AMD Opteron 6378 vs Intel Core i5-7300HQ Comparison

The AMD Opteron 6378 and Intel Core i5-7300HQ are an unusual pairing: a 16-core server processor from 2012 facing a 4-core mobile chip from 2017. Despite their differences in age, core count, and market segment, the benchmark database places them as near-exact equals in average score — the i5-7300HQ averages 1448, while the Opteron 6378 averages 1447, a difference of just 0.1%. This head-to-head breakdown examines where each processor derives its performance, why the numbers align so closely, and which workloads favor which design.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 6378 wins all six benchmark comparisons, with a consistent margin across every test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 504 against the i5-7300HQ's 434, a 13.9% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap, with the Opteron at 71 and the Intel at 61, a 14.1% lead. This pattern repeats in R20 and R23 — the Opteron wins multi-core by 13.8% (2102 vs 1812) and single-core by 13.9% (296 vs 255) in R20, and in R23 the margins are 13.8% (5005 vs 4316) multi-core and 13.7% (706 vs 609) single-core.

The consistency of these deltas — all falling between 13.7% and 14.1% — suggests a fundamental clock-for-clock or IPC advantage for the Opteron in Cinebench workloads, rather than a scaling effect from its higher core count. Notably, the Opteron's single-core wins are nearly as large as its multi-core wins, which is counterintuitive given that the i5-7300HQ has a higher base clock (2.50 GHz vs 2.40 GHz) and boost clock (3.50 GHz vs 3.30 GHz). The data indicates that the Piledriver architecture's per-thread performance in this benchmark suite exceeds that of Kaby Lake, despite the Intel part's newer process node and higher frequencies.

However, the broader benchmark picture is more nuanced. The i5-7300HQ has Geekbench scores — 3044 multi-core and 1052 single-core — that are not present in the Opteron's benchmark list. The Opteron lacks any Geekbench results, so the only comparable data comes from the three Cinebench generations (R15, R20, R23). Within those, the Opteron's dominance is absolute, but the average scores (1448 vs 1447) suggest that the Intel part's Geekbench performance, if it were included in a combined average, would nearly offset the Cinebench deficits. The database's nearestRivals data confirms this balance: the i5-7300HQ's average score is 1448, and the Opteron's is 1447, with a deltaPct of 0% from the Intel perspective and -0.1% from the AMD perspective.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies separated by five years of silicon evolution. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ is built on Kaby Lake architecture, specifically the Kaby Lake-H variant, using a 14 nm process node fabricated by Intel. It features 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The die size is 126 mm², and the cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. It supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and includes integrated Intel HD Graphics 630. The socket is Intel BGA 1440, and it uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

In contrast, the AMD Opteron 6378 is a server/workstation part based on the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Abu Dhabi, fabricated on a 32 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It packs 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The die is composed of two 315 mm² dies, totaling 630 mm², and contains 2,400 million transistors. Cache is organized differently: 768 KB L1 total, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die. It supports only DDR3 memory, but in a quad-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory — a feature the Intel part lacks. It uses AMD Socket G34 and PCIe Gen 2. There is no integrated graphics.

The architectural gap is stark: the i5-7300HQ uses a monolithic 14 nm design with a shared L3 cache, while the Opteron 6378 uses a dual-die 32 nm design with per-die L3. The Opteron's core count is 4x higher, but its per-core cache is smaller (768 KB L1 total across 16 cores vs 64 KB per core on Intel, though the per-module L2 of 2 MB is shared). The process node difference — 14 nm vs 32 nm — explains the TDP disparity: the i5-7300HQ draws 45 W, while the Opteron draws 115 W, a 2.5x increase for the older, larger chip.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark data, the AMD Opteron 6378 wins every head-to-head Cinebench test, so the "where each wins" section requires careful reading of the full data set. The Opteron wins all multi-threaded Cinebench workloads, but the i5-7300HQ has benchmark results in Geekbench that the Opteron does not have. In the Geekbench tests, the i5-7300HQ scores 3044 multi-core and 1052 single-core. Since the Opteron has no Geekbench scores, the i5-7300HQ is the only chip with a complete benchmark profile across the database's test suite.

