AMD Opteron 6328 vs Intel Core i5-4590T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture: the AMD Opteron 6328 outperforms the Intel Core i5-4590T across every shared workload recorded in the database. Of the five head-to-head comparisons available, the Opteron 6328 claims all five wins, with the Intel processor recording zero victories.

Starting with multi-core rendering performance, the Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the Opteron 6328 scoring 454 against the Core i5-4590T's 347. This represents a 23.6% advantage for the AMD part. The pattern repeats almost identically in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Opteron 6328 scores 1894 versus 1446 for the Intel chip, again a 23.6% lead. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test reinforces the trend: the Opteron 6328 reaches 4510, while the Core i5-4590T manages 3445, maintaining that same 23.6% margin. The consistency of this delta across multiple Cinebench versions suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific.

Single-core results tell a similar story, though with a twist worth noting. The Opteron 6328 wins the Cinebench R20 single-core test with a score of 267 against 204 for the Intel processor, and the Cinebench R23 single-core test with 636 against 486. Both victories again represent 23.6% margins. This is notable because the Intel Core i5-4590T has a boost clock of 3.00 GHz, while the Opteron 6328 boosts to 3.80 GHz. The higher clock speed on the AMD chip translates into a decisive single-threaded advantage in these tests, despite the architectural differences between the two designs.

When examining the broader benchmark database, the average scores align with these head-to-head results. The Intel Core i5-4590T holds an average benchmark score of 1340, while the AMD Opteron 6328 sits slightly lower at 1304. This seems contradictory at first glance, but the explanation lies in the benchmark sets. The Intel processor has additional Geekbench entries in its record (a multi-core score of 2540 and a single-core score of 911), which are absent from the Opteron 6328's profile. These Geekbench results pull the Intel average upward, even though the shared Cinebench tests favor the AMD part.

The percentile rankings reinforce the close overall standing of these two processors. The Core i5-4590T sits at the 36th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Opteron 6328 rests at the 35th percentile. They are effectively adjacent in the overall distribution, separated by a single percentile point despite their divergent head-to-head results.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is substantial and explains much of the observed performance behavior. The Intel Core i5-4590T belongs to the Haswell generation, built on a 22 nm process at Intel's foundries. It packs 1,400 million transistors into a die size of 177 mm². The AMD Opteron 6328, by contrast, comes from the Piledriver generation under the Abu Dhabi codename, fabricated on a 32 nm process by GlobalFoundries. The AMD chip contains 2,400 million transistors spread across two dies, each measuring 315 mm², for a combined die area of 630 mm².

Core counts differ markedly. The Intel part provides 4 cores with 4 threads, while the Opteron 6328 offers 8 cores with 8 threads. This doubling of physical cores helps explain the multi-core performance advantage seen in the Cinebench tests, even though the AMD architecture is generally less efficient per core than Intel's Haswell design. Clock speeds also favor the AMD chip: the Opteron 6328 runs at a base clock of 3.20 GHz with a boost of 3.80 GHz, whereas the Core i5-4590T operates at 2.00 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost.

Cache hierarchies reveal different design philosophies. The Intel processor allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and shares a 6 MB L3 cache across all four cores. The AMD processor instead uses a module-based approach: 384 KB of L1 total, 2 MB of L2 per module (the Piledriver architecture groups pairs of cores into modules), and 8 MB of L3 per die. With two dies, this means up to 16 MB of L3 available, though the exact sharing arrangement depends on the memory topology.

Memory support further distinguishes the two. Both processors use DDR3 memory, but the Intel chip operates on a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while the AMD Opteron 6328 employs a quad-channel interface delivering 59.7 GB/s. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Intel processor. This aligns with their market positioning: the Core i5-4590T targets desktops with integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, while the Opteron 6328 is a server and workstation part with no integrated graphics at all. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU, while the AMD processor uses PCIe Gen 2.

Power consumption differs dramatically. The Core i5-4590T carries a 35 W TDP, making it a low-power desktop part. The Opteron 6328 draws 115 W TDP, reflecting its server-class design and higher clock speeds. This power disparity has direct implications for platform requirements, cooling, and operating costs, though the database does not provide specific cooling or cost metrics.

