AMD Opteron 6348 vs Intel Core i7-8709G Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a narrow but consistent victory for the Intel Core i7-8709G across every Cinebench test in the comparison. The largest margin appears in Cinebench R20 and R23 multi-core and single-core runs, where the Intel part leads by 1.1% over the AMD Opteron 6348. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 679 against 672 for the AMD processor, a 1% advantage. The single-core R15 result is similar: 95 versus 94, also a 1.1% edge for Intel.

The overall picture is one of near parity despite the architectural gulf between the two processors. The Intel i7-8709G averages 1950 points across its benchmark set, placing it in the 44th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The AMD Opteron 6348 averages 1930 points, sitting at the 43rd percentile. The difference in average score is just 20 points, which is within the noise of most workloads, yet the head-to-head table records all six wins for the Intel part.

The most telling comparison comes from the multi-core tests, where the AMD Opteron’s twelve physical cores should theoretically dominate the Intel’s four cores with eight threads. Instead, the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6743 for Intel versus 6672 for AMD shows only a 1.1% difference. This indicates that per-core performance is heavily skewed in favor of the Intel architecture, enough to offset a 3x core-count disadvantage. The single-core R23 test reinforces this: 952 for Intel, 942 for AMD, again a 1.1% lead.

When placed against their respective nearest rivals, both processors occupy a similar performance tier. The Intel i7-8709G’s closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE, which scores 1954, a mere 0.2% higher. The Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 trails by 0.2% at 1947. For the AMD Opteron 6348, the Intel Core i7-1180G7 matches it exactly at 1930, while the Intel Core i3-10300 edges ahead by 0.2% at 1934. These figures underscore that the two processors are effectively interchangeable in raw throughput, despite their different designs.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-8709G is built on a 14 nm process at Intel’s own foundry, using the Kaby Lake architecture with the Kaby Lake G codename. It packs 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The thermal design power is 65 watts, and it uses the Intel BGA 2270 socket, indicating a mobile-oriented package. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR4, and ECC memory is not available. The integrated graphics are a Radeon RX Vega M GH, a notable inclusion for a CPU of this class. The production status is listed as Active, with a release date of January 31, 2018.

The AMD Opteron 6348, in contrast, is a server and workstation part from the Opteron 6000 series, built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It uses the Piledriver architecture with the Abu Dhabi codename. This chip offers 12 physical cores but only 12 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The base clock is 2.80 GHz with a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, and the thermal design power is substantially higher at 115 watts. It fits into the AMD Socket G34, a large socket designed for multi-socket servers. The cache layout is different: 576 KB of L1 total, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The transistor count is listed as 2,400 million, and the die size is 2x 315 mm², reflecting a dual-die design. Memory support is DDR3 with a quad-channel memory bus and a peak bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. ECC memory is supported, and PCIe is Gen 2. The production status is End-of-life, with a release date of November 4, 2012, making it over five years older than the Intel part. The launch MSRP was $575.

These architectural differences explain the benchmark results. The Intel chip compensates for its lower core count with a higher boost clock and a much newer manufacturing process, which improves both power efficiency and single-thread performance. The AMD chip relies on sheer core count and memory bandwidth, but its older Piledriver cores are less efficient per clock. The 14 nm versus 32 nm process gap is significant, and the Intel part’s ability to match a 12-core server chip in multi-threaded workloads is directly attributable to this efficiency advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6348 has 12 physical cores, while the Intel Core i7-8709G has 4 physical cores. However, the Intel part supports 8 threads via hyper-threading, whereas the AMD chip has only 12 threads with no SMT.

Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel i7-8709G scores 6743 versus 6672 for the AMD Opteron 6348, a 1.1% lead for Intel. The R20 multi-core test shows 2832 for Intel versus 2802 for AMD, also a 1.1% margin. Despite having three times the cores, the AMD chip does not win a single multi-core test.

Q: How do single-core scores compare?

A: The Intel part wins all three single-core tests. In Cinebench R15, it scores 95 versus 94. In R20, it scores 399 versus 395. In R23, it scores 952 versus 942. The largest single-core margin is 1.1%, recorded in R15 and R23.

Q: What are the memory support differences?

A: The Intel Core i7-8709G supports DDR4 memory without ECC. The AMD Opteron 6348 supports DDR3 memory with ECC, using a quad-channel bus and a peak bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The database does not list a memory bus or bandwidth figure for the Intel part.

