AMD Opteron 6378 vs Intel Core i5-4590S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent outcome across all six head-to-head comparisons: the AMD Opteron 6378 wins every single benchmark, both multi-core and single-core. The margin of victory is remarkably uniform, hovering around 13 to 14 percent in every test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron 6378 scores 504 against the Core i5-4590S's 437, a delta of 13.3 percent. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern, with the Opteron at 71 and the Intel part at 61, a 14.1 percent gap.

Cinebench R20 repeats this story. The Opteron 6378 delivers 2102 in multi-core versus 1821 for the i5-4590S, again a 13.4 percent advantage. In single-core R20, the scores are 296 and 257, respectively, a 13.2 percent delta. The most recent test generation, Cinebench R23, shows identical behavior: the Opteron reaches 5005 in multi-core, while the i5-4590S manages 4338, a 13.3 percent difference, and in single-core, 706 versus 612, also 13.3 percent.

The consistency of these deltas is notable. Across all six benchmarks, the Opteron 6378 holds a lead that never dips below 13.2 percent and never exceeds 14.1 percent. This uniformity suggests the advantage is structural rather than workload-specific. The Opteron 6378 is not merely faster in one type of task; it is faster across the board, whether the workload scales across cores or runs on a single thread.

The average benchmark score for the Opteron 6378 is 1447, while the i5-4590S sits at 1493. That is a curious inversion: the i5-4590S has a higher average score despite losing every head-to-head test. This happens because the average score includes a broader set of benchmarks, including Geekbench tests that are recorded for the i5-4590S but not for the Opteron 6378. The Geekbench multi-core score of 3289 and single-core score of 1126 for the i5-4590S pull its average upward, but those tests have no counterpart in the Opteron's recorded data. The head-to-head results, which use identical test conditions, are the more reliable comparison.

Both processors sit at the 38th percentile among all CPUs in the database. That equal percentile ranking, combined with the Opteron's consistent benchmark wins, indicates that the performance gap between these two parts is modest in absolute terms, even if it is decisive in every direct comparison.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The Intel Core i5-4590S is built on a 22 nm process at Intel's foundry, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The AMD Opteron 6378 uses a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 2,400 million transistors spread across two 315 mm² dies. The Opteron is a dual-die design, which explains its much larger physical footprint and higher transistor count.

Core counts differ dramatically. The i5-4590S has 4 cores and 4 threads, a straightforward design with no simultaneous multithreading. The Opteron 6378 has 16 cores and 16 threads, four times the core count. The Opteron's architecture is based on Piledriver, AMD's modular design where pairs of cores share resources, while the i5-4590S uses Intel's Haswell architecture with fully independent cores. The cache layouts reflect this difference. The i5-4590S has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron 6378 has 768 KB of L1 total, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die.

Clock speeds favor the Intel part in raw terms. The i5-4590S runs at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and boosts to 3.60 GHz. The Opteron 6378 starts at 2.40 GHz and boosts to 3.30 GHz. Despite lower clocks, the Opteron wins every benchmark, which points to its massive core-count advantage overcoming the clock deficit. The power envelope tells a similar story: the i5-4590S has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Opteron 6378 draws 115 watts. That higher power budget is part of why the Opteron can sustain 16 active cores.

Memory support also differs. Both support DDR3, but the i5-4590S uses a dual-channel memory bus, while the Opteron 6378 uses quad-channel memory. The Opteron's memory bandwidth is explicitly recorded as 59.7 GB/s, a figure that reflects its server-oriented design. The i5-4590S has no recorded memory bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported on the Opteron 6378, while the i5-4590S does not support it. PCIe generation also differs: the Intel part uses Gen 3, the AMD part uses Gen 2.

The i5-4590S includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 4600, while the Opteron 6378 has no integrated graphics at all. This makes sense given their market segments: the i5-4590S is a desktop part, while the Opteron 6378 is aimed at servers and workstations, where a discrete GPU or no GPU at all is the norm. The Opteron 6378 is also marked as end-of-life in production status, while the i5-4590S has no such designation.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The AMD Opteron 6378 wins every recorded multi-core test. In Cinebench R15, it scores 504 versus 437 for the Intel Core i5-4590S. In R20, it scores 2102 versus 1821. In R23, it scores 5005 versus 4338. The delta is consistently around 13.3 percent.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-4590S faster in single-core tests?

