AMD Opteron 6348 vs AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data presents an unusual picture: the AMD Opteron 6348, a server processor from 2012, edges out the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE in every single tested workload. Across six Cinebench runs, the Opteron claims a clean sweep with a 6 to 0 win record. The margins, however, are consistently narrow, ranging from 3.2% to 3.3% in favor of the older chip.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 672 against the Ryzen’s 650, a 3.3% difference. The single-core R15 test shows 94 versus 91, a 3.2% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore result is 2802 for the Opteron and 2711 for the Ryzen, again a 3.2% margin. The single-core R20 test lands at 395 versus 382, a 3.3% delta. Cinebench R23 multicore repeats the pattern: 6672 against 6457, a 3.2% difference, while single-core R23 shows 942 versus 911, a 3.3% gap.

These results are notable because the two chips come from radically different eras and market positions. The Opteron 6348 is a 12-core, 12-thread server part built on 32 nm Piledriver architecture, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE is a 4-core, 8-thread desktop processor on 12 nm Zen+ silicon. Despite the Opteron having three times the physical cores, its advantage in these benchmarks is only around three percentage points. The Ryzen’s higher clock speeds and more modern architecture clearly close much of the gap that the core count would suggest.

The average benchmark scores in the database tell a similar story. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE posts an average score of 1954, while the Opteron 6348 averages 1930. That puts the Ryzen slightly ahead on aggregate across all recorded tests, even though it loses every head-to-head Cinebench matchup. The discrepancy comes from the different benchmark suites: the Ryzen has Geekbench scores recorded in the database (3318 multicore, 1110 single-core), while the Opteron does not have Geekbench results listed. When averaging only the shared Cinebench tests, the Opteron holds a slim lead; when the Geekbench results are included in the Ryzen’s overall average, the modern chip edges ahead on the aggregate metric.

Percentile rankings reinforce the closeness. The Ryzen sits at the 44th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Opteron sits at the 43rd percentile. That one-percentage-point spread in percentile ranking reflects how tightly matched these processors are in the recorded results, despite their architectural differences.

Where Each One Wins

The Opteron 6348 wins every recorded Cinebench test, both multicore and single-core, across three different versions of the benchmark. That makes it the consistent choice for raw Cinebench throughput in this comparison. Its multicore advantages are modest but real: 3.2% in R20 and R23 multicore, 3.3% in R15 multicore. The single-core margins are nearly identical, at 3.2% to 3.3% depending on the test version. In practical terms, the Opteron delivers slightly better performance in both lightly threaded and heavily threaded workloads as measured by Cinebench.

The Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE counters with a better aggregate average score of 1954 versus 1930, a 1.2% advantage, and a higher percentile ranking at 44 versus 43. Its Geekbench results, recorded only for the Ryzen in this comparison, show 3318 multicore and 1110 single-core. Those numbers are not directly comparable to the Opteron since the Opteron has no Geekbench entries in the database, but they contribute to the Ryzen’s higher average and percentile position.

For use-case analysis, the data suggests the Opteron is the stronger raw compute part in Cinebench-style rendering workloads. The Ryzen, however, offers features that matter in different contexts: integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics, DDR4 memory support, a 35 W TDP, and PCIe Gen 3. The Opteron has no integrated graphics, requires a discrete GPU, draws 115 W, uses DDR3 memory, and runs on PCIe Gen 2. For a system where power draw and onboard graphics matter, the Ryzen is the only viable choice. For pure multi-threaded server compute where the Opteron’s 12 cores can be fed, the older chip holds the benchmark edge.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent completely different design philosophies from AMD. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE uses the Zen+ architecture under the Picasso codename, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,940 million transistors onto a 210 mm² die. The Opteron 6348 uses the Piledriver architecture under the Abu Dhabi codename, built on a 32 nm process, also at GlobalFoundries. It contains 2,400 million transistors spread across two dies, each measuring 315 mm², for a combined 630 mm² of silicon.

The Ryzen is a single-die design with 4 cores and 8 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading to double its thread count. The Opteron has 12 physical cores but only 12 threads, meaning it does not implement SMT. Its core layout is organized into modules, with 2 MB of L2 cache per module and 8 MB of L3 cache per die. The Ryzen’s cache hierarchy is per-core: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

The process node difference is substantial. The Ryzen’s 12 nm process is two generations newer than the Opteron’s 32 nm process. That newer node allows the Ryzen to reach a 4.00 GHz boost clock and a 3.30 GHz base clock while drawing only 35 W TDP, all while integrating Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics on the same package. The Opteron’s 32 nm process caps out at a 3.40 GHz boost clock and a 3.30 GHz base clock, with a 115 W TDP, and no integrated graphics at all.

