AMD Opteron 6378 vs Intel Core i5-4570S Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data paints an unambiguous picture: the AMD Opteron 6378 wins all six recorded tests, while the Intel Core i5-4570S does not take a single victory. This is not a close contest with split outcomes — the Opteron leads in every Cinebench iteration, across both multi-core and single-core workloads.

The Opteron’s strongest advantage appears in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where it scores 71 against the i5-4570S’s 60, a delta of 18.3%. That is the largest percentage gap in the entire comparison. Interestingly, the multi-core deltas are nearly as large: R15 multi-core shows 504 versus 428 (17.8% ahead), R20 multi-core shows 2102 versus 1787 (17.6% ahead), and R23 multi-core shows 5005 versus 4256 (17.6% ahead). The consistency of these margins — all hovering between 17.5% and 18.3% — suggests a systematic performance advantage rather than a workload-specific fluke.

The i5-4570S does have one notable asset the Opteron lacks: integrated graphics. The Intel part carries Intel HD 4600, while the Opteron has no integrated graphics at all. For systems that rely on the CPU’s built-in display output, that is a functional distinction, though it does not appear in any benchmark score here.

The percentile rankings are close: the Opteron sits at the 38th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-4570S sits at the 37th. Their average benchmark scores are also near — 1447 for the Opteron and 1426 for the i5-4570S. In other words, despite the Opteron winning every head-to-head Cinebench test, the overall average score across all benchmarks is only 1.5% apart. That gap is small enough that the two processors occupy nearly the same tier in the overall database, even though the specific Cinebench results favor AMD consistently.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Opteron 6378 is a server-class part built on AMD’s Piledriver architecture, codenamed Abu Dhabi, using a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The i5-4570S is a desktop part built on Intel’s Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process at Intel’s own foundry. The process node difference — 32 nm versus 22 nm — is significant, though the Opteron compensates with a much larger die and more transistors.

The Opteron packs 16 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-4570S has 4 cores and 4 threads. That is a 4x difference in core count. The Opteron’s die is listed as 2x 315 mm² (two dies totaling 630 mm²) with 2,400 million transistors, versus a single 177 mm² die with 1,400 million transistors for the Intel part. The Opteron’s memory support is quad-channel DDR3 with a rated bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s; the i5-4570S uses dual-channel DDR3 with no bandwidth figure listed in the data. The Opteron supports ECC memory; the i5-4570S does not.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Opteron has 768 KB of L1, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The i5-4570S has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron’s modular design groups cores into modules sharing L2, whereas the Intel design gives each core its own L2 and shares L3 across all four cores.

Clock speeds favor Intel on paper. The i5-4570S runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost, while the Opteron runs at 2.40 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. The Opteron also has a much higher TDP at 115 watts versus 65 watts. PCIe generation differs too: the Opteron uses Gen 2, while the i5-4570S uses Gen 3. The Opteron targets the server/workstation segment on AMD Socket G34; the i5-4570S is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1150. The Opteron is end-of-life, while the i5-4570S has no production status listed.

The Verdict

From the data alone, the AMD Opteron 6378 wins every Cinebench benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. If the selection criterion is raw Cinebench performance — whether single-core or multi-core — the Opteron is the clear choice. Its wins range from 17.5% to 18.3% across all six tests, a consistent and substantial margin.

However, the i5-4570S is not without a case. Its 65-watt TDP is roughly 43% lower than the Opteron’s 115 watts, making it far more suitable for power-constrained environments. It also includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU in basic display tasks. Its 22 nm process is newer than the Opteron’s 32 nm, and it supports PCIe Gen 3 rather than Gen 2. For desktop users who do not need 16 cores and do not require ECC memory, the i5-4570S offers a more complete, lower-power package.

The Opteron’s strengths are equally clear. It has 16 cores versus 4, quad-channel memory with ECC support, and a much larger cache hierarchy. Its server/workstation heritage means it is designed for throughput-oriented workloads. The data shows it delivering 17.8% more multi-core R15 performance and 18.3% more single-core R15 performance. The average benchmark scores — 1447 versus 1426 — place them in the same overall tier, but the Cinebench results specifically favor the Opteron without exception.