A: No. The Opteron 6378 also wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. R15 shows 71 versus 61, R20 shows 296 versus 257, and R23 shows 706 versus 612. The single-core advantage for the Opteron ranges from 13.2 to 14.1 percent.

Q: How do their core counts compare?

A: The Opteron 6378 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-4590S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Opteron has four times the core count, which explains its multi-core advantage despite lower clock speeds.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The i5-4590S has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The Opteron 6378 has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The Intel part runs at higher clocks, yet still loses in every benchmark.

Q: Do these processors support ECC memory?

A: Only the Opteron 6378 supports ECC memory. The i5-4590S does not. The Opteron also uses a quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth, while the i5-4590S uses dual-channel memory.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The i5-4590S has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Opteron 6378 has a TDP of 115 watts. The Opteron consumes nearly twice the power, which aligns with its 16-core design and server market segment.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The core count is the most obvious gap: 4 cores for the i5-4590S versus 16 cores for the Opteron 6378. Thread counts match core counts on both parts, so neither uses simultaneous multithreading. Clock speeds favor Intel, with the i5-4590S at 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost, against the Opteron's 2.40 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost.

Power consumption favors Intel as well, with a 65 watt TDP versus 115 watts for the Opteron. The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1150 for the i5-4590S, AMD Socket G34 for the Opteron 6378. The architecture generation differs, with Haswell for Intel and Piledriver for AMD, codenamed Abu Dhabi for the Opteron. The process node is 22 nm for Intel and 32 nm for AMD, with transistor counts of 1,400 million and 2,400 million respectively. Die size is 177 mm² for the i5-4590S and 2x 315 mm² for the Opteron.

Cache configurations are not directly comparable. The i5-4590S has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron 6378 has 768 KB of L1 total, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The memory bus differs: dual-channel for Intel, quad-channel for AMD. ECC support is present only on the Opteron. PCIe generation is Gen 3 for Intel and Gen 2 for AMD. Integrated graphics exist only on the i5-4590S, with Intel HD 4600. The market segments diverge, with the i5-4590S listed as Desktop and the Opteron 6378 as Server/Workstation. The Opteron is also marked end-of-life, while the i5-4590S has no production status listed. The Opteron's part number is OS6378WKTGGHK, and its launch MSRP is $867, which is recorded in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6378 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, so the use-case split is not about which processor is faster in a given task. Instead, the split comes down to what each processor offers outside of raw benchmark scores.

The Opteron 6378 is the choice for multi-threaded server and workstation workloads. Its 16 cores and 16 threads provide parallel throughput that the 4-core i5-4590S cannot match. The quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth supports memory-intensive server applications. ECC memory support makes it suitable for error-sensitive environments like databases or compute clusters. The end-of-life production status is a caveat, but for existing deployments or systems that can accommodate its 115 watt TDP and dual-die design, it delivers superior Cinebench performance across the board.

The i5-4590S wins on efficiency and platform simplicity. Its 65 watt TDP is far lower than the Opteron's 115 watts, making it easier to cool and cheaper to run in a desktop context. The integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics eliminate the need for a separate GPU in basic desktop systems. Its Gen 3 PCIe support is newer than the Opteron's Gen 2, which matters for modern expansion cards. The 22 nm process and smaller die size make it a more compact solution. For desktop users who need a capable CPU with built-in graphics, moderate power draw, and a mainstream socket, the i5-4590S is the practical option, even though it loses in raw compute benchmarks.

The benchmark data itself tells a clear story: the Opteron 6378 is the faster processor in every recorded test. But the i5-4590S occupies a different niche, one where power efficiency, integrated graphics, and platform simplicity outweigh raw core counts. The equal 38th percentile ranking for both parts reinforces that they are comparable in overall standing, just with opposite design philosophies: one maximizes cores and memory bandwidth, the other maximizes efficiency and integration.