CPU Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unusually clear picture: the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 wins every single head-to-head benchmark against the AMD Opteron 6348, taking all six tests with margins ranging from 0.8% to 1.1%. The Intel part achieves this with only 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Opteron brings 12 cores and 12 threads to the table. This is a case where architectural efficiency completely overcomes a raw core-count disadvantage.

For builders choosing between these two end-of-life server/workstation parts, the data points strongly toward the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5. It posts a higher average benchmark score of 1947 versus 1930 for the AMD Opteron 6348, and it sits at the 44th percentile among all CPUs compared to the Opteron's 43rd percentile. The Intel chip also carries a lower TDP of 80 watts versus 115 watts, making it the more power-conscious choice in every scenario.

The AMD Opteron 6348 does have one clear advantage in the specification sheet: memory bandwidth. Its quad-channel DDR3 setup delivers 59.7 GB/s, nearly double the 34.1 GB/s of the Intel's dual-channel configuration. However, this theoretical bandwidth advantage never translates into a single benchmark victory in the Cinebench suite, which suggests the Opteron's Piledriver architecture cannot effectively feed or utilize its wider memory path in these workloads.

The verdict is straightforward: if you are choosing strictly from the benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 is the superior performer in every measured test. The AMD Opteron 6348 only makes sense if your workload specifically benefits from its 12 physical cores or its higher memory bandwidth, but the Cinebench results do not substantiate that advantage. The Intel chip wins on performance, efficiency, and consistency.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 wins every single benchmark category in this comparison. Its margins are small but uniform across both multi-core and single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 678 against 672, a 0.9% lead. In R15 single-core, it scores 95 against 94, a 1.1% lead. The pattern repeats in R20 (2827 vs 2802 multi-core, 399 vs 395 single-core) and R23 (6733 vs 6672 multi-core, 950 vs 942 single-core). The Intel chip wins six out of six tests, with no wins for the AMD part.

The AMD Opteron 6348 does not win any benchmark in this dataset. However, the data does show where it could theoretically compete. Its 12 cores and 12 threads give it a physical core advantage that the Intel part cannot match in raw thread count. The Opteron's quad-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth represent a substantial specification advantage, but these do not produce benchmark wins in the Cinebench tests recorded here.

The practical interpretation is that the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 is the better choice for single-threaded and lightly-threaded workloads, as well as for multi-threaded Cinebench rendering. The AMD Opteron 6348 would only be preferable in hypothetical scenarios where its 12 cores could be fully utilized and where its memory bandwidth advantage matters more than per-core efficiency, but the data in this comparison does not show such a scenario.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 uses the Skylake architecture (codename Skylake-DT) built on Intel's 14 nm process node, with 1,750 million transistors on a 122 mm² die. The AMD Opteron 6348 uses the Piledriver architecture (codename Abu Dhabi) built on GlobalFoundries' 32 nm process, with 2,400 million transistors spread across two 315 mm² dies.

Core and thread configurations differ dramatically. The Intel chip has 4 cores and 8 threads, using Hyper-Threading to double its logical thread count. The AMD chip has 12 physical cores and 12 threads, with no hyper-threading equivalent. The Intel part has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the AMD part runs at 2.80 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The Intel chip is faster in both clock states.

Cache layouts are also fundamentally different. The Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Opteron 6348 has 576 KB of total L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 8 MB of L3 cache per die. The AMD part's cache is organized around its module-based design, which is reflected in the per-module L2 specification.

Memory support shows another major divergence. The Intel chip supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD chip supports only DDR3, but in a quad-channel configuration with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory, which is expected for server/workstation parts. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD chip uses the older PCIe Gen 2.

The production timelines also differ. The AMD Opteron 6348 was released on 2012-11-04, while the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 arrived later on 2015-10-18. Both are now end-of-life products. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $261, while the AMD part launched at $575. Both have locked multipliers, so no overclocking is supported.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6348 has 12 physical cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 has 4 physical cores and 8 threads. Despite this 3x core advantage, the AMD chip loses every benchmark in this comparison.

