AMD Opteron 6376 vs Intel Core i5-4670 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a remarkably consistent outcome across the entire Cinebench suite: the AMD Opteron 6376 wins all six head-to-head comparisons, though by narrow margins. The largest advantage appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Opteron scores 280 against the Core i5-4670's 275, a delta of 1.8%. The smallest gap is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Opteron's 477 points edge out the i5's 469 by just 1.7%.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Opteron 6376 records 4736 points versus 4660 for the Intel part, a 1.6% lead. The single-core R23 result follows the same pattern: 668 to 657, also a 1.7% advantage. Cinebench R15 single-core shows the Opteron ahead at 67 versus 66, a 1.5% margin, while R20 multi-core sees the Opteron at 1989 against 1957, a 1.6% difference.

The win count is decisive in terms of breadth: 6 wins for AMD, 0 for Intel. However, the magnitude of each victory is small, never exceeding 1.8%. This suggests the two processors are functionally equivalent in rendering workloads, with the Opteron holding a slight, consistent edge rather than a dominant one.

When placed against the broader database, both CPUs sit at the 36th percentile of all processors. The Opteron 6376's average benchmark score is 1370, with its nearest rival being the Intel Core i7-2600 at an identical 1370 (0% delta). The Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 trails at 1368, a 0.1% difference, and the Xeon D-1521 is at 1367, a 0.2% gap. The Core i7-3820QM rounds out the group at 1366, 0.3% behind.

The Core i5-4670's average score is 1347. Its closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-7400T at 1348, which is 0.1% faster. The Xeon W-2104 scores 1350, 0.2% ahead of the i5, while the Core i5-4590T sits at 1340, 0.5% slower. The Xeon E3-1226 v3 posts 1357, which is 0.7% higher. This places the i5-4670 in a cluster where the spread to its four nearest rivals is under a single percentage point, indicating tight competition at that performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 6376 is a server and workstation part built on the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Abu Dhabi, using a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It packs 16 cores and 16 threads into a dual-die package, with each die measuring 315 mm² for a combined 630 mm², and contains 2,400 million transistors. The Opteron operates at a 2.30 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.20 GHz, with a thermal design power of 115 watts.

The Intel Core i5-4670 is a desktop processor built on the Haswell architecture from Intel's own 22 nm process. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, a 3.40 GHz base clock and 3.80 GHz boost clock, with a TDP of 84 watts. The die is 177 mm² and contains 1,400 million transistors. This is a single-die design, in contrast to the Opteron's dual-die layout.

Cache hierarchies diverge sharply. The Opteron 6376 has 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die, meaning the total L3 across both dies is 16 MB. The i5-4670 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron's larger L3 capacity is a direct consequence of its server heritage, designed to feed 16 cores.

Memory support also differs. The Opteron uses quad-channel DDR3 with a measured memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s and supports ECC memory, a requirement for reliable server operation. The i5-4670 uses dual-channel DDR3 with no listed bandwidth figure and no ECC support. The Opteron's PCIe interface is Gen 2, while the i5 offers Gen 3, giving the desktop part a newer interconnect standard.

Integrated graphics are exclusive to the Intel part: the HD 4600 GPU is present on the i5-4670, while the Opteron has no integrated graphics at all. The Opteron is an end-of-life product, released in November 2012 with a launch MSRP of $703, while the i5-4670 was released in June 2013. Both have locked multipliers, so neither offers overclocking flexibility.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows the AMD Opteron 6376 winning every single test in the head-to-head comparison. This means that in both single-core and multi-core rendering workloads, the Opteron holds a slight but consistent advantage. For multi-threaded tasks, the Opteron's 16 cores versus the i5's 4 cores might suggest a larger gap, but the actual delta is only 1.6% to 1.7% in R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. This is surprising given the 12-core difference, but the Opteron's lower per-core clock speed (2.30 GHz base versus 3.40 GHz) and older Piledriver architecture limit its scaling.

In single-core tests, the Opteron also wins, which contradicts the expectation that the i5's higher boost clock (3.80 GHz versus 3.20 GHz) would dominate. The recorded scores show the Opteron ahead by 1.5% to 1.8% across R15, R20, and R23 single-core runs. This suggests that despite the clock disadvantage, the Opteron's implementation of single-threaded performance is slightly stronger in these specific Cinebench workloads.

The i5-4670's strengths do not appear in the head-to-head data, but its architectural features point to other use cases. The presence of integrated graphics means a system can run without a discrete GPU, which is not possible with the Opteron. The i5's lower TDP of 84 watts versus 115 watts indicates it generates less heat and may be easier to cool, though no cooling specifications are recorded. Its Gen 3 PCIe support offers newer connectivity for peripherals, while the Opteron is limited to Gen 2.

The Opteron's ECC memory support and quad-channel bandwidth make it suitable for memory-intensive server workloads where data integrity is critical. The i5's lack of ECC precludes such environments. The Opteron's dual-die design with 16 MB of total L3 cache provides more on-chip storage for large datasets, while the i5's 6 MB shared L3 is smaller but sufficient for desktop tasks.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the AMD Opteron 6376 is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark, but the margins are so thin that the choice between these two parts cannot be made on raw performance alone. The Opteron wins all six head-to-head tests with deltas ranging from 1.5% to 1.8%, which is within the margin of measurement noise for many benchmarking scenarios.

For a server or workstation environment, the Opteron 6376 is the clear pick. Its 16 cores, 16 threads, ECC memory support, and quad-channel DDR3 bandwidth align with the demands of multi-threaded enterprise workloads. The 59.7 GB/s memory bandwidth is a recorded advantage over the i5's dual-channel setup, though the i5's bandwidth is not listed. The Opteron's server segment designation and end-of-life status mean it is a legacy option, but the data shows it still competes at the 36th percentile of all CPUs.

For a desktop user, the Intel Core i5-4670 offers the integrated HD 4600 GPU, which the Opteron lacks entirely. This makes the i5 a self-contained solution for basic graphics output, while the Opteron requires a dedicated GPU. The i5's lower TDP of 84 watts versus 115 watts suggests less thermal overhead, and its Gen 3 PCIe interface is newer than the Opteron's Gen 2. The i5 is also a desktop market segment part, meaning it targets a different deployment scenario.

The average benchmark scores place the Opteron at 1370 and the i5 at 1347, a difference of 23 points that translates to roughly 1.7% in favor of AMD. Both sit at the same 36th percentile, meaning they occupy the same performance tier in the database. The nearest rivals for each confirm this: the Opteron's closest competitor, the Core i7-2600, matches it exactly at 1370, while the i5's closest, the Core i5-7400T, is within 0.1%.

The verdict is that the Opteron 6376 is the better-performing silicon per the benchmarks, but its advantages are marginal. The i5-4670 wins on platform features like integrated graphics and newer PCIe, but loses on raw compute scores. Buyers should choose the Opteron if they need ECC, more cores for scaling, or the recorded memory bandwidth. They should choose the i5 if they need integrated graphics, lower power consumption, or Gen 3 connectivity.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6376 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4670 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the difference in multi-core performance?

A: The Opteron 6376 wins all three multi-core tests: Cinebench R15 (477 vs 469, 1.7% ahead), R20 (1989 vs 1957, 1.6% ahead), and R23 (4736 vs 4660, 1.6% ahead).

Q: Does the Intel processor have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Core i5-4670 includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 6376 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6376 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-4670 does not.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each?

A: The Opteron 6376 has an average benchmark score of 1370, and the Core i5-4670 has an average score of 1347.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The Opteron 6376 has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The Core i5-4670 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz.