AMD Opteron 6378 vs Intel Core i5-5575R Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split here is unusually one-sided. Across all six recorded head-to-head tests, the AMD Opteron 6378 takes the win every time. The Intel Core i5-5575R does not secure a single victory in any Cinebench workload, whether single-core or multi-core. This makes the use-case recommendation straightforward: if the workload is built around Cinebench-style rendering or heavily threaded compute, the Opteron is the stronger part.

The Opteron's biggest margins come in the multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 5005 against the i5-5575R's 4324, a 13.6% advantage. That gap is nearly identical in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Opteron posts 2102 versus 1816, also 13.6% ahead. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R15 multi-core, with the Opteron at 504 versus 435, a 13.7% edge. If the task is sustained multi-threaded rendering, the Opteron is the clear pick.

What is more surprising is the single-core results. The Opteron, a server chip built on an older 32 nm process with a lower 2.40 GHz base clock, still beats the i5-5575R in every single-threaded test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 706 versus 610, a 13.6% lead. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it posts 296 against 256, a 13.5% margin. Even in Cinebench R15 single-core, the Opteron leads 71 to 61, a 14.1% gap. This flips the usual expectation that a newer desktop part with a higher base clock would dominate single-threaded work.

The i5-5575R does have one area of relevance: its integrated Iris Pro Graphics 6200. That is a feature the Opteron completely lacks. For a system that needs basic graphics output without a discrete card, the Intel part is the only functional option. But for raw CPU compute, the data consistently favors AMD.

Architecture Differences

These two processors come from very different design philosophies and eras. The Intel Core i5-5575R is built on a 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry, with a die size of 182 mm². It uses the Broadwell architecture, a desktop-class design with 4 cores and 4 threads. Its base clock is 2.80 GHz with a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The thermal design power is 65 watts, which is modest for a desktop part.

The AMD Opteron 6378 is a server and workstation processor from the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Abu Dhabi. It is manufactured on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries, and the die is physically massive: 2x 315 mm², meaning two separate dies on the package. It packs 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and the same 3.30 GHz boost clock as the Intel part. Its thermal design power is 115 watts, nearly double the Intel chip.

The cache layouts reflect the different design goals. The Intel i5-5575R has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron has 768 KB of L1 total, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. With two dies, the Opteron effectively has 16 MB of L3 across the package, though the database records it per die.

Memory support also differs significantly. Both support DDR3, but the Intel part uses a dual-channel memory bus with 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth. The Opteron uses a quad-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s, essentially double the memory throughput. The Opteron also supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not. This makes the Opteron suitable for error-corrected memory environments, which is typical of server workloads.

PCI Express support is another differentiator. The Intel i5-5575R provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Opteron only supports Gen 2. For modern GPUs or NVMe storage, the Intel part has a clear interface advantage, though the Opteron's server platform may have additional lanes from the chipset.

The production status tells the rest of the story. The Intel part is listed as Active, while the Opteron is End-of-life. The Opteron is also from an older generation, released in late 2012, while the Intel chip came in mid-2015. The Opteron's 2,400 million transistors on a 32 nm process versus the Intel part's unspecified transistor count on 14 nm shows how different the manufacturing approaches were.

The Verdict

The data points to one clear conclusion for raw CPU performance: the AMD Opteron 6378 wins every benchmark in this comparison. Across all six Cinebench tests, it holds a consistent 13.5% to 14.1% advantage over the Intel Core i5-5575R. That includes both single-core and multi-core workloads, which is rare when comparing a server chip against a desktop part.

For a builder assembling a rendering or compute-focused system, the Opteron is the better choice based on the recorded scores. Its 16 cores deliver higher multi-threaded throughput, and its single-core scores are unexpectedly higher as well. The quad-channel memory bus and ECC support add further value for workstation or server use cases.

However, the Intel part is not without its own strengths. The integrated Iris Pro Graphics 6200 means it can run a display output without a separate GPU. Its 65 watt TDP makes it far easier to cool and power. The Gen 3 PCIe interface is also more modern. For a compact desktop build where a discrete GPU is not needed, the i5-5575R is the practical option.

The average benchmark scores in the database tell a similar story. The i5-5575R has an average score of 1478, while the Opteron sits at 1447. Both land at the 38th percentile among all CPUs. The Intel part is effectively tied with its nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i5-7500T at 1483 and the Intel Core i7-4710HQ at 1473. The Opteron is similarly clustered with the Intel Core i5-7300HQ at 1448 and the AMD Ryzen 3 2200GE at 1444.

