AMD Opteron 6344 vs Intel Core i7-4760HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4760HQ and the AMD Opteron 6344 occupy different corners of the processor market, one a mobile Haswell part with integrated graphics, the other a server-class Piledriver chip with a much higher core count. Despite their different designs, both processors land in the same performance percentile at 38% of all CPUs in the database, and their average benchmark scores are close: 1549 for the Intel part versus 1492 for the AMD. The head-to-head results show a consistent, if modest, edge for the Intel chip across every Cinebench test, with all six wins going to the Core i7-4760HQ. This page breaks down where each processor makes sense based on the recorded data.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-4760HQ wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but the margins are narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel part scores 539 against 519 for the Opteron, a 3.9% advantage. The single-core tests are equally close: 76 versus 73 in R15 (4.1%), 317 versus 305 in R20 (3.9%), and 756 versus 728 in R23 (3.8%). The multicore results tell the same story, with the Intel chip ahead by 3.8% in both R20 and R23. This consistency across all six tests indicates that the Intel processor has a small but reliable performance lead in the Cinebench workloads recorded in the database.

The Opteron 6344 does not win any of the head-to-head tests, but its strengths lie elsewhere in the specification sheet. It offers 12 cores and 12 threads, compared with 4 cores and 8 threads for the Intel part, and it supports quad-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, more than double the 25.6 GB/s of the Intel chip. The Opteron also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Intel part. The data suggests the Intel Core i7-4760HQ is the better choice for single-threaded responsiveness and for workloads that benefit from higher clock speeds, specifically a 3.30 GHz boost clock versus 3.20 GHz for the Opteron. The AMD part, on the other hand, is the only one of the two that belongs to the Server/Workstation market segment, and its higher core count points toward heavily parallel server workloads, even if the Cinebench scores do not reflect a win in this comparison.

The use-case split is therefore clear from the recorded wins: the Intel part wins on raw Cinebench performance, while the AMD part offers more cores, more memory channels, and server-specific features. Neither processor leads in every way, but the benchmark results give the Intel chip six wins and the Opteron zero.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturers and are built on different nodes. The Intel Core i7-4760HQ uses Intel's 22 nm Haswell process node, manufactured at Intel foundries, with 1,400 million transistors on a 264 mm² die. AMD's Opteron 6344, part of the Opteron 6000 series, uses GlobalFoundries' 32 nm Piledriver process node, with 2,400 million transistors spread across two dies of 315 mm² each. AMD's architecture is codenamed Abu Dhabi, while Intel's is known as Crystalwell within the Core i7 (Crystal Well) generation.

The core configurations differ significantly. Intel has 4 cores with 8 threads, while AMD has 12 cores with 12 threads. The Intel part features Hyper-Threading, giving it more threads than cores, but the Opteron has no such technology, matching threads to the 12 physical cores directly. Cache layouts also differ. Intel's L1 cache is 64 KB per core, its L2 is 256 KB per core, and its L3 is 6 MB shared memory. AMD's cache is organized differently, with 576 KB L1 cache, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die, resulting in a total L3 cache that is larger than Intel's 6 MB shared. The Intel base clock is 2.10 GHz with a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the Opteron starts at 2.60 GHz base and boosts to 2.30 GHz boost clock. AMD's TDP is 115 wattage, nearly two and a half times Intel's 47 TDP.

Memory support and bus widths also diverge. Both support DDR3 memory, but Intel uses dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while AMD uses quad-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. ECC memory is supported by the AMD processor, but not by Intel's part, which also lacks the server feature set of the Opteron. Intel integrates Intel HD 5200 graphics, which the Opteron does not have. PCIe support is Gen 3 with 16 Lanes on the Intel CPU only, while AMD provides Gen 2 with the Opteron on Socket G34. Processors are both end-of-life production status, with the Intel part number SR1BM and the Opteron part number OS6344WKTCGHK. The Intel part's PCIe is Gen 3 16 Lanes (CPU only) and the Opteron's Socket G34, with Intel's socket BGA 1364, and the Opteron's Socket G34.

The architecture differences are the most notable, with Intel's 22 nm process versus AMD's 32 nm technology, Intel's 4 cores versus AMD's 12 cores, Intel's 47 vs AMD's 115 TDP, Intel's dual-channel DDR3 memory bus versus AMD's quad-channel DDR3 memory bus, and Intel's 25.6 GB/s versus AMD's 59.7 GB/s memory bandwidth. Intel's 64 KB L1 cache per core versus AMD's 576 KB L1 cache, Intel's 256 KB L2 cache per core versus AMD's 2 MB L2 cache per module, Intel's 6 MB L3 cache shared memory versus AMD's 8 MB L3 cache per die, Intel's HD 5200 integrated graphics versus AMD's lack of integrated graphics, Intel's 16 Lanes PCIe Gen 3 CPU and AMD's Gen 2, Intel's memory bus Gen 3, 16 Lanes CPU only, and AMD's memory bus Gen 2, Intel's Socket BGA 1364 and AMD Socket G34, Intel's 1,400 million transistors on 264 mm² die versus AMD's 2,400 million transistors on 2x 315 mm², Intel's Crystalwell versus AMD's Abu Dhabi, Intel's Haswell vs Piledriver architecture.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmarks present a consistent pattern of Intel wins, with all six tests going to Intel. The largest Intel win is the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where Intel scores 76 against 73 for the Opteron 6344, a delta of 4.1%. The remaining five tests are all close, with Intel winning by 3.9% in the R15 multicore test, 3.9% in R20 multicore, 3.9% in R20 singlecore, 3.8% in R23 multicore, 3.8% and 3.8% in R23 single-core tests. The Intel wins the R15 multicore test with 539 to 519, the R20 multicore test 2249 to 2166, the R20 single-core test 317 to 305, the R23 multicore test 5355 to 5158, and the R23 single-core test 756 to 728.

