AMD Opteron 6376 vs Intel Core i5-6500TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a clear picture in the Cinebench suite: the AMD Opteron 6376 outperforms the Intel Core i5-6500TE in every single test where both were measured. The most significant margins appear in the single-core tests, where the Opteron leads by 11.7% in Cinebench R15 (67 versus 60), 11.1% in R20 (280 versus 252), and 11.3% in R23 (668 versus 600). These are notable gaps, especially considering both processors share the same base clock of 2.30 GHz; the Opteron’s boost clock of 3.20 GHz trails the Core i5’s 3.30 GHz, yet the older AMD architecture still posts higher scores.

In multi-core workloads, the Opteron’s advantage shrinks slightly but remains consistent. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 477 versus 428, a delta of 11.4%. R20 multi-core records 1989 versus 1787, an 11.3% gap. R23 multi-core follows the same pattern: 4736 versus 4255, again 11.3%. Across all six head-to-head benchmarks, the Opteron wins every round, with deltas ranging from 11.1% to 11.7%. The Intel Core i5-6500TE secures zero victories in these direct comparisons.

It is worth remembering the Opteron’s average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 1370, while the Core i5-6500TE averages 1399. This discrepancy arises because the Core i5 has additional Geekbench results (multi-core 2749, single-core 1062) that are not present in the Opteron’s benchmark list. When considering only the shared Cinebench tests, the Opteron is consistently ahead. The percentile rankings also tell a nuanced story: the Opteron sits at the 36th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core i5 edges it out at the 37th percentile, likely buoyed by those extra Geekbench scores.

The nearest rivals for each part provide context. The Opteron 6376’s closest competitor in the database is the Intel Core i7-2600, with an identical average score of 1370 and a delta of 0%. The Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 trails by 0.1%, and the Intel Xeon D-1521 is 0.2% behind. The Core i5-6500TE, meanwhile, sits near the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5, which is 0.1% faster on average, and the Intel Xeon E-2104G is 0.2% ahead. The Intel Pentium Gold G7400TE is 0.4% faster, while the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 is 0.2% slower. These rivalries underscore that both chips occupy similar performance tiers in the database, even though their head-to-head results favor the AMD part.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for users prioritizing Cinebench workloads: the AMD Opteron 6376 is the stronger performer, winning all six recorded head-to-head tests with margins between 11.1% and 11.7%. Anyone running multi-threaded rendering tasks in Cinebench R15, R20, or R23 should choose the Opteron based on these measurements. Its 16 cores and 16 threads provide a substantial advantage over the Core i5’s 4 cores and 4 threads, even though the Intel part’s newer architecture and higher boost clock narrow the gap.

However, the Core i5-6500TE is not without merit. Its 35 W TDP is dramatically lower than the Opteron’s 115 W, making it a far more power-efficient option for systems where thermal output and electricity draw are primary concerns. The Core i5 also supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the Opteron is limited to DDR3. The Intel part includes integrated HD Graphics 530, which the Opteron lacks entirely, so systems built around the Core i5 can operate without a discrete GPU.

For a desktop user or a low-power embedded system, the Core i5-6500TE is the more practical choice, despite losing every benchmark comparison. For a server or workstation where raw compute throughput matters more than power consumption, the Opteron 6376 is the better pick. The percentile data shows both chips are close in overall ranking (36th versus 37th), but the head-to-head results are decisive: the Opteron wins outright in every shared test.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 6376 is built on the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Abu Dhabi, and belongs to the Opteron 6000 series. It uses a 32 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, with a transistor count of 2,400 million spread across two dies, each measuring 315 mm². The chip is designed for server and workstation use, fitting into the AMD Socket G34. Its cache hierarchy is organized per module: 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 8 MB of L3 cache per die. This modular design reflects AMD’s Bulldozer-derived approach, where pairs of cores share certain resources.

The Intel Core i5-6500TE, in contrast, uses the Skylake architecture, also codenamed Skylake, and is manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process. The die size is 122 mm², and the cache is arranged per core: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a monolithic design, with each of the four cores having dedicated L1 and L2 caches, plus a single shared L3 pool. The transistor count for the Core i5 is not recorded in the database.

Memory support differs significantly. The Opteron uses DDR3 memory with a quad-channel bus, delivering a theoretical bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. It supports ECC memory, which is expected for a server part. The Core i5-6500TE supports both DDR3 and DDR4, but only through a dual-channel bus, yielding 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported on the Intel chip. The PCIe interface also differs: the Opteron uses Gen 2, while the Core i5 supports Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The production status for both is end-of-life, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Opteron’s release date is November 4, 2012, while the Core i5-6500TE arrived later, on October 10, 2015. The Opteron’s market segment is server/workstation; the Core i5 is classified as desktop.

Specification Differences

A direct comparison of the recorded specifications reveals where the two processors diverge. Core and thread counts are the most obvious: the Opteron has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Core i5 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are identical at 2.30 GHz, but the boost clocks differ slightly, with the Opteron reaching 3.20 GHz and the Core i5 hitting 3.30 GHz.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator. The Opteron is rated at 115 W, while the Core i5 is rated at 35 W, a difference that will heavily influence cooling and power supply requirements. The sockets are incompatible: the Opteron uses AMD Socket G34, while the Core i5 uses Intel Socket 1151.

The memory bus width and bandwidth differ as noted: quad-channel versus dual-channel, and 59.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s. ECC support is present on the Opteron but absent on the Core i5. Integrated graphics are available only on the Intel part, with HD Graphics 530; the Opteron has no integrated GPU. The PCIe generation is also different, with Gen 2 on the AMD side and Gen 3 on the Intel side.

The process node and die size differ substantially, with the Opteron using 32 nm and two 315 mm² dies, while the Core i5 uses 14 nm and a single 122 mm² die. The cache layouts are also distinct: the Opteron’s L1 is 768 KB total, L2 is 2 MB per module, and L3 is 8 MB per die; the Core i5’s L1 is 64 KB per core, L2 is 256 KB per core, and L3 is 6 MB shared. The part numbers are recorded as OS6376WKTGGHK for the Opteron and SR2LR for the Core i5.

The launch MSRP for the Opteron is $703, while the Core i5-6500TE has a launch MSRP of $192. The Opteron’s release date is November 4, 2012, and the Core i5’s is October 10, 2015. Both are end-of-life and have locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Opteron 6376 scores 4736, while the Intel Core i5-6500TE scores 4255. The Opteron wins by 11.3%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-6500TE win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The Opteron 6376 wins all six recorded head-to-head benchmarks, with deltas ranging from 11.1% to 11.7%. The Core i5-6500TE records zero wins.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Opteron 6376 has a TDP of 115 W, while the Core i5-6500TE has a TDP of 35 W. The Intel part draws significantly less power.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6376 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-6500TE does not support ECC.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth numbers for each processor?

A: The Opteron 6376 has a quad-channel DDR3 bus with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core i5-6500TE has a dual-channel bus supporting DDR3 and DDR4, with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Opteron 6376 has an average benchmark score of 1370, while the Core i5-6500TE has an average of 1399. The Core i5’s higher average is due to additional Geekbench results that are not recorded for the Opteron.