For users running Cinebench R15, R20, or R23 — whether single-threaded or multi-threaded — the Opteron 6378 is the clear winner, with margins between 13.7% and 14.1%. This makes it the better choice for any workload that resembles Cinebench's rendering and shading tasks. The consistency of the single-core wins suggests the Opteron's Piledriver cores, despite lower clocks, execute these specific instructions more efficiently than Kaby Lake.

The i5-7300HQ's advantages are not in the head-to-head benchmarks but in its overall profile. It has integrated graphics, which the Opteron lacks entirely. It supports DDR4 memory, while the Opteron is limited to DDR3. It uses PCIe Gen 3, offering double the bandwidth of the Opteron's Gen 2. Its 45 W TDP makes it suitable for mobile platforms, whereas the Opteron's 115 W TDP is server-class. The i5-7300HQ's Geekbench scores — 3044 multi-core and 1052 single-core — provide a point of reference for non-Cinebench workloads, though no direct comparison exists in this data set.

In practical terms, the Opteron wins in any scenario where Cinebench scores are predictive — rendering, 3D modeling, and similar compute-heavy tasks. The i5-7300HQ wins in scenarios requiring integrated graphics, modern memory support, or low power consumption, but the benchmark data does not quantify those wins with scores.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field except for production status (both are end-of-life), multiplier unlock (both locked), and market segment relevance (though the i5 is mobile and the Opteron is server/workstation). Key differences:

• Cores/Threads: The i5-7300HQ has 4 cores and 4 threads; the Opteron 6378 has 16 cores and 16 threads.
• Base/Boost Clock: i5-7300HQ runs at 2.50 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost; Opteron runs at 2.40 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost.
• TDP: i5-7300HQ is 45 W; Opteron is 115 W.
• Process Node: i5-7300HQ uses 14 nm; Opteron uses 32 nm.
• Foundry: Intel for the i5; GlobalFoundries for the Opteron.
• Die Size: i5-7300HQ is 126 mm²; Opteron is 2x 315 mm².
• L1 Cache: i5-7300HQ has 64 KB per core; Opteron has 768 KB total.
• L2 Cache: i5-7300HQ has 256 KB per core; Opteron has 2 MB per module.
• L3 Cache: i5-7300HQ has 6 MB shared; Opteron has 8 MB per die.
• Memory Support: i5-7300HQ supports DDR3 and DDR4; Opteron supports only DDR3.
• Memory Bus: i5-7300HQ is dual-channel; Opteron is quad-channel.
• Memory Bandwidth: Opteron lists 59.7 GB/s; i5-7300HQ does not list a bandwidth figure.
• ECC Memory: i5-7300HQ does not support it; Opteron supports it.
• PCIe: i5-7300HQ is Gen 3 with 16 lanes; Opteron is Gen 2 (lane count not specified).
• Integrated Graphics: i5-7300HQ has Intel HD Graphics 630; Opteron has none.
• Socket: i5-7300HQ is Intel BGA 1440; Opteron is AMD Socket G34.
• Transistors: Opteron has 2,400 million; i5-7300HQ does not list a transistor count.
• Release Date: i5-7300HQ launched 2017-01-02; Opteron launched 2012-11-04.
• Part Number: i5-7300HQ is SR32S; Opteron is OS6378WKTGGHK.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6378 has 16 cores and 16 threads, compared to the Intel Core i5-7300HQ's 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-7300HQ support ECC memory?

A: No, the i5-7300HQ does not support ECC memory. The AMD Opteron 6378 does support ECC memory.

Q: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, what is the score difference?

A: The Opteron 6378 scores 5005, while the i5-7300HQ scores 4316. The Opteron leads by 13.8%.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-7300HQ has a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, compared to the AMD Opteron 6378's 3.30 GHz.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 6378 have integrated graphics?

A: No, the Opteron 6378 has no integrated graphics. The i5-7300HQ includes Intel HD Graphics 630.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The i5-7300HQ has an average benchmark score of 1448, and the Opteron 6378 has an average score of 1447, a 0.1% difference.

Q: Which processor supports quad-channel memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6378 supports quad-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The i5-7300HQ uses dual-channel DDR3 or DDR4.