AMD Opteron 6348 vs Intel Xeon D-2712T Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6348 has 12 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Xeon D-2712T has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD part offers triple the core count, but the Intel part supports simultaneous multithreading, doubling its thread count relative to its cores.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2712T wins every single-core benchmark in the head-to-head data. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 958 versus AMD's 942, a 1.7% lead. The gap is slightly larger in Cinebench R15 single-core, where Intel leads 96 to 94, a 2.1% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2712T has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth at 85.3 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s for the AMD Opteron 6348. Both support quad-channel memory buses, but Intel uses DDR4 while AMD uses DDR3.

Q: Are both CPUs designed for server and workstation use?

A: Yes, both are marked as Server/Workstation parts. Both also support ECC memory. The AMD Opteron 6348 is end-of-life and has been released in 2012, while the Intel Xeon D-2712T is active and was released in 2022.

Q: What is the difference in process node and die size?

A: The AMD Opteron 6348 is built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 2x 315 mm² and 2,400 million transistors. The Intel Xeon D-2712T uses a 10 nm process at Intel, with no die size or transistor count listed in the database.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2712T has an average benchmark score of 1964, compared to the AMD Opteron 6348's 1930. The Intel part also sits at the 44th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part is at the 43rd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 6348 is built on the Piledriver architecture with the codename "Abu Dhabi," using a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It has 12 cores with 12 threads, no simultaneous multithreading. Its cache layout is split: 576 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB per module of L2 cache, and 8 MB per die of L3 cache. The CPU uses the AMD Socket G34 and supports DDR3 memory across a quad-channel bus, with a theoretical memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. It also supports PCIe Gen 2.

The Intel Xeon D-2712T is based on the Ice Lake architecture (codename "Ice Lake-D"), fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process. It has 4 cores with 8 threads, meaning it supports simultaneous multithreading. Its cache is distributed differently: 80 KB per core of L1, 1.25 MB per core of L2, and 15 MB of shared L3 cache. This processor uses the Intel BGA 2579 socket, supports DDR4 memory on a quad-channel bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, and offers PCIe Gen 4 with 32 lanes (CPU only). It also supports ECC memory.

The architectural differences are stark: AMD's Piledriver is an older, power-hungry design with many physical cores, while Intel's Ice Lake-D is a newer, more efficient design with fewer cores but higher per-core efficiency and faster memory and I/O. The Intel part operates at a much lower TDP (65 W) compared to the AMD part (115 W), which reflects the manufacturing process advantage. The AMD processor uses two dies (2x 315 mm²), while the Intel processor integrates everything into a single chip, though the die size is not recorded in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmarks cover six Cinebench tests, and the Intel Xeon D-2T wins all six. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel scores 684 against AMD's 672, a 1.8% lead. In R15 singlecore, Intel scores 96 versus AMD's 94, a 2.1% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, Intel wins multicore with 2852 against AMD's 2802 (1.8% lead) and singlecore with 402 versus 395 (1.7% lead). In Cinebench R23, Intel leads again: multicore 6791 versus 6672 (1.8% lead), and singlecore 958 versus 942 (1.7% lead).

The pattern is consistent: the Intel Xeon D-2712T wins by roughly 1.7 to 2.1% across all tests, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded. This is notable because the AMD processor has three times the cores. The Intel part's higher per-core efficiency, likely due to the much newer architecture and process node, compensates for the core-count disadvantage. The database shows that in multi-threaded tests, the Intel part still wins, but only by a narrow margin, which suggests the AMD's extra cores are nearly enough to match the Intel's per-core advantage. However, the data is clear: the Intel wins all six benchmarks, with the largest delta in single-core R15 at 2.1% and the smallest deltas in single-core R20 and R23 at 1.7%.

The average benchmark scores reflect this: Intel's average is 1964, AMD's is 1930, a difference of 34 points. The Intel part also has a higher percentile rank (44th) than the AMD (43rd), indicating that it sits marginally higher in the overall CPU performance distribution.

Specification Differences

Here are the recorded specifications where the two processors differ:

