AMD Opteron 6328 vs Intel Core i7-3770T Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3770T and AMD Opteron 6328 are two very different processors from 2012 that end up in a surprisingly close benchmark contest. The data shows a consistent, narrow victory for the Intel part across every single test, with the Opteron’s higher core count and clock speeds failing to translate into a win. The i7-3770T wins all six benchmark comparisons, though the margins are slim, ranging from 1.6% to 2.4%. That consistency makes the verdict straightforward: the Ivy Bridge desktop chip is the faster processor in these tests, even against a server-focused Piledriver part with twice the physical cores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is how uniform the results are. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-3770T scores 464 against the Opteron’s 454, a 2.2% lead. The single-core test tells the same story: 65 versus 64, a 1.6% edge for Intel. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Intel part again wins multi-core 1936 to 1894 and single-core 273 to 267, both by 2.2%. The R23 results repeat the pattern: 4611 versus 4510 in multi-core and 651 versus 636 in single-core, with the single-core gap widening slightly to 2.4%.

What is notable is that the Opteron 6328 has a higher base clock (3.20 GHz versus 2.50 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.80 GHz versus 3.70 GHz), plus double the physical cores (8 versus 4). Yet it loses in every single benchmark. The only benchmark where the gap is smallest is Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Opteron comes within 1.6%, but it still loses. The largest gap, 2.4%, appears in R23 single-core, suggesting that the Intel architecture handles the newer workload slightly better relative to the AMD part.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The i7-3770T has an average score of 1314, while the Opteron 6328 sits at 1304. That is a difference of just 10 points, roughly 0.8%, but it is enough to place the Intel chip slightly higher in the overall ranking. Both processors land at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are statistically in the same performance tier, but the Intel part is consistently on top in every individual test.

Looking at the nearest rivals for each chip provides context. The i7-3770T’s closest competitor is the AMD Athlon Gold 7220U, which scores 1311, just 0.2% behind. The Intel Core i5-4570R is 0.3% ahead, and the Intel Celeron G6900E and G6900T are both 0.5% ahead. The Opteron 6328, meanwhile, is 0.2% behind the Intel Core i5-6400, 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i7-3610QE, and 0.6% behind the Athlon Gold 7220U. Interestingly, the Opteron’s nearest rivals list includes the i7-3770T itself, which is 0.7% ahead. This means the two chips in this comparison are effectively neck-and-neck in aggregate performance, but the Intel part wins every head-to-head matchup.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-3770T is the faster processor in every benchmark recorded. If you are choosing purely on synthetic performance, the i7-3770T is the pick. It wins all six head-to-head tests, and while the margins are small, they are consistent. The Opteron 6328 never manages to outscore the Intel part in any workload, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded.

However, the context matters. The Opteron is a server/workstation part with ECC memory support, quad-channel DDR3 memory, and a much higher 115W TDP. The i7-3770T is a 45W desktop chip with integrated graphics. If your workload depends on memory bandwidth or ECC reliability, the Opteron’s platform advantages are relevant, even if they don’t show up in Cinebench scores. The Opteron also has 8 physical cores, which could theoretically help in highly parallel threaded workloads not represented in these benchmarks, though the data here shows no such benefit in the tested applications.

For a general-purpose desktop or a low-power build, the i7-3770T is the clear winner. It matches or beats the Opteron in every test while using 70W less power and including an iGPU. For a server environment where ECC memory is mandatory and quad-channel bandwidth is useful, the Opteron 6328 remains viable, but the benchmark data does not support choosing it for raw compute performance. The i7-3770T wins on performance, and the Opteron wins on platform features.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The i7-3770T is built on Intel’s Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process, with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. It has 4 cores and 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. Cache is organized as 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory, has no ECC support, and offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated GPU is Intel HD 4000.

The Opteron 6328 is built on AMD’s Piledriver architecture using a 32 nm process, fabricated by GlobalFoundries. It uses 2,400 million transistors across two dies, each 315 mm². It has 8 cores and 8 threads (no SMT), with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. Cache is organized as 384 KB L1 total, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die. It supports quad-channel DDR3 with a peak memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, includes ECC memory support, and uses PCIe Gen 2. There is no integrated graphics.

The process node difference is significant: 22 nm versus 32 nm. That explains the massive TDP gap, 45W versus 115W, despite the Opteron having more cores and higher clocks. The Opteron’s dual-die design with separate L3 caches (8 MB per die) is a key architectural difference from the Intel chip’s single shared 8 MB L3. The memory bus also differs: dual-channel versus quad-channel, with the Opteron offering more than double the theoretical memory bandwidth. The Opteron’s ECC support is a server-oriented feature absent from the i7-3770T.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Opteron 6328 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i7-3770T has 4 cores and 8 threads, using Hyper-Threading to reach the same thread count.

Q: Does the Opteron support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Opteron 6328 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-3770T does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Opteron 6328 has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i7-3770T’s boost clock of 3.70 GHz.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770T has an average benchmark score of 1314, while the AMD Opteron 6328 has an average score of 1304. The Intel part is 10 points higher.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770T includes Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 6328 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How much memory bandwidth does the Opteron provide?

A: The AMD Opteron 6328 supports quad-channel DDR3 memory with a peak bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-3770T uses dual-channel DDR3 without a listed bandwidth figure.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3770T wins in every benchmark category where data exists. It is faster in all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23) in both single-core and multi-core tests. The margins are narrow but consistent, ranging from 1.6% to 2.4%. If your priority is raw compute performance in these specific workloads, the i7-3770T is the winner. It also wins on power efficiency, with a 45W TDP versus the Opteron’s 115W, and it includes an integrated GPU, which the Opteron lacks.

The AMD Opteron 6328 wins on platform features rather than benchmark scores. It has ECC memory support, which is critical for error-sensitive server workloads. It provides quad-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth, which is beneficial for memory-intensive applications that are not reflected in the Cinebench scores. It has more physical cores (8 versus 4), which may help in workloads that scale with core count beyond what these tests show, though the data does not demonstrate this advantage. The Opteron is also a server-class part with a production status of end-of-life, while the i7-3770T’s production status is not listed.

In practical terms, the i7-3770T is the better choice for a desktop or low-power build where performance per watt matters and the iGPU is useful. The Opteron 6328 is the better choice for a server or workstation where ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth, and raw core count are more important than the benchmark results shown here. The data says the Intel chip is faster; the platform says the AMD chip is more robust for specific server duties.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every major specification. The i7-3770T has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Opteron 6328 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz versus 3.20 GHz, and boost clocks are 3.70 GHz versus 3.80 GHz, favoring the Opteron in both. TDP is dramatically different: 45W for Intel versus 115W for AMD. Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1155 versus AMD Socket G34.

The process node is 22 nm for Intel and 32 nm for AMD. Transistor counts are 1,400 million versus 2,400 million, and die sizes are 160 mm² versus 2x 315 mm². Cache layouts differ: the Intel chip uses 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core with 8 MB shared L3; the AMD chip uses 384 KB L1 total and 2 MB L2 per module with 8 MB L3 per die. Memory support is dual-channel DDR3 for Intel and quad-channel DDR3 for AMD, with the Opteron listing 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported on Intel, but is on AMD. PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes for Intel, versus Gen 2 for AMD. Integrated graphics are present only on Intel (HD 4000). The market segments differ: Desktop for Intel, Server/Workstation for AMD. The Opteron has a launch MSRP of $575 and a production status of end-of-life; the i7-3770T has no listed MSRP or production status.