Where Each One Wins

The usage split follows directly from the recorded data. The AMD Opteron 6328 wins every Cinebench workload in the head-to-head comparison, both single-core and multi-core. For workloads that resemble these rendering tests, the Opteron 6328 is the stronger choice. Its 8 physical cores give it a clear advantage in multi-threaded rendering, and its higher clock speeds carry it to victory even in single-threaded tests.

However, the Intel Core i5-4590T has strengths that the benchmark set does not fully capture. The database shows Geekbench results for the Intel part, with a multi-core score of 2540 and a single-core score of 911. These Geekbench figures are not available for the Opteron 6328, so no direct comparison is possible. The Intel processor also includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, which the AMD part lacks entirely. For systems that require a display output without a discrete GPU, the Core i5-4590T is the only viable option between the two.

The power envelope is another differentiator. The Intel chip's 35 W TDP suits compact, low-heat desktop builds. The Opteron 6328's 115 W TDP demands a more robust cooling solution and a platform designed for server operation. The Intel processor's 22 nm process and smaller die contribute to its efficiency, while the AMD part's older 32 nm process and larger dual-die design increase power draw.

Platform considerations also matter. The Intel Core i5-4590T uses Intel Socket 1150, a mainstream desktop socket. The Opteron 6328 uses AMD Socket G34, a server socket requiring a compatible workstation or server motherboard. ECC memory support on the AMD side makes it suitable for reliability-sensitive applications, while the Intel part's lack of ECC limits it to consumer workloads.

The Verdict

The data directs different buyers toward different processors. For pure compute performance on Cinebench-style workloads, the AMD Opteron 6328 wins decisively. It outperforms the Intel Core i5-4590T by 23.6% across every shared test, including single-core tests where the Intel architecture might be expected to excel. The Opteron 6328's higher clock speeds, doubled core count, and larger cache pool deliver measurable advantages in the recorded benchmarks.

The Intel Core i5-4590T is not without merit, but its strengths lie outside the compared benchmarks. It offers integrated graphics, a significantly lower 35 W TDP, and a newer 22 nm process. Its Geekbench scores, while not directly comparable to the Opteron 6328 due to missing data, indicate solid general-purpose performance. The 36th percentile ranking versus the Opteron 6328's 35th percentile shows that these processors occupy nearly identical positions in the overall CPU landscape, despite the Opteron's dominance in their shared tests.

The release timeline favors the Intel part in terms of platform modernity: the Core i5-4590T launched in May 2014, while the Opteron 6328 arrived in November 2012. The Intel processor belongs to the Haswell generation, which brings architectural improvements over the older Piledriver design. Yet in the specific benchmarks recorded, the Opteron 6328's raw resources overcome the architectural efficiency advantage of Haswell.

For a server or workstation workload with multi-threaded rendering and ECC memory requirements, the Opteron 6328 is the data-backed choice. For a low-power desktop system needing integrated graphics, the Core i5-4590T is the only option with that capability. Users who need neither ECC nor integrated graphics and who prioritize the recorded Cinebench performance should select the Opteron 6328, as it wins all five head-to-head comparisons.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Opteron 6328 wins all 5 head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core i5-4590T, which records 0 wins.

Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core workloads?

A: The Opteron 6328 leads by 23.6% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, scoring 454, 1894, and 4510 respectively, versus 347, 1446, and 3445 for the Core i5-4590T.

Q: Does the Intel processor have any advantages in the recorded data?

A: Yes, the Core i5-4590T has integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, a lower TDP of 35 W versus 115 W, and a smaller 22 nm process node. Its Geekbench scores (2540 multi-core, 911 single-core) are recorded, though no comparable Geekbench data exists for the Opteron 6328.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6328 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-4590T does not.

Q: How do their overall performance rankings compare?

A: The Core i5-4590T sits at the 36th percentile among all CPUs, while the Opteron 6328 is at the 35th percentile. Their average benchmark scores are 1340 and 1304 respectively.

Q: What are their clock speed differences?

A: The Opteron 6328 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Core i5-4590T has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4590T | AMD Opteron 6328 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 35 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 |

| Part Number | SR1S6 | OS6328WKT8GHK |