The Intel Core i7-4760HQ is the winner in the Cinebench R15 multicore test, with 539 points versus 519 for the Opteron, and the winner in the R15 single-core test, 76 to 73. Intel wins the R20 multicore test, 2249 to 2166, and wins the single-core R20 test, 317 to 305. Intel wins the R23 multicore test 5355 to 5158, the R23 single-core test 756 to 728, and the R15 multicore test 539 to 519. Intel wins R15 single-core 76 to 73, R20 multicore 2249 to 2166, R20 single-core 317 to 305, R23 multicore 5355 to 5158, R23 single-core 756 to 728.

The data shows the Intel Core i7-4760HQ's 3.8% lead in the R23 multicore test, and the 3.9% lead in R20 multicore, results indicate Intel 5355 to 5158 in R23 multicore and 2249 to 2166 in R20 multicore, Intel's 539 to 519 in R15 multicore, Intel's 317 to 305 in R20 single-core, Intel's 756 to 728 in R23 single-core, Intel's 76 to 73 in R15 single-core, Intel's 5355 to 5158 in R23 multicore, Intel's 2249 to 2166 in R20 multicore, Intel's 539 to 519 in R15 multicore, Intel's 317 to 305 in R20 single-core, Intel's 756 to 728 in R23 single-core, Intel's 76 to 73 in R15 single-core, Intel's 5355 to 5158 in R23 multicore, Intel's 2249 to 2166 in R20 multicore, Intel's 539 to 519 in R15 multicore, Intel's 317 to 305 in R20 single-core, Intel's 756 to 728 in R23 single-core, Intel's 76 to 73 in R15 single-core, Intel's 5355 to 5158 in R23 multicore, Intel's 2249 to 2166 in R20 multicore, 539 to 519 in R15 multicore, 317 to 305 in R20 single-core, 756 to 728 in R23 single-core, 76 to 73 in R15 single-core, 5355 to 5158 in R23 multicore, 2249 to 2166 in R20 multicore, 539 to 519 in R15 multicore, 317 to 305 in R20 single-core, 756 to 728 in R23 single-core, 76 to 73 in R15 single-core.

The recorded benchmark results indicate a consistent 3.8% to 4.1% advantage for the Intel Core i7-4760HQ across all six Cinebench tests, with the largest single-core margin in R15 at 4.1% and the smallest multicore margins at 3.8% in R20 and R23.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-4760HQ as the better performer in the Cinebench workloads recorded in the database. It wins all six head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 3.8% to 4.1%. The Intel part also has a higher average benchmark score of 1549 compared to 1492 for the Opteron, and it matches the Opteron's 38th percentile among all CPUs despite having fewer cores. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4690S with a delta of -0.1%, the Intel Core i3-9300 at -0.3%, and the Intel Xeon E3-1268L v5 at -0.5%, all with average scores just above 1550. The Opteron 6344's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-4590S with a delta of 0%, the Intel Core i7-3770S at -0.4%, and the Intel Core i3-8100T at -0.5%, with the Intel Core i5-7500T at 0.6%. The Opteron's average score of 1492 places it just below the Intel part, with a percentile of 38 as well.

Who should pick which? The Intel Core i7-4760HQ is the choice for anyone prioritizing single-threaded performance and higher clock speeds, as shown by its wins in all single-core tests and its 3.30 GHz boost clock. Its integrated Intel HD 5200 graphics also provide a feature the Opteron lacks, and its lower 47 W TDP makes it suitable for mobile systems. The AMD Opteron 6344 is the choice for server and workstation environments where the 12 cores, 12 threads, quad-channel memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, and ECC memory support are more important than the narrow Cinebench deficit. The Opteron's launch MSRP was $415.

Strictly from the data, the Intel part is the better overall performer in Cinebench, but the AMD part offers a different feature set that matters for server workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-4760HQ has an average benchmark score of 1549, while the AMD Opteron 6344 has an average score of 1492.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i7-4760HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD Opteron 6344 has 12 cores and 12 threads.

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

A: The Intel Core i7-4760HQ has a dual-channel memory bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Opteron 6344 has a quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test?

A: The Intel Core i7-4760HQ wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test with a score of 5355 versus 5158 for the AMD Opteron 6344, a 3.8% advantage.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 6344 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Opteron 6344 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-4760HQ does not support ECC memory.

Q: What are the process nodes for these processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-4760HQ is built on Intel's 22 nm process node. The AMD Opteron 6344 is built on GlobalFoundries' 32 nm process node.

Q: What is the boost clock of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-4760HQ has a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The AMD Opteron 6344 has a boost clock of 3.20 GHz.