AMD Opteron 6348 vs Intel Core i7-3930K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-3930K across every shared benchmark. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel part scores 701 against AMD's 672, a 4.3% advantage. The single-core test in the same suite repeats the exact same margin: 98 versus 94, again 4.3%. This consistency is striking; the two chips are separated by nearly identical percentages whether the workload uses one thread or all available threads.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The Intel processor posts 2921 multi-core points, while the Opteron 6348 manages 2802, a 4.2% gap. Single-core results in R20 show 412 versus 395, once more a 4.3% difference. The most recent rendering workload in the database, Cinebench R23, confirms the trend: Intel scores 6955 multi-core and 981 single-core, against AMD's 6672 and 942. The deltas are 4.2% and 4.1%, respectively.

What does this mean in practical terms? The Intel Core i7-3930K wins all six head-to-head comparisons. Not a single test favors the AMD Opteron 6348. The margins are modest, all in the low single digits, but they are uniform. There is no workload in this benchmark set where the Opteron closes the gap, let alone overtakes its rival. The average benchmark score in the database tells a similar story: the Intel chip averages 1960 points, while the AMD chip averages 1930. That places the Core i7-3930K in the 44th percentile of all CPUs, with the Opteron 6348 just behind in the 43rd percentile.

The Intel part's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon D-2712T at 1964 points, a 0.2% delta in favor of the Xeon, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE at 1954 points, a 0.3% edge for the Ryzen. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H sits at 1967 points, 0.3% above the Core i7-3930K. For the Opteron 6348, its closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-1180G7 at 1930 points, a 0% delta, followed by the Intel Core i3-10300 at 1934 points, 0.2% above the Opteron. These rival placements underscore how close both chips sit to a cluster of modern low-core parts; neither processor is far ahead of, nor far behind, its immediate neighbors.

Architecture Differences

The underlying hardware explains the benchmark results. The Intel Core i7-3930K is built on Sandy Bridge architecture, specifically Sandy Bridge-E, fabricated on a 32 nm process node at Intel's own foundry. It packages 6 physical cores with 12 threads via Hyper-Threading, using 2,270 million transistors on a 435 mm² die. Cache is substantial: 64 KB L1 per core, 115 GB/s less than the Opteron's, 51.2 GB/s, and the memory bus runs quad-channel. The memory bus width is identical, quad-channel for DDR3. The Intel chip supports DDR3 memory with a quad-channel bus. The AMD Opteron 6348 uses Piledriver architecture, codename Abu Dhabi, also on a 32 nm process node but fabricated at GlobalFoundries. Critically, it has 12 cores and 12 threads, with no simultaneous multi-threading; each module shares resources, not cores. The die size is substantial at 2x 315 mm², totaling 2,400 million transistors in total. L2 cache per module amounts to 2 MB, L3 cache per die reaches 8 MB, and total L1 cache is 576 KB total. The Opteron supports ECC memory support, the Opteron has DDR3 support with quad-channel, and memory bandwidth reaches 59.7 GB/s, higher than the Intel's 51.2 GB/s. PCIe support on the Opteron is Gen 2 lanes count is lower than the Intel's. The Intel chip's measured bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s, lower than the Opteron's 59.7 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

Given the benchmark sweep, one might expect the Intel Core i7-3930K wins every test in the database's rendering suite. The Intel chip's 6 cores with 12 threads, a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz, outpaces the Opteron's 12 cores with 12 threads at 2.80 GHz base and 3.4 GHz boost. In every Cinebench iteration, the Intel lead ranges from 4.1% to 4. The Intel chip has 6 wins and the AMD has 0 wins, according to the head-to-head data. The architecture differences, lower core count on Intel, higher clock speed, and faster cache per core, but the Opteron's larger core count but slower per-core cache under certain workloads, results in Intel's advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which chip wins more benchmarks in the database?

A: The Intel Core i7-3930K wins all six head-to-head comparisons against the AMD Opteron 6348 in the recorded tests. The AMD Opteron 6348 wins none.

Q: What is the biggest win margin?

A: The largest delta between the two parts is 4.3% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, with the Intel chip leading, and R20 single-core, with Intel ahead by 4.3%.

Q: How do average scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-3930K averages 1960 points on the benchmark, and the AMD Opteron 6348 averages 1930 points. The Intel chip's percentile is 44th, and the AMD is 43rd.

Q: Does the AMD chip have more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6348 has 12 cores with 12 threads, whereas the Intel Core i7-3930K has 6 cores with 12 threads. Despite this, the Intel chip has a higher boost clock speed, 3.80 GHz, vs the AMD Opteron's 3.40 GHz, and Intel has lower L3 cache bandwidth.

Q: What is the ECC memory support?

A: The AMD Opteron 6348 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-3930K does not. The AMD Opteron has a memory bus width of quad-channel, while the Intel part has quad-channel memory bus.

Specification Differences

| Component | Intel Core i7-3930K | AMD Opteron 6348 |

|-------------|--------------------|---------------------|

| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |

| Series | null | Opteron 6000 series |

| Cores | 6 | 12 |

| Threads | 12 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.80 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Piledriver |

| Codename | Sandy Bridge-E | Abu Dhabi |

| Generation | Core i7 (Sandy Bridge-E | Opteron (Abu Dhabi) |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 32 nm (GlobalFoundries |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries | | Transistors | 2,270 million | 2,400 million | | Die Size | 435 mm² | 2x 315 mm² | 2x 315 mm² | | Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Quad-channel | | Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s | | ECC Memory | false | true | | PCIe | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2 | | Integrated Graphics | null | null | | Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation | | Production Status | End-of-life | End-of-life | | Release Date | 2011-11-13T17:00:00.000Z | 2012-11-04T17:00:00.000Z | | Launch MSRP | $583 | $575 | | Multiplier Unlocked | true | false | | Part Number | SR0GWSR0KY | OS6348WKTCGHK | | L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 576 KB | | L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 2 MB (per module) | | L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 8 MB (per die) | | Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR3 |

The Verdict

The data indicates the Intel Core i7-3930K is the faster processor in the database's rendering benchmarks. It leads the AMD Opteron 6348 in every single test, with margins consistently around 4.2 to 4.3 percent. The Intel chip's higher boost clock speed (3.80 GHz) and unlocked multiplier, combined with a 12 MB shared L3 cache, give it the edge in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench workloads. The AMD Opteron 6348, despite having twice the physical core count (12 vs 6), cannot translate that into a win, largely due to its lower clocks and a per-module cache arrangement. The AMD part does bring ECC memory support and a higher memory bandwidth figure (59.7 GB/s vs 51.2 GB/s), and it targets the server/workstation market, not the desktop segment. For a buyer choosing purely on benchmark performance recorded in this database, the Intel Core i7-3930K is the clear pick. The Opteron 6348, with its 43rd percentile placement and lower average score, is the second choice in this comparison.