AMD Opteron 6348 vs Intel Core i3-9100F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data for the AMD Opteron 6348 and the Intel Core i3-9100F shows a clear pattern across all six Cinebench comparisons. The Opteron 6348 wins every single head-to-head test, with margins that remain remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 672 against the Core i3's 574, a difference of 17.1 percent. The single-core result in the same test shows 94 versus 80, a 17.5 percent advantage for the AMD part. These are not small gaps; they represent a substantial lead in both threaded and single-threaded workloads.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the same story repeats. The Opteron 6348 posts 2802 in multicore, while the Core i3-9100F manages 2392. That is a 17.1 percent win for the AMD processor. In single-core, the Opteron scores 395, the Core i3 scores 337, and the delta is 17.2 percent. The consistency of these margins is noteworthy. Across six tests, the smallest advantage is 17.1 percent, and the largest is 17.5 percent. No test goes the other way. The Core i3 never wins a single benchmark in this comparison.

Cinebench R23, the newest workload in the set, shows the same story. The Opteron 6348 scores 6672 in multicore, and the Core i3-9100F scores 5697. The delta is 17.1 percent. In single-core, the results are 942 and 804, a 17.2 percent gap. The data suggests that the Opteron's architectural advantages, particularly its 12 cores and 12 threads, translate directly into a consistent performance lead. The Core i3 has only 4 cores and 4 threads, yet even in single-core tests, it falls behind. This is not a case of one processor winning on threaded workloads and losing on lightly threaded ones. The Opteron is ahead in every scenario recorded.

The average benchmark score for the Opteron is 1930, while the Core i3 averages 1903. That difference is small, only about 1.4 percent, but the head-to-head deltas are much larger. The reason lies in the benchmark mix. The Opteron has only Cinebench results in this database, which heavily favors its core count. The Core i3 also has Geekbench results, which are not included in the head-to-head table. If those were included, the comparison would look different. But the head-to-head table is clear: in the tests where both processors were measured, the Opteron wins every time.

For context, the Opteron's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i7-1180G7 with an identical average score of 1930, and the Core i3-10300 which scores 1934, just 0.2 percent higher. The Core i3-9100F's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C at 1902 and the Xeon E3-1285 v4 at 1908. Both processors sit in the 43rd percentile of all CPUs, meaning that while they are not top-tier parts, they are firmly in the middle of the pack. The Opteron's 12 cores do not push it above that percentile, because the average score is dragged down by its weak single-core performance. The Core i3, with only 4 cores, achieves a similar percentile through better clock speeds and efficiency.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Opteron 6348 wins all 6 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i3-9100F wins 0. The deltas range from 17.1 percent in Cinebench R15 multicore and R20 multicore to 17.5 percent in R15 single-core.

Q: How much faster is the Opteron in single-core tests?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Opteron scores 942 against the Core i3's 804, a 17.2 percent advantage. The R15 and R20 single-core tests show 17.5 and 17.2 percent wins, respectively. The Core i3 never beats the Opteron in any single-core test.

Q: Do the two processors have the same average benchmark score?

A: No. The Opteron has an average benchmark score of 1930, while the Core i3-9100F has an average of 1905. That is a 1.4 percent difference. Both are in the 43rd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the most significant win for the Opteron?

A: The largest margin is a 17.5 percent win in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Opteron scores 94 and the Core i3 scores 80. The smallest margin is a 17.1 percent win in R15 multicore, R20 multicore, and R23 multicore.

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100F has a base clock of 3.60 GHz, while the AMD Opteron 6348 has a base clock of 2.80 GHz. The Core i3 also has a higher boost clock at 4.20 GHz versus the Opteron's 3.40 GHz.

Q: Are the two processors comparable in terms of overall performance ranking?

A: Both are in the 43rd percentile of all CPUs. The Opteron's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-1180G7 with the same average score of 1930, and the Core i3-9100F sits near the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C which scores 1902. They occupy the same performance tier in the database despite different architectures.

The Verdict

The data directs a clear verdict. For any workload that uses the Cinebench tests, the AMD Opteron 6348 is the stronger processor. It wins every single head-to-head comparison, with a minimum margin of 17.1 percent. The 12-core, 12-thread design provides a significant advantage over the Core i3's 4 cores and 4 threads. In multicore tasks, the Opteron's 12 cores allow it to process more threads simultaneously, which is why its R20 multicore score of 2802 outpaces the Core i3's 2392.

