AMD Opteron 6376 vs Intel Core i5-4590T Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent split between these two processors. The AMD Opteron 6376 wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, and it does so by a remarkably uniform margin. Across all five Cinebench tests, the Opteron leads the Intel Core i5-4590T by roughly 27% in every instance. The deltas range from 27.1% to 27.3%, which indicates that the performance gap is stable regardless of workload type, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded.

The Intel Core i5-4590T does not secure a single win in any recorded test. Its strengths lie elsewhere, specifically in platform characteristics rather than raw compute throughput. The i5-4590T operates at a 35 W TDP with a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. It includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), which the Opteron completely lacks. For desktop-oriented tasks that do not stress all cores simultaneously, the i5's lower power envelope and integrated GPU make it a more self-contained package.

The Opteron 6376, by contrast, is a 16-core, 16-thread server processor based on the Piledriver architecture. It runs at a 2.30 GHz base clock and 3.20 GHz boost clock, with a 115 W TDP. Its multi-core performance is its defining trait: the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 4736 versus the i5's 3445 shows a 27.3% advantage. Even in single-core tests, the Opteron leads, scoring 668 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus the i5's 486, a 27.2% difference. This is notable because single-core performance is often considered an Intel stronghold, yet the recorded data shows the Opteron ahead here as well.

The use-case split is therefore straightforward. The Opteron 6376 is the choice for sustained, multi-threaded compute workloads, where its 16 cores and higher clock speeds deliver consistent advantages. The Core i5-4590T is the choice for compact, low-power desktop systems where integrated graphics, a smaller physical footprint (177 mm² die versus 2x 315 mm²), and a much lower TDP (35 W versus 115 W) are more important than raw benchmark scores.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 6376 outperforms the Intel Core i5-4590T in every recorded benchmark. The average benchmark score for the Opteron is 1370, while the i5-4590T averages 1340. That is a 2.2% difference in average score, which aligns with the Opteron's position among its nearest rivals. The Opteron sits exactly level with the Intel Core i7-2600 (both at 1370), and it is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2, 0.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon D-1521, and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i7-3820QM.

The Core i5-4590T, meanwhile, is sandwiched between similarly performing desktop chips. It is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i5-760, 0.5% behind the Intel Core i5-4670, 0.6% behind the Intel Core i5-7400T, and 0.7% behind the Intel Xeon W-2104. Both processors sit at the 36th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy a similar overall position in the performance distribution, despite the Opteron's consistent head-to-head wins.

Who should pick which? If the workload is heavily multi-threaded, such as rendering, virtualization, or batch processing, the Opteron 6376 is the clear choice. Its 16 cores and 27.3% lead in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests make it the superior compute engine. If the workload is single-threaded or lightly threaded, and the system must be quiet, cool, and efficient, the Core i5-4590T is the more practical pick. Its 35 W TDP is less than a third of the Opteron's 115 W, and it includes integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a separate GPU. The i5-4590T also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, whereas the Opteron is limited to PCIe Gen 2.

There is no scenario in the recorded data where the i5-4590T wins a benchmark. The verdict is that the Opteron 6376 is the faster processor, period. The i5-4590T wins on platform efficiency and desktop integration, not on compute performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 477 against the i5's 347, a 27.3% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Opteron scores 1989 against 1446, again 27.3% ahead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the scores are 4736 versus 3445, with the same 27.3% delta. Even in single-core tests, the pattern holds: Cinebench R20 single-core shows 280 versus 204 (27.1% delta), and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 668 versus 486 (27.2% delta).

This uniformity is striking. A 27% gap across every test suggests that the performance difference is not workload-dependent but rather a consistent architectural and clock-speed advantage. The Opteron's boost clock of 3.20 GHz is higher than the i5's 3.00 GHz, and its base clock of 2.30 GHz exceeds the i5's 2.00 GHz. The Opteron also has four times the core count (16 versus 4), which should produce a much larger multi-core gap than 27%. The relatively modest multi-core advantage, despite the core disparity, indicates that the Opteron's Piledriver cores are significantly less efficient per core than the Haswell cores in the i5-4590T.

The largest single win for the Opteron in absolute terms is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 1291 points higher than the i5. In percentage terms, all wins are nearly identical, hovering around 27%. The i5-4590T's best relative performance is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the gap narrows to 27.1%, still a clear Opteron win.

The database records zero wins for the Intel part and five wins for the AMD part. There is no test in the shared suite where the i5-4590T comes out ahead, even marginally. This is a rare case of a total sweep, and it simplifies the analysis considerably.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6376 has 16 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i5-4590T has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 6376 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Opteron 6376 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-4590T does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-4590T has a TDP of 35 W. The AMD Opteron 6376 has a TDP of 115 W. The i5 uses less than a third of the power.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-4590T has integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD 4600. The AMD Opteron 6376 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How much faster is the Opteron in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Opteron scores 4736, while the i5-4590T scores 3445. That is a 27.3% advantage for the Opteron.

Q: Are both processors end-of-life?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-4590T and the AMD Opteron 6376 are listed as end-of-life production status.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-4590T uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. It is a monolithic die of 177 mm² containing 1,400 million transistors. The AMD Opteron 6376 uses the Piledriver architecture on a 32 nm process node, manufactured by GlobalFoundries. It is a dual-die design with two 315 mm² dies, totaling 630 mm², containing 2,400 million transistors.

The cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i5-4590T has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron 6376 has 768 KB of L1 cache total, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. Because the Opteron uses a module-based design where two cores share resources, its effective cache per core is lower than the Intel design.

Memory support also diverges. Both processors support DDR3, but the i5-4590T uses a dual-channel memory bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Opteron 6376 uses a quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. That is more than double the memory bandwidth, which is critical for server workloads. The Opteron also supports ECC memory, while the i5 does not.

The PCIe support differs as well. The i5-4590T has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Opteron 6376 has PCIe Gen 2. This means the Intel part has a newer, faster PCIe interface, though the Opteron's server platform likely provides more total lanes across multiple controllers.

The market segments are clearly different. The i5-4590T is a desktop processor, released in 2014. The Opteron 6376 is a server/workstation processor, released in 2012. Their release dates are roughly two years apart, with the Opteron being the older design. Despite being older, the Opteron still wins every benchmark in the shared suite.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show several key differences beyond the core counts and clocks.

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4590T | AMD Opteron 6376 |

|---------------|---------------------|------------------|

| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 16 / 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 115 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | AMD Socket G34 |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 2,400 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 2x 315 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 768 KB |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 2 MB (per module) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 8 MB (per die) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC Support | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Launch MSRP | $192 | $703 |

The Opteron 6376 carries a launch MSRP of $703, while the i5-4590T has a launch MSRP of $192. The Opteron has a higher base and boost clock, more cores, more cache, more memory bandwidth, and ECC support. The i5-4590T has a smaller die, lower TDP, integrated graphics, and newer PCIe generation. The memory support is DDR3 for both, but the channel configuration and bandwidth strongly favor the Opteron. The sockets are not compatible, with Intel Socket 1150 versus AMD Socket G34. Both processors have locked multipliers, and neither is unlocked for overclocking.