Q: Which processor is newer and what is its production status?

A: The Intel Core i7-8709G was released on January 31, 2018, and is listed as Active. The AMD Opteron 6348 was released on November 4, 2012, and is listed as End-of-life.

Q: How do these processors rank against all CPUs in the database?

A: The Intel i7-8709G is at the 44th percentile with an average benchmark score of 1950. The AMD Opteron 6348 is at the 43rd percentile with an average score of 1930. Both are close to the median of all recorded CPUs.

Q: Does the AMD processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, ECC memory is supported on the AMD Opteron 6348. The Intel Core i7-8709G does not support ECC memory.

The Verdict

The data shows a clear, though small, advantage for the Intel Core i7-8709G in every benchmark recorded. The Intel chip wins all six head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 1% to 1.1%. The average benchmark score is 1950 versus 1930, and the percentile rank is 44 versus 43. For any workload that relies on Cinebench-style rendering, the Intel part is the better choice, even though the AMD part has three times the physical cores.

The AMD Opteron 6348’s only advantages come from features that are not reflected in the benchmark scores. It supports ECC memory, which is critical for error-sensitive server workloads. It also has a quad-channel DDR3 memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth, which the database does not list for the Intel part. That said, the benchmark results do not show any performance benefit from these features in the tested scenarios.

For users who prioritize raw benchmark performance, the Intel Core i7-8709G is the superior processor. For users who need ECC memory support or operate in a server context where that feature is mandatory, the AMD Opteron 6348 has a functional edge that benchmarks do not capture. The Intel part is also newer, more power-efficient per the TDP figures (65 watts versus 115 watts), and still in production, while the AMD chip is end-of-life.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every key specification. The Intel Core i7-8709G has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Opteron 6348 has 12 cores and 12 threads. The Intel base clock is 3.10 GHz with a boost of 4.10 GHz; the AMD base is 2.80 GHz with a boost of 3.40 GHz. TDP is 65 watts for Intel versus 115 watts for AMD. The Intel socket is BGA 2270, while AMD uses Socket G34. The architecture is Kaby Lake (Intel) versus Piledriver (AMD), with codenames Kaby Lake G and Abu Dhabi, respectively. The process node is 14 nm for Intel versus 32 nm for AMD, with Intel using its own foundry and AMD using GlobalFoundries. The AMD part has a listed transistor count of 2,400 million and a die size of 2x 315 mm²; no such figures are given for Intel.

Cache configurations differ significantly: Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. AMD has 576 KB total L1, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die. Memory support is DDR4 for Intel and DDR3 for AMD, with AMD offering quad-channel and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. ECC is not supported on Intel but is on AMD. PCIe is listed as Gen 2 for AMD, with no PCIe data for Intel. The Intel part has integrated Radeon RX Vega M GH graphics, while AMD has none. The market segment is Mobile for Intel and Server/Workstation for AMD. Production status is Active for Intel and End-of-life for AMD. Release dates are January 31, 2018, for Intel and November 4, 2012, for AMD. The launch MSRP for the AMD Opteron 6348 was $575; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Intel part.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8709G wins every benchmark test in the head-to-head comparison. It leads in all three multi-core tests and all three single-core tests, with the largest margin being 1.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core, R20 multi-core, and R23 multi-core and single-core. The Intel part is also the better choice for power-constrained environments, given its 65 watt TDP versus the AMD chip’s 115 watts. Its integrated Radeon RX Vega M GH graphics provide a built-in display output, which the AMD processor lacks entirely. For mobile or compact systems, the Intel chip is the obvious pick.

The AMD Opteron 6348 wins in scenarios where ECC memory is a requirement. The database lists ECC support only for the AMD part. Its quad-channel DDR3 memory bus, with a peak bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, may also benefit memory-intensive server workloads, although the benchmark data does not show a corresponding advantage in Cinebench. The AMD chip’s higher core count (12 versus 4) could theoretically help in parallel workloads that scale beyond what Cinebench measures, but the recorded scores do not confirm this. The AMD part also has a listed transistor count and die size, which may be of interest to analysts tracking hardware design, but these are not performance metrics.

In practical terms, the Intel Core i7-8709G is the winner in every measurable benchmark category. The AMD Opteron 6348 only wins on feature checklists, not on recorded performance. Users with ECC requirements or multi-socket server deployments would choose the AMD part, but for raw Cinebench throughput, the Intel processor is ahead in every recorded test.