AMD Opteron 6376 vs Intel Core i5-4460S Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores, the Intel Core i5-4460S or the AMD Opteron 6376?

A: The AMD Opteron 6376 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4460S has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The AMD Opteron 6376 scores 668 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 16.5% higher than the Intel Core i5-4460S's 558.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6376 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-4460S does not.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The AMD Opteron 6376 offers 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth over a quad-channel bus, versus the Intel Core i5-4460S's 25.6 GB/s over a dual-channel bus.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-4460S includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics; the AMD Opteron 6376 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are their average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6376 has an average benchmark score of 1370, while the Intel Core i5-4460S averages 1330.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-4460S is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process at Intel's foundry, packing 1,400 million transistors into a 177 mm² die. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The cache layout consists of 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The chip supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth, and it provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. It includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics and targets the desktop market segment. The launch MSRP is $182.

The AMD Opteron 6376 uses the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Abu Dhabi, on a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It contains 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die package with each die measuring 315 mm². The chip has 16 cores and 16 threads, running at a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. Cache is organized as 768 KB L1 total, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die. Memory support spans DDR3 over a quad-channel bus delivering 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. It supports ECC memory, uses PCIe Gen 2, and has no integrated graphics. The launch MSRP is $703.

These architectural choices reflect different design goals. The Intel part emphasizes higher clock speeds and a modern process node for a desktop context, while the AMD part dedicates many more cores and twice the memory channels to server and workstation workloads. The process node difference (22 nm versus 32 nm) gives Intel an efficiency advantage per transistor, but AMD compensates with a much larger transistor budget and a dual-die design. The memory subsystem also diverges sharply: AMD's quad-channel controller provides more than double the theoretical bandwidth, which matters for memory-intensive server tasks. The Intel chip's integrated graphics and PCIe Gen 3 support suit a general-purpose desktop, whereas the Opteron's ECC support and lack of graphics point to reliability-focused compute environments.

The core count gap is the most striking structural difference. The Opteron 6376 offers four times as many cores as the i5-4460S. However, the i5-4460S's higher clocks (2.90 GHz base versus 2.30 GHz base) and newer architecture help it stay competitive in per-thread work. The cache hierarchy also tells a story: the Opteron provides more total L3 (8 MB per die, so up to 16 MB across two dies) but with a per-module L2 design, while the i5-4460S uses a conventional per-core L2 with a shared L3 pool.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head results show a consistent pattern across all six Cinebench tests. The AMD Opteron 6376 wins every single instance, with deltas ranging from -16.4% to -16.6% from the Intel part's perspective, meaning the Opteron leads by roughly 16.5% in each case.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 477 versus the i5-4460S's 398, a 16.6% advantage. The R15 single-core test shows the Opteron at 67 against 56, a 16.4% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 1989 for the Opteron and 1661 for the i5-4460S, a 16.5% lead. The R20 single-core test gives 280 versus 234, again a 16.4% difference. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 4736 for the Opteron and 3955 for the Intel chip, a 16.5% margin. The R23 single-core test shows 668 versus 558, also 16.5%.

The consistency of these deltas is notable. Across every test version and both single-core and multi-core workloads, the Opteron 6376 maintains nearly the same relative advantage. This suggests that the performance gap is not workload-dependent but reflects a fundamental difference in effective per-thread throughput. The Opteron's higher single-core scores (67, 280, 668) indicate that despite a lower base clock, its Piledriver cores deliver more work per cycle in these Cinebench workloads than the Haswell cores of the i5-4460S. In multi-core tests, the Opteron's 16 cores provide additional throughput, yet the percentage lead remains similar to the single-core gap, implying that scaling beyond the Intel part's 4 threads does not widen the margin further in these tests.