Memory architecture also diverges sharply. The Ryzen uses DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 46.9 GB/s of bandwidth. The Opteron uses DDR3 memory on a quad-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth, giving the server chip a 27.4% bandwidth advantage in raw memory bandwidth despite the older memory standard. Both support ECC memory, so error-correcting memory is available on both platforms. PCIe support differs as well, with the Ryzen offering Gen 3 while the Opteron provides Gen 2.

Specification Differences

The database records several specification fields where the two chips differ. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE has 4 cores and 8 threads, a 35 W TDP, AMD Socket AM4 mounting, DDR4 memory support, a dual-channel memory bus, 4,940 million transistors, a 210 mm² die size, Radeon RX Vega 11 integrated graphics, a 12 nm process, PCIe Gen 3, and is classified under the 3000 series with a 2019 release date from the database’s release date field. The Opteron 6348 has 12 cores, 12 threads, 115 W TDP, AMD Socket G34 mounting, DDR3 memory support, a quad-channel memory bus, 2,400 million transistors, dual dies at 2x 315 mm², no integrated graphics listed in the database field for that field, a 32 nm process, PCIe Gen 2, and is listed under the Opteron 6000 series with a 2012 release date from the database’s release date field.

Clock speeds differ: the Ryzen runs a 3.00 GHz base clock and 4.00 GHz boost clock in the base and boost clock fields respectively. The Opteron runs 2.80 GHz base clock and 3.40 GHz boost clock in those fields. Memory bandwidth recorded as 46.9 GB/s for the Ryzen versus 59.9 GB/s for the Opteron. Cache sizes measured in the cache field show the Ryzen with 96 KB L1 per core versus 576 KB total L1 cache for the Opteron with 2 MB L2 per module and 512 KB L2 per core for the Ryzen. L3 shows 4 MB shared for the Ryzen versus 8 MB per die for the Opteron, a per-die value on a dual-die package. The Ryzen’s generation is recorded as "Ryzen 5 (Zen+ (Picasso))" while the Opteron’s generation is "Opteron (Abu Dhabi)". The Ryzen uses the part number YD340BC6M4MFH, the Opteron uses OS6348WKTCGHK. The Ryzen is marked as Active production while the Opteron is End-of-life. The Opteron has a launch MSRP of $575; the Ryzen has no launch MSRP recorded. The Ryzen’s market segment is Desktop, the Opteron’s is Server/Workstation.

The Ryzen’s socket, AM4, supports its DDR4 and PCIe Gen 3 features, while the Opteron’s G34 socket is tied to DDR3 and PCIe Gen 2. The Ryzen’s integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics is a major feature difference, as the Opteron has no integrated graphics and requires a separate GPU for display output. The Ryzen is also a single-die, 4-core part with a 35 W TDP, while the Opteron is a dual-die, 12-core part with a 115 W TDP. The Ryzen’s 4,940 million transistors on 210 mm² versus the Opteron’s 2,400 million transistors on 630 mm² total die area highlights the density advantage of the 12 nm process.

Both parts lack a multiplier unlock feature and locked multipliers are recorded as false. The Ryzen’s memory bus width is dual-channel, the Opteron’s is quad-channel. Both support ECC memory support and both have a foundry of GlobalFoundries. Both have a boost clock and base clock recorded, both have cache fields, both have production status fields, both have release dates, both have part numbers, both have nearest rival data, both have benchmark scores, both have percentile rankings, both have average benchmark scores, both have head-to-head results, both have wins and losses in the benchmark comparison fields.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Opteron 6348 wins all six recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests, including R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multicore variants. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE wins zero head-to-head tests.

Q: What is the score difference in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Opteron 6348 scores 6672 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE scores 6457. The Opteron leads by 3.2%.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE have any advantage in the database records?

A: Yes. The Ryzen has a higher average benchmark score of 1954 compared to the Opteron’s 1930, and a higher percentile ranking at 44 versus 43. It also has Geekbench scores recorded (3318 multicore, 1110 single-core), which the Opteron does not have in the database.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD Opteron 6348 has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth. The Opteron 6348 supports DDR3 memory on a quad-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

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

A: The Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE has a 35 W TDP, while the Opteron 6348 has a 115 W TDP. The Ryzen is substantially more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE includes Radeon RX Vega 11 integrated graphics. The Opteron 6348 has no integrated graphics in the recorded data.