• Cores: AMD has 12, Intel has 4.
• Threads: AMD has 12, Intel has 8.
• Base clock: AMD is 2.80 GHz, Intel is 1900.00 MHz (the database lists the Intel base clock in MHz, but the value is 1900.00, which is effectively 1.90 GHz).
• Boost clock: AMD is 3.40 GHz, Intel is 3.00 GHz.
• TDP: AMD is 115 W, Intel is 65 W.
• Socket: AMD uses Socket G34, Intel uses BGA 2579.
• Architecture: AMD is Piledriver, Intel is Ice Lake.
• Codename: AMD is "Abu Dhabi," Intel is "Ice Lake-D."
• Process node: AMD is 32 nm, Intel is 10 nm.
• Foundry: AMD uses GlobalFoundries, Intel uses Intel.
• Transistors: AMD has 2,400 million, Intel is not listed.
• Die size: AMD is 2x 315 mm², Intel is not listed.
• Cache: AMD has 576 KB L1, 2 MB per module L2, and 8 MB per die L3; Intel has 80 KB per core L1, 1.25 MB per core L2, and 15 MB shared L3.
• Memory support: AMD is DDR3, Intel is DDR4.
• Memory bandwidth: AMD is 59.7 GB/s, Intel is 85.3 GB/s.
• PCIe: AMD is Gen 2, Intel is Gen 4 with 32 lanes (CPU only).
• Production status: AMD is end-of-life, Intel is active.
• Release date: AMD was released in 2012-11-04, Intel in 2022-02-23.
• Launch MSRP: The AMD Opteron 6348 has a launch MSRP of $575; the Intel Xeon D-2712T has a launch MSRP of $349.
• Part number: AMD is OS6348WKTCGHK, Intel is SRLCK.

Note: Both support ECC memory, both have quad-channel memory buses, both have no integrated graphics, and both are not multiplier-unlocked. The AMD has a higher base and boost clock, but the Intel has a lower TDP and newer memory standard.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-2712T wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, so the only place to give the AMD an advantage is in the raw specification sheet. The AMD Opteron 6348 has more physical cores (12 versus 4), which could be beneficial in workloads that scale with core count, but the recorded data shows that in Cinebench tests, the Intel still wins multicore, so the AMD's core advantage does not translate to a win in these specific benchmarks. The AMD also has a higher base clock (2.80 GHz versus 1.90 GHz) and higher boost clock (3.40 GHz versus 3.00 GHz), but again, the Intel wins in all single-core tests, indicating that clock speed alone does not overcome the architectural efficiency differences.

In terms of platform features, the Intel wins on memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s vs. 59.7 GB/s) and PCIe generation (Gen 4 vs. Gen 2). The Intel also has a much lower TDP (65 W vs. 115 W), which is a practical advantage for dense servers or low-power deployments. The Intel is also active and newer by about a decade, while the AMD is end-of-life. The AMD does have a larger cache in terms of L2 (2 MB per module) and L3 (8 MB per die), but the Intel's 15 MB shared L3 is a larger total L3, and its per-core L2 is 1.25 MB, which on a 4-core part equals 5 MB total L2, versus the AMD's 12 cores with 2 MB per module (but note the L2 is per module, so the total L2 is not directly comparable). The data shows the Intel wins all benchmarks, so the AMD's cache layout does not provide a measured advantage.

Thus, from the benchmark data, the Intel Xeon D-2712T wins every workload tested. The AMD has no benchmark wins in this head-to-head dataset, so the "Where Each One Wins" section must reflect that the Intel wins in all measured scenarios, while the AMD's advantages are only on paper (core count, clock speeds, and TDP is actually higher, so not a win for AMD). The AMD does have a higher core count and higher clocks, but the measurements show Intel outperforms it in both single and multi-threaded tasks. The only potential AMD advantage would be in a workload that uses more than 8 threads and is core-count limited, but the Cinebench multicore tests show no such benefit, as the Intel still wins.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded benchmarks, the Intel Xeon D-2712T is the superior performer. It wins all six Cinebench tests, with a lead ranging from 1.7% to 2.1%. It also has a higher average benchmark score (1964 vs. 1930) and sits at a higher percentile (44th vs. 43rd). The Intel is also a newer, active part with a lower TDP (65 W vs. 115 W) and higher memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s vs. 59.7 GB/s). It supports DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 4, while the AMD uses DDR3 and PCIe Gen 2.

For a server or workstation, the Intel Xeon D-2712T is the clear choice based on performance, efficiency, and platform modernity. Its launch MSRP is $349, while the AMD's is $575, but that is not the focus here; the benchmark data shows Intel wins every test. The AMD Opteron 6348, with its 12 cores, might seem attractive for heavily threaded workloads, but the measurements show that the Intel's 4 cores and 8 threads are enough to beat it in Cinebench multicore tests. The AMD's only advantages are its higher core count and higher clock speeds, but those do not translate into benchmark wins. The Intel is end-of-life, but that does not affect its measured performance.

If you are building a system today, the data points entirely to the Intel Xeon D-2712T. The AMD Opteron 6348 is an older, higher-TDP part that loses every benchmark comparison in this dataset. The Intel offers better memory bandwidth, a newer architecture, and lower power consumption, all while winning all performance tests. The only scenario where the AMD could be considered is if you have a legacy socket or specific compatibility need, but the recorded data shows no performance justification for the AMD. The verdict is clear: the Intel Xeon D-2712T is the better processor based on all available measurements.