AMD Opteron 6328 vs Intel Core i5-4670 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unusually one-sided here. Across every recorded Cinebench test, the Intel Core i5-4670 takes the win. Six tests, six victories for Intel. The AMD Opteron 6328 does not win a single recorded benchmark in this comparison.

That does not mean the Opteron has no role. The database places it in the server and workstation segment, with 8 physical cores and ECC memory support. That combination points toward threaded workloads like database serving, virtualization hosts, or rendering farms where memory error correction matters more than raw per-thread speed. The Intel chip, by contrast, sits in the desktop segment, aimed at mainstream users who want solid all-around performance in a lower power envelope.

The Intel Core i5-4670 wins every single-core test by roughly 3%, which translates directly to snappier everyday response in lightly threaded applications. The Opteron’s edge, if any, would show in scenarios not captured by these Cinebench runs, such as heavily parallel server tasks that scale beyond four threads. But within the recorded data, Intel dominates.

For workloads that depend on Cinebench multicore scores, the Intel chip is ahead by 3.2% consistently. That is a small but real margin. The Opteron’s 8 cores do not translate into a win because its Piledriver architecture delivers lower per-core throughput, and the tests show the Intel chip’s 4 faster cores outpace the AMD’s 8 slower ones.

FAQ

Q: Which chip has better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670 wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 657 versus the Opteron’s 636, a 3.2% lead. The margin is consistent across R15 and R20 as well.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron’s 8-core design beat the Intel’s 4 cores in multicore workloads?

A: No, not in the recorded benchmarks. Despite having twice the core count, the Opteron scores lower in every multicore test. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel scores 4660 while the Opteron scores 4510, a 3.2% difference in Intel’s favor.

Q: What memory features differentiate these two processors?

A: The Opteron supports ECC memory and uses a quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel chip uses dual-channel DDR3 without ECC support, and its memory bandwidth is not listed in the database.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-4670 includes integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD 4600. The AMD Opteron 6328 has no integrated graphics, which is typical for a server-focused part.

Q: How do these chips compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670 has an average benchmark score of 1347, while the AMD Opteron 6328 averages 1304. The Intel chip sits in the 36th percentile of all CPUs, slightly above the Opteron’s 35th percentile.

Q: What is the power draw difference between the two?

A: The AMD Opteron 6328 has a TDP of 115 watts, while the Intel Core i5-4670 has a TDP of 84 watts. The Intel chip draws less power while delivering higher benchmark scores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a uniform pattern. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel wins 469 to 454, a 3.2% margin. The single-core R15 test shows 66 versus 64, a 3% edge for Intel. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore result is 1957 for Intel against 1894 for AMD, again 3.2% apart. Single-core R20 gives Intel 275 versus 267, a 2.9% lead.

Cinebench R23 repeats the same story. Multicore: Intel 4660, AMD 4510, 3.2% difference. Single-core: Intel 657, AMD 636, 3.2% difference. Every test across all three Cinebench versions lands within a narrow band of 2.9% to 3.2% in favor of Intel.

The consistency is notable. The Opteron’s 8 cores and higher memory bandwidth (59.7 GB/s quad-channel versus the Intel’s unspecified dual-channel) do not help it close the gap. The Intel chip’s advantage comes from superior per-core efficiency, which matters even in multicore tests because Cinebench scales with individual core performance as well as core count.

The largest single margin is the 3.2% multicore wins in R15, R20, and R23, all identical. The smallest margin is the 2.9% in R20 single-core. Even the closest result still favors Intel, and the overall average benchmark scores reflect this: 1347 for Intel versus 1304 for AMD, a difference of roughly 3.3%.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The AMD Opteron 6328 uses 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4670 uses 4 cores and 4 threads. Both have a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, but the Intel base clock is 3.40 GHz versus the AMD’s 3.20 GHz.

Power draw separates them clearly. The Opteron is rated at 115 watts TDP, the Intel at 84 watts. That 31-watt difference matters for cooling and operating costs in dense server deployments.

Memory architecture shows significant divergence. The Opteron supports quad-channel DDR3 with a listed bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s and full ECC support. The Intel chip uses dual-channel DDR3 with no ECC option, and its bandwidth is not recorded in the database.

PCIe generations differ: the Opteron uses Gen 2, while the Intel uses Gen 3. The Intel chip includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics; the Opteron has none. The Opteron uses AMD Socket G34, the Intel uses Socket 1150.

Release dates are about seven months apart: the Opteron launched in November 2012, the Intel in June 2013. The Opteron is marked as end-of-life production status, while the Intel’s status is not listed.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 6328 uses the Piledriver architecture under the codename Abu Dhabi, built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die design totaling 2x 315 mm². Cache is organized as 384 KB L1, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die.

The Intel Core i5-4670 uses the Haswell architecture, also codenamed Haswell, built on Intel’s 22 nm process. It contains 1,400 million transistors on a single 177 mm² die. Cache layout is 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3.

The Opteron’s design targets multi-socket server environments with its large dual-die package and ECC memory support. The Intel chip is a monolithic desktop design with integrated graphics and a smaller physical footprint.

The transistor counts tell an interesting story. The Opteron has 1,000 million more transistors despite using a larger 32 nm node, reflecting its dual-die layout and server-oriented features. The Intel chip achieves competitive or better performance with fewer transistors on a more advanced 22 nm process.

Memory bandwidth is a clear architectural differentiator. The Opteron’s quad-channel controller provides 59.7 GB/s, a figure the Intel chip does not match in the recorded data. However, that bandwidth advantage does not translate into Cinebench wins, suggesting the workloads in these tests are not memory-bandwidth limited.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for most users. The Intel Core i5-4670 wins every recorded benchmark by margins of 2.9% to 3.2%, draws less power (84 watts versus 115 watts), includes integrated graphics, uses faster PCIe Gen 3, and launched later with a more modern 22 nm process. For desktop workloads, rendering, or general productivity measured by Cinebench, the Intel chip is the better performer.

The AMD Opteron 6328 has specific strengths that the benchmarks do not capture. It supports ECC memory, which is critical for servers handling financial data, scientific computing, or long-running virtual machines where memory corruption is unacceptable. Its quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth serves memory-intensive server workloads better than the Intel’s dual-channel setup. The 8-core design, even with lower per-core performance, may handle certain parallel server tasks more gracefully than 4 faster cores.

Who should pick the Opteron? Organizations building servers that require ECC memory, need quad-channel bandwidth, and can tolerate lower single-thread performance. The 115-watt TDP is acceptable in server chassis designed for sustained load. The end-of-life status matters for long-term procurement, but for existing Socket G34 platforms, it remains a viable drop-in upgrade.

Who should pick the Intel Core i5-4670? Anyone building a desktop system where Cinebench scores, power efficiency, and integrated graphics matter. The 84-watt TDP allows for modest cooling solutions, and the on-die HD 4600 eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. The PCIe Gen 3 support benefits modern expansion cards.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the Intel pick: 1347 versus 1304, placing the Intel in the 36th percentile and the AMD in the 35th. The Intel chip’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-7400T (0.1% ahead) and Intel Xeon W-2104 (0.2% ahead), showing it sits in a competitive mid-range position. The Opteron’s nearest rivals are led by the AMD Athlon Gold 7220U, which edges it by 0.6%.

If your workload fits the server profile with ECC and high memory bandwidth, the Opteron’s feature set may outweigh its benchmark deficit. For everything else measured here, the Intel Core i5-4670 is the straightforward winner.