Pick the Opteron if you need maximum multi-threaded compute and can tolerate a higher power draw. Pick the Intel part if you need integrated graphics, lower power, or a modern PCIe interface. The benchmark data does not support the Intel chip for pure processing performance.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The AMD Opteron 6378 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 5005 in R23 multi-core versus 4324 for the Intel i5-5575R, 2102 in R20 multi-core versus 1816, and 504 in R15 multi-core versus 435. That is a consistent 13.6% to 13.7% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any single-core tests?

A: No. The Opteron 6378 wins every single-core test as well. In Cinebench R23 single-core it scores 706 versus 610, in R20 single-core it posts 296 versus 256, and in R15 single-core it leads 71 to 61.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6378 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-5575R does not. This makes the Opteron more suitable for error-corrected memory environments.

Q: How do the memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The Opteron has a quad-channel DDR3 memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel i5-5575R uses dual-channel DDR3 with 29.9 GB/s. The Opteron offers roughly double the memory throughput.

Q: Does either CPU have integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-5575R has integrated graphics, specifically Iris Pro Graphics 6200. The AMD Opteron 6378 has no integrated graphics at all, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Intel i5-5575R has a 65 watt TDP, while the AMD Opteron 6378 has a 115 watt TDP. The Opteron draws nearly twice the power, which affects cooling and power supply requirements.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single benchmark margin in this matchup is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Opteron wins by 14.1%. That test shows 71 for the AMD part against 61 for the Intel part. It is a slightly larger margin than the multi-core tests, which cluster around 13.6% to 13.7%.

The multi-core results are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Opteron scores 5005 against 4324, a 13.6% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the numbers are 2102 against 1816, also 13.6%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron posts 504 versus 435, a 13.7% edge. The consistency suggests a fundamental throughput advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The single-core tests show a similar pattern. Cinebench R23 single-core gives the Opteron 706 against 610, a 13.6% win. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 296 versus 256, a 13.5% margin. Cinebench R15 single-core is the outlier at 14.1%, with 71 against 61. Even with the older Piledriver architecture and lower base clock, the Opteron manages higher single-threaded scores.

The overall win count is 6 for the Opteron and 0 for the Intel part. There are no benchmark results in the database where the i5-5575R comes out ahead. The closest the Intel chip gets is the average score comparison, where its 1478 average is actually higher than the Opteron's 1447. But that average includes Geekbench results for the Intel part, which are not present for the Opteron. The Geekbench multi-core score for the i5-5575R is 3247, and its single-core score is 1072.

The nearest rival data places both chips in similar company. The i5-5575R is within 0.9% of the Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 and within 0.4% of the Intel Core i7-4710HQ. The Opteron is within 0.6% of the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G and within 0.1% of the Intel Core i5-7300HQ. Both chips occupy the same performance tier, despite their very different architectures.

Specification Differences

The core count difference is the most obvious spec gap. The Intel i5-5575R has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD Opteron 6378 has 16 cores and 16 threads. That is a fourfold difference in thread count, which explains the multi-core performance advantage.

Clock speeds are surprisingly similar. The Intel part has a 2.80 GHz base clock and a 3.30 GHz boost clock. The Opteron has a 2.40 GHz base clock and the same 3.30 GHz boost. Despite the lower base frequency, the Opteron still wins single-core tests.

The process node is a major difference. Intel uses 14 nm, while AMD uses 32 nm. The Intel die is 182 mm², while the Opteron uses two dies at 315 mm² each. The Opteron has 2,400 million transistors, while the Intel part does not have a transistor count listed.

Cache configurations differ by design. The Intel part has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The Opteron has 768 KB L1 total, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die. The Opteron's total cache is larger, but it is distributed across two dies.

Memory support shows the Opteron's server heritage. Both use DDR3, but the Opteron has quad-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support. The Intel part uses dual-channel with 29.9 GB/s and no ECC. PCIe also differs: the Intel part has Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the Opteron is limited to Gen 2.

The integrated graphics are exclusive to the Intel part. Iris Pro Graphics 6200 is built in, while the Opteron has none. The Opteron also requires a socket G34 motherboard, while the Intel part uses BGA 1364, which is soldered rather than socketed. The market segments reflect this: Intel targets Desktop, while AMD targets Server/Workstation. Production status also differs, with the Intel part listed as Active and the Opteron as End-of-life.