AMD Opteron 6366 HE vs Intel Core i5-4690 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor delivers the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Opteron 6366 HE scores 4771 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, edging out the Intel Core i5-4690’s 4754 by a 0.4% margin. The Opteron wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons in the data, with margins ranging from 0% to 0.4%.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Opteron scores 673 versus the Core i5-4690’s 671 — a 0.3% difference. In Cinebench R15 single-core, both score exactly 67, and in R20 single-core, the Opteron leads 282 to 281 (0.4%).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Opteron 6366 HE has 16 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i5-4690 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690 boosts to 3.80 GHz, while the AMD Opteron 6366 HE boosts to 3.10 GHz. The Intel chip also has a higher base clock at 3.40 GHz versus 1.80 GHz for the AMD part.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6366 HE supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-4690 does not.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for these two CPUs?

A: The AMD Opteron 6366 HE has an average benchmark score of 1379, and the Intel Core i5-4690 scores 1375. Both sit at the 36th percentile among all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 6366 HE is built on the Piledriver architecture (codename Abu Dhabi) using a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die design totaling 2x 315 mm². The Intel Core i5-4690 uses the Haswell architecture (codename Haswell) on Intel’s 22 nm process, with 1,400 million transistors on a single 177 mm² die.

The Opteron features 16 cores with 16 threads, organized into modules with 2 MB L2 cache per module and 8 MB L3 cache per die. Its L1 cache totals 768 KB. In contrast, the Core i5-4690 has 4 cores with 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3.

Memory architecture differs substantially. The Opteron supports quad-channel DDR3 with a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core i5-4690 supports dual-channel DDR3, with no bandwidth figure listed in the data. The Opteron also supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not. PCIe generation differs: the Opteron uses Gen 2, the Core i5-4690 uses Gen 3. The Intel part includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics; the Opteron has no integrated graphics.

The Opteron targets the server/workstation segment and uses AMD Socket G34. The Core i5-4690 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1150. The Opteron was released on 2012-11-04 and is end-of-life, while the Core i5-4690 was released 2014-04-30 with a null production status. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows an exceptionally tight race. Across six Cinebench tests, the AMD Opteron 6366 HE wins every single comparison, but by margins that are almost negligible.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 480 versus 479 for the Core i5-4690 — a 0.2% lead. In single-core R15, both chips tie at exactly 67 points. The Opteron’s win here is nominal, with a delta of 0%.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Opteron scores 2003 in multi-core versus 1996 for the Intel chip, a 0.4% advantage. In single-core R20, the Opteron leads 282 to 281, again by 0.4%. The R23 results follow the same pattern: the Opteron scores 4771 multi-core against 4754 for the Core i5-4690 (0.4% lead), and 673 single-core versus 671 (0.3% lead).

The starkest observation is that the 16-core, quad-channel server processor and the 4-core, dual-channel desktop processor produce nearly identical Cinebench results across every generation of the test. The Opteron’s maximum advantage is 0.4%, which is within run-to-run variance for most benchmark suites. The wins register as 6-0 in favor of the Opteron, but the actual performance gap is effectively a statistical tie.

The average benchmark scores corroborate this: the Opteron averages 1379, the Core i5-4690 averages 1375. Both processors sit at the 36th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals for the Opteron include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U (same 1379 average, 0% delta) and the Intel Core i7-3740QM (1378, 0.1% delta). For the Core i5-4690, the nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-1030NG7 (1376, -0.1% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 (1379, -0.3% delta).

The Verdict

The data presents a clear verdict: these two processors are performance equals in the Cinebench workloads measured. The AMD Opteron 6366 HE wins all six head-to-head tests, but the maximum margin is 0.4%. Neither chip has a meaningful performance advantage in multi-threaded or single-threaded rendering workloads.

The Opteron achieves this parity with 16 cores and quad-channel memory, while the Core i5-4690 does so with 4 cores and dual-channel memory. The Opteron’s 1800 MHz base clock and 3.10 GHz boost clock are far lower than the Core i5-4690’s 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost, yet the raw core count compensates fully in these benchmarks.

For a server/workstation buyer, the Opteron offers ECC memory support, a quad-channel memory bus, and a higher memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. For a desktop buyer, the Core i5-4690 provides integrated graphics and PCIe Gen 3. The launch MSRP for the Opteron was $575; no launch MSRP is listed for the Intel part.

The verdict from the data: choose the Opteron if you need ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth, or a server-platform feature set. Choose the Core i5-4690 if you need integrated graphics, PCIe Gen 3, or a desktop form factor. From a pure Cinebench performance standpoint, the two are interchangeable.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every architectural specification. Core count: the Opteron has 16 cores versus 4 for the Core i5-4690. Threads match cores for both: 16 and 4 respectively. Base clock favors Intel at 3.40 GHz versus 1.80 GHz for AMD. Boost clock also favors Intel at 3.80 GHz versus 3.10 GHz.

TDP is nearly identical: 85 watts for the Opteron, 84 watts for the Core i5-4690. Sockets differ completely: AMD Socket G34 versus Intel Socket 1150. Process node favors Intel at 22 nm versus 32 nm for AMD. Transistor count favors AMD at 2,400 million versus 1,400 million. Die size: AMD uses 2x 315 mm², Intel uses a single 177 mm² die.

Cache configurations are organized differently. The Opteron has 768 KB L1 total, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die. The Core i5-4690 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR3 for both, but the Opteron uses quad-channel while the Core i5-4690 uses dual-channel. Memory bandwidth is listed only for the Opteron at 59.7 GB/s.

ECC memory: supported on the Opteron, not on the Core i5-4690. PCIe generation: Gen 2 on the Opteron, Gen 3 on Intel. Integrated graphics: none on the Opteron, Intel HD 4600 on the Core i5-4690. Market segment: Server/Workstation for AMD, Desktop for Intel. Production status: end-of-life for the Opteron, null for the Core i5-4690. Release dates differ: 2012-11-04 for AMD versus 2014-04-30 for Intel. Both have locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6366 HE wins on raw multi-core benchmark results in every Cinebench test — R15 multi-core (480 vs 479), R20 multi-core (2003 vs 1996), and R23 multi-core (4771 vs 4754). It also wins every single-core test by similarly narrow margins: R15 (67 vs 67), R20 (282 vs 281), and R23 (673 vs 671). The Opteron additionally offers ECC memory support, quad-channel memory architecture, and a higher memory bandwidth figure of 59.7 GB/s. For server or workstation deployments where memory integrity and bandwidth matter, the Opteron is the clear choice.

The Intel Core i5-4690 wins on clock speeds: its 3.40 GHz base clock and 3.80 GHz boost clock exceed the Opteron’s 1.80 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost. It also provides integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, which the Opteron lacks entirely. The Intel part uses PCIe Gen 3 versus Gen 2 on the AMD chip, offering newer peripheral bandwidth. For a desktop build where integrated graphics eliminate the need for a separate GPU, or where PCIe Gen 3 devices are required, the Core i5-4690 is the better fit.

Neither chip wins on performance in any meaningful sense — the largest delta across all benchmarks is 0.4%. The real differentiation comes from platform features, not compute results. The Opteron serves applications needing ECC memory and quad-channel bandwidth; the Core i5-4690 serves desktop users requiring integrated graphics and modern PCIe. The data shows a 6-0 benchmark sweep for the Opteron, but the margins make it a dead heat in practice.