Q: Why does the 4-core Intel chip beat the 12-core AMD chip in multi-core tests?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 wins multi-core tests by margins of 0.9% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The Intel chip's higher base and boost clocks (3.40/3.80 GHz vs 2.80/3.40 GHz) and its more efficient Skylake architecture on 14 nm overcome the AMD's core count advantage. The AMD chip's Piledriver architecture on 32 nm cannot translate its 12 cores into a Cinebench win.

Q: Which processor supports more memory channels?

A: The AMD Opteron 6348 supports quad-channel DDR3 memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 supports dual-channel DDR3 or DDR4 with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD part has nearly double the theoretical memory bandwidth, but this does not produce a benchmark victory.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 and the AMD Opteron 6348 support ECC memory. This makes both suitable for server and workstation applications where data integrity is critical.

Q: What are the release dates for these two processors?

A: The AMD Opteron 6348 was released on 2012-11-04, and the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 was released on 2015-10-18. Both processors are now end-of-life products.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 has an average benchmark score of 1947, compared to 1930 for the AMD Opteron 6348. The Intel chip also ranks at the 44th percentile among all CPUs, one point higher than the AMD's 43rd percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a consistent pattern of Intel wins across all six Cinebench tests. The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 scores 95 against the AMD Opteron 6348's 94, a 1.1% advantage. This is the biggest single-core gap in the dataset. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel leads 950 to 942, a 0.8% difference.

In multi-core tests, the margins are remarkably uniform at 0.9% across all three Cinebench versions. The Intel chip scores 678 vs 672 in R15, 2827 vs 2802 in R20, and 6733 vs 6672 in R23. Each multi-core test shows the Intel part ahead by the same 0.9% delta, which suggests a consistent architectural efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Single-core tests show slightly larger relative margins. The Intel chip leads by 1.1% in R15 (95 vs 94), 1.0% in R20 (399 vs 395), and 0.8% in R23 (950 vs 942). These single-core results are particularly notable because they show the Intel part winning even in tests that should favor the AMD chip's higher core count the least. The AMD Opteron 6348's 12 cores provide no advantage in single-threaded performance, where its lower clocks and older architecture put it behind.

The aggregate data reinforces this picture. The Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 has a 1947 average benchmark score, putting it at the 44th percentile, while the AMD Opteron 6348 averages 1930 at the 43rd percentile. The Intel chip's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-1035G7 with an average score of 1948, a 0.1% difference. The AMD chip's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-1180G7 at 1930, with zero percentage difference. This places both processors in the same performance tier overall, but the Intel part has a slight edge in every measured category.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet reveals fundamental differences in every major category. The Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 uses 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Opteron 6348 uses 12 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds favor Intel: 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost versus 2.80 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost for AMD. TDP also favors Intel at 80 watts versus 115 watts.

Process technology separates these parts by a full generation. The Intel chip is built on 14 nm with 1,750 million transistors on a 122 mm² die. The AMD chip uses 32 nm with 2,400 million transistors on a dual-die design measuring 2x 315 mm². The Intel part's smaller, denser die contributes to its efficiency advantage.

Cache configurations are not directly comparable. The Intel chip has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. The AMD chip has 576 KB total L1, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die. The AMD's module-based cache organization reflects its Piledriver architecture, while the Intel's per-core cache is more conventional.

Memory support shows the AMD chip's theoretical bandwidth advantage. The Intel part supports DDR3 and DDR4 in dual-channel with 34.1 GB/s, while the AMD part supports only DDR3 in quad-channel with 59.7 GB/s. Both support ECC. PCIe generations differ: Intel uses Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, AMD uses Gen 2.

Other differences include socket compatibility (Intel Socket 1151 vs AMD Socket G34), release date (2015-10-18 vs 2012-11-04), and launch MSRP ($261 vs $575). Both are server/workstation parts, both are end-of-life, both have locked multipliers, and neither has integrated graphics. The part numbers are SR2LE for Intel and OS6348WKTCGHK for AMD.