundamental throughput advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The i5-4460S has zero wins in this head-to-head set, while the Opteron claims all six. Even in the average benchmark score, the gap is smaller than the Cinebench margins might imply: the i5-4460S averages 1330 across its full benchmark suite, while the Opteron averages 1304. That broader average includes Geekbench results for the Intel part, which are absent from the Opteron's recorded data, so the Cinebench-only comparison is the cleaner apples-to-apples look.

Looking at nearest rivals, both CPUs sit at the 35th percentile among all processors. The i5-4460S’s closest competitor in the database is the Intel Core i5-2500K, with an average score of 1329, a delta of just 0.1%. The Opteron 6328’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-6400 at 1307, a 0.2% gap in favor of the Intel chip. These margins are tiny, meaning both parts occupy the same performance tier in the overall database, despite the Opteron’s consistent head-to-head wins in Cinebench. The Opteron also sits within 0.5% of the Intel Core i7-3610QE and 0.6% of the AMD Athlon Gold 7220U, while the i5-4460S is within 0.7% of the Intel Celeron G6900T and G6900E.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and different manufacturing generations. The Intel Core i5-4460S is built on Intel’s 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. It uses the Haswell architecture and fits into the Intel Socket 1150. The AMD Opteron 6328 is a 32 nm part from GlobalFoundries, packing 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die design, each die measuring 315 mm², for a total of 630 mm². The Opteron’s codename is Abu Dhabi, and it belongs to the Piledriver architecture, part of the Opteron 6000 series.

Core counts differ sharply: the i5-4460S has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Opteron 6328 has 8 cores and 8 threads. However, the Opteron’s threads do not double the core count, which suggests each module provides a single thread per core, a characteristic of the Piledriver design. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Intel chip offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron has 384 KB of L1 total, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die, which means up to 16 MB across the two dies. The Opteron’s L1 cache is not described as per-core, so direct comparisons are limited.

Memory support differs in channel count and bandwidth. Both support DDR3, but the i5-4460S uses a dual-channel interface with 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Opteron 6328 runs quad-channel with 59.7 GB/s. The Opteron also supports ECC memory, while the i5-4460S does not. PCIe capabilities differ as well: the Intel part provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Opteron lists Gen 2 without a lane count. The Intel chip includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), while the Opteron has none.

Clock speeds are higher on the AMD side: base 3.20 GHz versus 2.90 GHz, and boost 3.80 GHz versus 3.40 GHz. Power draw is not a benchmark score, but the TDP figures in the database are 115 W for the Opteron and 65 W for the i5-4460S. The Opteron was released earlier (November 2012) than the i5-4460S (May 2014). Both are end-of-life products and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6328 wins every recorded Cinebench benchmark, both single-core and multicore, across R15, R20, and R23. That is the entirety of the head-to-head data, so the Opteron’s advantage is total in this comparison. The margins are consistent at 12.3% to 12.5%, which means the Opteron is faster in lightly threaded and heavily threaded workloads alike. The higher base and boost clocks (3.20/3.80 GHz versus 2.90/3.40 GHz) likely contribute to the single-core advantage, while the larger core count and higher memory bandwidth support the multicore lead. The Opteron also supports ECC memory and quad-channel DDR3, which are meaningful for server and workstation tasks where data integrity and memory throughput matter.

The Intel Core i5-4460S does not win any head-to-head benchmark in the database. However, it does have a lower TDP (65 W versus 115 W), which is relevant for systems where heat and power delivery are constrained. It also includes integrated graphics, a feature absent from the Opteron, so a system with the i5-4460S does not require a discrete GPU for display output. The Intel part’s PCIe Gen 3 support is a generation ahead of the Opteron’s Gen 2, which can matter for modern expansion cards. In the broader average benchmark score, the i5-4460S slightly edges the Opteron (1330 versus 1304), but that figure includes Geekbench results for the Intel chip that are not recorded for the Opteron, so it is not a direct comparison.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the Opteron’s 12.5% lead in R15 single-core and 12.3% in R23 single-core means it is the faster choice for lightly threaded applications, despite being a server-class part. For multithreaded rendering, the Opteron’s 12.3% lead in R23 multicore holds up. The i5-4460S’s only advantages are qualitative: integrated graphics, lower power draw, and newer PCIe generation. Those are not represented in the benchmark scores, so the database’s performance data consistently favors the Opteron.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear verdict: the AMD Opteron 6328 is the faster processor in every benchmark where both were tested. Six head-to-head wins, zero for the Intel chip, with margins between 12.3% and 12.5% across all Cinebench versions. If the decision rests purely on measured performance, the Opteron 6328 is the superior part.

That said, the i5-4460S is not without merit in contexts outside the benchmark suite. It draws less power, includes Intel HD 4600 graphics, and uses PCIe Gen 3. Systems that need a compact desktop with integrated display output and modest power consumption would favor the Intel chip, but those are not advantages visible in the benchmark scores. The Opteron’s ECC support and quad-channel memory bandwidth make it the sensible pick for server or workstation workloads where reliability and memory throughput are priorities. The Opteron’s larger L3 cache (8 MB per die versus 6 MB shared) and higher core count add to its appeal in multithreaded tasks.

For a user choosing between these two based strictly on the database numbers, the Opteron 6328 wins on raw performance. The i5-4460S is the lower-power, graphics-included alternative, but it loses every measured test. Buyers who need ECC memory or maximum memory bandwidth should also lean toward the Opteron. Buyers who need integrated graphics or a 65 W TDP have no choice but the i5-4460S, since the Opteron offers neither. The Verdict is simple: the AMD Opteron 6328 is the benchmark leader, while the Intel Core i5-4460S is the efficiency-oriented option with no performance wins.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Opteron 6328 scores 4510, while the Intel Core i5-4460S scores 3955, giving the Opteron a 12.3% lead.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-4460S faster in single-threaded workloads?

A: No. The Opteron 6328 wins every single-core test, including Cinebench R15 single-core (64 versus 56) and R23 single-core (636 versus 558).

Q: Does the Intel chip have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i5-4460S includes Intel HD 4600. The AMD Opteron 6328 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6328 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-4460S does not.

Q: How does memory bandwidth compare?

A: The Opteron 6328 has quad-channel DDR3 with 59.7 GB/s, while the i5-4460S has dual-channel DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each CPU?

A: The i5-4460S’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-2500K (avg score 1329, delta 0.1%). The Opteron 6328’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-6400 (avg score 1307, delta -0.2%).

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-4460S | AMD Opteron 6328 |

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

| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |

| Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 115 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | AMD Socket G34 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Piledriver |

| Codename | Haswell | Abu Dhabi |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 2,400 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 2x 315 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 384 KB |

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

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 8 MB (per die) |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | 2014-05-10 | 2012-11-04 |

| Launch MSRP | $182 | $575 |

| Part Number | SR1QQ | OS6328WKT8GHK |