AMD Opteron 6376 vs Intel Core i7-3820QM Comparison

The AMD Opteron 6376 and Intel Core i7-3820QM occupy nearly identical positions in the aggregate benchmark distribution, with average scores of 1370 and 1366 respectively. This places both processors at the 36th percentile of all tested CPUs, making them statistical peers in overall performance despite radically different designs. The Opteron is a 16-core server processor built for dual-socket platforms, while the i7-3820QM is a quad-core mobile chip with integrated graphics. The head-to-head data reveals that the Intel part wins five of six Cinebench tests, though the margins are consistently under 1.1 percent. These are not processors that separate themselves through raw speed; their differentiation lies in platform role, power envelope, and scalability.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores, and does that translate into a multi-core advantage?

A: The AMD Opteron 6376 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-3820QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite the 12-core difference, the Intel part wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with a score of 4777 versus 4736 for the AMD, a margin of 0.9 percent. The Opteron's core count does not produce a win in any multi-core benchmark in this comparison.

Q: What are the single-core performance differences between the two?

A: The Intel i7-3820QM leads in single-core tests, scoring 674 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 668 for the Opteron, a 0.9 percent advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, both processors score exactly 67, resulting in a tie. The Intel part also leads in Cinebench R20 single-core by 1.1 percent (283 vs 280).

Q: How do their thermal design power (TDP) ratings compare?

A: The AMD Opteron 6376 has a TDP of 115 watts, while the Intel Core i7-3820QM has a TDP of 45 watts. The Intel mobile processor draws less than half the power of the server chip, which aligns with its mobile market segment versus the Opteron's server/workstation positioning.

Q: What memory configurations do these processors support?

A: The Opteron 6376 supports DDR3 memory over a quad-channel bus with a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s and includes ECC memory support. The i7-3820QM uses a dual-channel memory bus and does not support ECC memory; its memory bandwidth figure is not listed in the data.

Q: Do either of these processors include integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-3820QM includes Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 6376 has no integrated graphics, which is typical for a server processor that relies on discrete or remote graphics solutions.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock, and what is the difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-3820QM has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the AMD Opteron 6376 has a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The Intel part's boost clock is 0.50 GHz higher, though the Opteron's base clock of 2.30 GHz is lower than the i7's 2.70 GHz base.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3820QM wins in five of six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, including all multi-core tests at every Cinebench version. Its advantage in Cinebench R20 multi-core is 0.8 percent (2006 vs 1989), and in Cinebench R23 multi-core it leads by 0.9 percent (4777 vs 4736). The Intel part also wins both single-core tests where scores differ, with a 1.1 percent edge in R20 single-core and a 0.9 percent edge in R23 single-core. This consistent, if narrow, sweep across the Cinebench suite indicates that the i7-3820QM's higher clock speeds—2.70 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost versus 2.30 GHz and 3.20 GHz—are sufficient to overcome the Opteron's 16-core advantage in these workloads.

The AMD Opteron 6376's single win comes in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where it ties the Intel part at 67 points. This is not a victory in the traditional sense, as the delta is 0 percent, but it is the only test where the Opteron does not trail. The Opteron's strength lies outside the benchmark suite in this comparison. Its quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, ECC memory support, and dual-socket AMD Socket G34 platform capabilities position it for server workloads that require memory capacity and reliability rather than single-thread speed. The i7-3820QM, with its 45-watt TDP and integrated graphics, is built for mobile workstations where power efficiency and portability matter.

The data suggests that for Cinebench rendering tasks specifically, the i7-3820QM is the better choice regardless of core count. For server deployments where ECC memory and high memory bandwidth are critical, the Opteron's platform features give it a role that the mobile Intel chip cannot fill, even if benchmark scores are nearly identical.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Opteron 6376 uses the Piledriver architecture under the codename Abu Dhabi, fabricated on a 32 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It contains 2,400 million transistors across a dual-die design with a total die size of 2x 315 mm². The Intel Core i7-3820QM uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, fabricated on a 22 nm process by Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a single 160 mm² die. The process node difference—32 nm versus 22 nm—explains the transistor density gap, with Intel packing fewer total transistors into a much smaller area.