The average benchmark scores in the database reflect this pattern. The Opteron 6376 averages 1370, placing it in the 36th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-4460S averages 1330, in the 35th percentile. The Opteron's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-2600 (1370, 0% delta), Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 (1368, 0.1% delta), Intel Xeon D-1521 (1367, 0.2% delta), and Intel Core i7-3820QM (1366, 0.3% delta). The i5-4460S sits near the Intel Core i5-2500K (1329, 0.1% delta), Intel Core i5-760 (1337, -0.5% delta), Intel Celeron G6900T (1321, 0.7% delta), and Intel Celeron G6900E (1321, 0.7% delta). Both chips occupy similar overall performance territory, but the Opteron edges ahead in the aggregate.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Opteron 6376 as the stronger performer in every recorded benchmark. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, holds a higher average benchmark score (1370 versus 1330), and ranks slightly higher in the overall percentile distribution (36th versus 35th). For workloads that rely on Cinebench-style rendering, the Opteron is the clear choice. Its 16.5% lead is consistent across single-core and multi-core tests, meaning even single-threaded applications see a benefit.

However, the Intel Core i5-4460S has its own strengths. It draws much less power (65 W TDP versus 115 W TDP), includes integrated graphics, uses a newer 22 nm process, and supports PCIe Gen 3. Its launch MSRP is $182, and it is designed for the desktop segment. The Opteron 6376, with a launch MSRP of $703, targets servers and workstations, supports ECC memory, and offers quad-channel bandwidth of 59.9 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s on the Intel part.

Who should pick which depends on the use case. If the priority is a low-power desktop system with integrated graphics, PCIe Gen 3 support, and a modest footprint, the i5-4460S fits. If the priority is maximum compute throughput in Cinebench workloads, ECC memory support, and high memory bandwidth, the Opteron 6376 is the better fit despite its higher power draw and server-oriented design.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. The Intel Core i5-4460S has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Opteron 6376 has 16 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ at 2.90 GHz for Intel and 2.30 GHz for AMD, with boost clocks at 3.40 GHz and 3.60 GHz respectively. TDP is 65 W for the i5-4460S and 115 W for the Opteron 6376. Sockets differ by socket type: Intel Socket 1150 versus AMD Socket G34. Architecture differs between Haswell and Piledriver, with the Intel part using 22 nm at Intel's foundry and the Opteron using 32 nm at GlobalFoundries. Transistor counts are 1,400 million versus 2,400 million, and die sizes are 177 mm² versus 2x 315 mm². Memory support is DDR3 for both, but the i5-4460S uses dual-channel with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Opteron 6376 uses quad-channel with 59.7 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported on the Intel part but is supported on the AMD part. PCIe version differs between Gen 3 on Intel and Gen 2 on AMD. Integrated graphics are present on Intel (Intel HD 4600) and absent on AMD. Market segments differ between Desktop and Server/Workstation. Launch MSRP differs at $182 for Intel and $703 for AMD. Multiplier unlock status is false for both (not unlocked for either). Part numbers differ as SR1QQ and OS6376WKTGGHK. The i5-4460S has a release date of 2014-05-10, while the Opteron 6376 has a release date of 2012-11-04. Both are end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6376 wins in all six head-to-head Cinebench benchmarks, covering both single-core and multi-core variants of R15, R20, and R23. Its victory margins are consistent, ranging from -16.4% to -16.6% from the Intel perspective, meaning the Opteron leads by about 16.5% across the board. This makes it the stronger chip for rendering workloads, whether those are single-threaded or multi-threaded. It also wins on memory bandwidth (59.7 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s), ECC support, and core count (16 versus 4). For server and workstation tasks that benefit from many cores, high memory throughput, and error-correcting memory, the Opteron 6376 is the appropriate choice.

The Intel Core i5-4460S wins on power efficiency, with a 65 W TDP versus the Opteron's 115 W. It also offers integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), which the Opteron lacks entirely. The i5-4460S uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Opteron uses PCIe Gen 2, giving the Intel part faster I/O connectivity. Its process node is more advanced at 22 nm versus 32 nm, and its desktop form factor suits consumer systems. The i5-4460S also has a lower launch MSRP at $182 versus $703 for the Opteron.

In use-case terms, the i5-4460S is the right pick for a desktop build where integrated graphics, lower power draw, and PCIe Gen 3 are priorities. The Opteron 6376 is the right pick for a server or workstation where raw Cinebench throughput, ECC memory, and quad-channel bandwidth matter more than power consumption or graphics support. The data shows no scenario in the recorded benchmarks where the i5-4460S outperforms the Opteron 6376; its advantages lie entirely outside the Cinebench test suite.