The verdict depends on context. For anyone running multi-threaded server workloads, the Opteron’s core count and memory bandwidth make it the data-backed choice. For a desktop system where power draw, integrated graphics, and a modern socket matter, the i5-4570S is the more practical selection — but the benchmark numbers in this comparison do not show it winning a single test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The AMD Opteron 6378 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. The Intel Core i5-4570S wins none.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Opteron scores 71 versus 60 for the i5-4570S, a delta of 18.3%.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Opteron has an average benchmark score of 1447, while the i5-4570S has 1426. The Opteron’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-7300HQ, scores 1448 with a delta of -0.1%.

Q: Does the Intel chip have any advantages in specifications?

A: Yes. The i5-4570S has a lower TDP (65 watts versus 115 watts), includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, uses a 22 nm process (versus 32 nm), and supports PCIe Gen 3 (versus Gen 2).

Q: Does the Opteron support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Opteron 6378 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-4570S does not.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The Opteron has 16 cores and 16 threads. The i5-4570S has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test opens the comparison with the Opteron scoring 504 against 428 for the i5-4570S, a 17.8% advantage. That margin is representative of the entire set. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Opteron posts 2102 versus 1787, again 17.6% ahead. The R23 multi-core result follows the same pattern: 5005 versus 4256, a 17.6% lead.

Single-core results are slightly more dramatic in percentage terms. The R15 single-core test shows 71 versus 60, an 18.3% edge for the Opteron. R20 single-core shows 296 versus 252, a 17.5% lead. R23 single-core shows 706 versus 600, a 17.7% margin. Across all six tests, the Opteron’s smallest win is 17.5% and its largest is 18.3%. There is no test where the i5-4570S comes within even 15 percentage points.

The consistency of these numbers is striking. Whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded, and regardless of the Cinebench version (R15, R20, or R23), the Opteron maintains a margin between roughly 17 and 18 percent. This uniformity suggests the advantage is structural — tied to the Opteron’s 16-core design and larger cache — rather than dependent on a specific benchmark behavior. The i5-4570S’s higher clock speeds (2.90 GHz base versus 2.40 GHz) and newer 22 nm process do not translate into any single-core win in this data. The Opteron’s 3.30 GHz boost clock, combined with its architecture, proves sufficient to outperform the Intel part even in single-threaded tests.

The overall percentile rankings reinforce the closeness of the two parts in the broader database. The Opteron sits at the 38th percentile, the i5-4570S at the 37th. Their average scores — 1447 and 1426 — are separated by less than 1.5%. The head-to-head Cinebench results show a clear winner, but the wider benchmark context shows two processors occupying nearly the same performance tier relative to all other CPUs.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The Opteron has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-4570S has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for the Opteron and 2.90 GHz for Intel; boost clocks are 3.30 GHz and 3.60 GHz respectively. TDP is 115 watts for AMD and 65 watts for Intel.

The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket G34 versus Intel Socket 1150. The Opteron uses the Piledriver architecture (codename Abu Dhabi) on a 32 nm GlobalFoundries process; the i5-4570S uses Haswell on a 22 nm Intel process. Transistor counts are 2,400 million versus 1,400 million, and die sizes are 2x 315 mm² versus 177 mm².

Cache configurations differ by design. The Opteron lists 768 KB L1, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die. The i5-4570S lists 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support is quad-channel DDR3 for AMD with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support; the Intel part is dual-channel DDR3 with no bandwidth figure and no ECC.

PCIe generation favors Intel at Gen 3 versus AMD’s Gen 2. Integrated graphics are present only on the Intel part (Intel HD 4600); the Opteron has none. Market segments differ: server/workstation for AMD, desktop for Intel. The Opteron is end-of-life, while the i5-4570S has no production status listed. The Opteron’s launch MSRP is $867; the i5-4570S has no launch MSRP in the data. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The Opteron’s part number is OS6378WKTGGHK; the i5-4570S’s is SR14J. Release dates are approximately seven months apart — the Opteron in November 2012 and the i5-4570S in June 2013.