Cache organization differs substantially between the two. The Opteron 6376 has 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 8 MB of L3 cache per die. The i7-3820QM has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron's cache structure is designed around its module-based architecture, where pairs of cores share L2 resources, while the Intel part uses a more conventional per-core L1 and L2 with a shared L3.

The memory architectures also diverge. The Opteron supports quad-channel DDR3 with ECC and a peak bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, while the i7-3820QM supports dual-channel memory without ECC. The Opteron's memory bandwidth is more than double what the Intel part's dual-channel bus would provide, though the i7's memory bandwidth is not listed in the data. The Opteron uses PCIe Gen 2, while the i7's PCIe generation is not specified. The Opteron targets the AMD Socket G34 platform, which supports multi-socket configurations, whereas the i7-3820QM uses Intel BGA 1224, a soldered mobile socket with no multi-socket capability.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The Opteron 6376 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-3820QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. The base clocks are 2.30 GHz for the AMD part and 2.70 GHz for the Intel part, with boost clocks of 3.20 GHz and 3.70 GHz respectively. The TDP difference is substantial: 115 watts for the Opteron versus 45 watts for the i7-3820QM.

The socket and platform targets are completely different. The Opteron uses AMD Socket G34, a server socket designed for multi-processor boards. The i7-3820QM uses Intel BGA 1224, a ball-grid-array socket for mobile devices. The Opteron has a launch MSRP of $703, while the i7-3820QM has no listed launch MSRP. The Opteron's market segment is server/workstation and its production status is end-of-life, while the i7-3820QM's market segment is mobile and its production status is not listed.

Memory support differs in both channel count and ECC capability. The Opteron supports quad-channel DDR3 with ECC, while the i7-3820QM supports dual-channel memory without ECC. The Opteron's memory bandwidth is listed at 59.7 GB/s, while the i7's is not specified. The Opteron supports PCIe Gen 2, while the i7's PCIe generation is not listed. The Opteron has no integrated graphics, while the i7 includes Intel HD 4000.

The cache specifications also differ. The Opteron has 768 KB of L1, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The i7-3820QM has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The transistor counts are 2,400 million for the AMD part and 1,400 million for the Intel part, with die sizes of 2x 315 mm² and 160 mm² respectively.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the Intel Core i7-3820QM ahead with a score of 481 versus 477 for the Opteron, a delta of -0.8 percent from the AMD perspective. The single-core R15 test results in a tie at 67 points for both processors, with a delta of 0 percent. This is the only benchmark where the Opteron does not lose.

In Cinebench R20, the Intel part extends its lead slightly. The multi-core test shows the i7-3820QM scoring 2006 against the Opteron's 1989, a 0.8 percent margin. The single-core test shows a 1.1 percent gap, with scores of 283 and 280 respectively. These margins are small in absolute terms but consistent in direction.

The Cinebench R23 results mirror the R20 pattern. The multi-core test has the i7-3820QM at 4777 and the Opteron at 4736, a 0.9 percent difference. The single-core test has scores of 674 and 668, also a 0.9 percent difference. Across the full six-test suite, the Intel part wins five tests, and the single tie represents the Opteron's only non-loss.

The aggregate benchmark data reinforces these findings. The Opteron 6376 has an average benchmark score of 1370, while the i7-3820QM has an average score of 1366. The i7-3820QM's nearest rival list includes the Opteron with a delta of -0.3 percent, meaning the Opteron is 0.3 percent ahead in average score. The Opteron's nearest rival list includes the i7-3820QM with a delta of 0.3 percent, meaning the i7 is 0.3 percent behind. This sub-1 percent aggregate difference, combined with the Intel part's clean sweep of Cinebench tests, indicates that the i7-3820QM is the stronger performer in rendering workloads, but the overall performance class is effectively identical.