However, the Core i3-9100F is not without merit. It has a higher base clock (3.60 GHz versus 2.80 GHz) and a higher boost clock (4.20 GHz versus 3.40 GHz). In single-core tests, the Opteron still wins, but the margins are not due to clock speed. The Opteron's single-core score of 942 in R23 is higher than the Core i3's 804, which suggests its older Piledriver architecture is less efficient per clock, but the higher boost clock on the Intel part does not compensate for the architectural deficit. The Core i3 also has a much lower TDP of 65 watts, compared to the Opteron's 115 watts. That is a 50-watt difference, which matters for system cooling and power bills.

The database shows both processors are end-of-life, so this is not a choice for new builds. But if the question is which one offers better raw compute performance, the answer is the Opteron 6348. For single-threaded efficiency, the Core i3's higher clocks are not enough to overcome the Opteron's core advantage. The Opteron wins 6 out of 6 tests. The Core i3 wins 0. The verdict is straightforward: the Opteron is the faster processor in the recorded benchmarks, while the Core i3 is a lower-power alternative that still occupies the same 43rd percentile.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every major specification. The AMD Opteron 6348 has 12 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i3-9100F has 4 cores and 4 threads. The base clock is 2.80 GHz for the Opteron and 3.60 GHz for the Core i3. The boost clock is 3.40 GHz for the Opteron and 4.20 GHz for the Core i3. The Opteron has a TDP of 115 watts, whereas the Core i3 has a TDP of 65 watts.

The sockets are not compatible: the Opteron uses AMD Socket G34, and the Core i3 uses Intel Socket 1151. Memory support also differs. The Opteron uses DDR3 memory with a quad-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core i3 uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. The Opteron has PCIe Gen 2, while the Core i3 has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU. Neither has integrated graphics. The Opteron is a server/workstation part, and the Core i3 is a desktop part.

The release dates are far apart. The Opteron was released on November 4, 2012, and the Core i3 on April 22, 2019. The launch MSRP for the Opteron was $575, and for the Core i3 it was $122. The die size is also different: the Opteron has a die size of 2x 315 mm², while the Core i3 has a die size of 126 mm². The Opteron has 2,400 million transistors, while the Core i3's transistor count is not recorded. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Opteron's part number is OS6348WKTCGHK, and the Core i3's is SRF6NSRF7W.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is significant. The AMD Opteron 6348 is built on the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Abu Dhabi, and is part of the Opteron 6000 series. Its process node is 32 nm, fabricated by GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i3-9100F uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically Coffee Lake Refresh, and is fabricated on a 14 nm process by Intel. The Opteron's process node is older and larger, which explains its higher TDP.

The cache layout is different. The Opteron has 576 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 8 MB of L3 cache per die. The Core i3 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron's 12-core design is split into modules, with 2 cores sharing 2 MB of L2 cache. The Core i3 has a more conventional per-core L1 and L2, with a shared L3. The Opteron's L3 is 8 MB per die, which means the total across the two dies is 16 MB, but the package reports it per die.

The memory architecture also differs. The Opteron uses quad-channel DDR3, which gives it a higher theoretical memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core i3 uses dual-channel DDR4, with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Opteron's higher bandwidth is designed for server workloads that move large data sets. The Core i3's lower bandwidth is typical for a desktop processor. The Opteron has no integrated graphics, and neither does the Core i3, which is marked with an "F" suffix indicating no iGPU.

Where Each One Wins

Looking strictly at the recorded data, the AMD Opteron 6348 wins in every test that was measured. The Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 versions, both single-core and multicore, all show the Opteron ahead. The largest win is 17.5 percent in R15 single-core, and the smallest is 17.1 percent in the three multicore tests. This means the Opteron is the better choice for any workload that relies on Cinebench-style rendering, which is a good proxy for 3D rendering and video encoding that use many threads.

The Intel Core i3-9100F has no recorded wins in the head-to-head table. However, the database includes additional Geekbench results for the Core i3 that are not in the head-to-head set. In Geekbench, the Core i3 scores 1378 in single-core and 3962 in multicore. These scores are not compared with the Opteron because the Opteron lacks Geekbench results, so we cannot draw a direct conclusion. But the Core i3's higher clock speeds (3.60 GHz base, 4.20 GHz boost) and lower TDP (65 watts) make it a better fit for systems where power consumption and heat are priorities.

For the user who needs a server or workstation CPU that can handle many threads, the Opteron is clear. Its 12 cores and the 17.1 percent multicore advantage in all three Cinebench versions are decisive. For a desktop user who cares about lower power draw and smaller physical footprint, the Core i3 is the better choice, not because it wins benchmarks, but because it has a 50-watt lower TDP and a single 126 mm² die compared to the Opteron's dual die design. The Core i3's release date is 2019, while the Opteron from 2012, so the Intel part is newer, but the data shows the Opteron is faster. The Opteron wins on raw performance, and the Core i3 wins on efficiency and the lack of a need for a quad-channel memory setup.