AMD Opteron 6378 vs Intel Core i7-3720QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear, though narrow, picture: the AMD Opteron 6378 wins every single recorded test against the Intel Core i7-3720QM. Across six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, the Opteron takes a perfect 6-0 sweep, with no victories for the Intel part. The margins are consistent, hovering around the 6% mark in both multi-core and single-core workloads.

Looking first at multi-core performance, the Opteron 6378 scores 504 in Cinebench R15 multi-core against 475 for the i7-3720QM, a 6.1% advantage. That same 6.1% delta repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Opteron posts 2102 versus 1981, and again in Cinebench R23 multi-core, with 5005 against 4718. The consistency of these deltas across three generations of the Cinebench renderer suggests a stable performance relationship rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

Single-core results tell a similar story. The Opteron 6378 leads in Cinebench R15 single-core with 71 points versus 66, a 7.6% gap. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Opteron scores 296 against 279, again a 6.1% lead. The Cinebench R23 single-core run shows 706 for the Opteron against 666 for the Intel chip, a 6% margin. Notably, the single-core advantage is not smaller than the multi-core advantage, which is unusual given that the Opteron is a 16-core server part and the i7 is a 4-core mobile processor. The data indicates the Opteron's per-thread performance is strong enough to edge out the Intel part even in lightly threaded tests.

Looking at the broader database context, the Opteron 6378 holds a 38th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1447. Its nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-7300HQ at 1448, a negligible 0.1% difference. The Intel Core i7-3720QM sits at the 37th percentile with an average score of 1421, and its closest competitor is the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 at 1422, also a 0.1% gap. The 26-point difference in average benchmark scores between the two processors is modest, reinforcing the head-to-head Cinebench results that show a solid but not overwhelming Opteron advantage.

It is worth remembering the Intel Core i7-3720QM has additional Geekbench results in the database that the Opteron lacks, with a multi-core score of 2457 and a single-core score of 726. These cannot be directly compared across the two parts, but they do provide context for where the i7 sits in absolute terms.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward verdict: the AMD Opteron 6378 is the faster processor in every benchmark where the two are directly compared. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with deltas ranging from 6.0% to 7.6%. The Opteron also carries a higher average benchmark score, 1447 versus 1421, and a marginally better percentile ranking, 38th versus 37th.

That said, the margins are not dramatic. A 6% lead in multi-core rendering is meaningful, but it is not the kind of gap that would normally be associated with a 16-core server processor facing a 4-core mobile chip. The i7-3720QM is competitive because its Ivy Bridge architecture delivers strong per-core efficiency, allowing it to close much of the core-count gap.

For a buyer choosing purely on recorded performance, the Opteron 6378 is the pick. It wins in every measured category, from single-threaded Cinebench runs to multi-threaded renders. The i7-3720QM, however, is not far behind, and its suitability depends entirely on the use case, which is addressed in the Where Each One Wins section. The data does not show any scenario in which the i7-3720QM outperforms the Opteron, so the verdict on raw speed is unambiguous.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Opteron 6378 is built on the Piledriver architecture, with the codename Abu Dhabi, and belongs to the Opteron 6000 series. It is fabricated on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 2,400 million transistors spread across a dual-die design measuring 2x 315 mm². The Intel Core i7-3720QM uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, also its codename, and is built on a 22 nm process at Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a single 160 mm² die.

The core configurations diverge sharply. The Opteron 6378 packs 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The i7-3720QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Intel relies on Hyper-Threading to reach 8 threads, while AMD uses physical cores without simultaneous multithreading.

Cache hierarchies reflect the different design goals. The Opteron 6378 has 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 8 MB of L3 cache per die. The i7-3720QM has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Opteron's dual-die layout means each die carries its own L3, which is typical for multi-chip module server processors.

Memory support also differs. The Opteron 6378 supports DDR3 memory over a quad-channel bus, delivering 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth, and it supports ECC memory. The i7-3720QM uses a dual-channel memory bus and does not support ECC. The Opteron also lists PCIe Gen 2 support, while the i7's PCIe information is not recorded. The i7-3720QM includes integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, while the Opteron has no integrated graphics, which is expected for a server part.

The power profiles are dramatically different. The Opteron 6378 has a 115 W TDP and uses AMD Socket G34, while the i7-3720QM has a 45 W TDP and uses Intel BGA 1224. The Opteron targets the server and workstation market segment, while the i7 is a mobile part. Both processors are from 2012, with the i7 released on April 29, 2012, and the Opteron released on November 5, 2012. The Opteron is marked as end-of-life, while the i7's production status is not recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Opteron 6378 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-3720QM support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory support is not listed for the i7-3720QM. The AMD Opteron 6378 does support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-3720QM includes Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics. The AMD Opteron 6378 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The AMD Opteron 6378 has an average benchmark score of 1447, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM scores 1421, a difference of 26 points in favor of the Opteron.

Q: How much faster is the AMD Opteron 6378 in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Opteron scores 5005 against 4718 for the i7-3720QM, a 6.1% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-3720QM has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the AMD Opteron 6378 boosts to 3.30 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6378 wins in every recorded benchmark category. In multi-core workloads, it leads by 6.1% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. In single-core workloads, it leads by 7.6% in Cinebench R15, 6.1% in Cinebench R20, and 6% in Cinebench R23. The Opteron is the clear choice for any workload that relies on CPU rendering, whether that is multi-threaded batch rendering or single-threaded interactive tasks, based on the recorded data.

The Opteron also wins on average benchmark score, 1447 versus 1421, and on percentile ranking, 38th versus 37th. Its higher memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s over a quad-channel bus, versus the i7's dual-channel configuration, gives it an edge in memory-intensive server workloads, though the i7's memory bandwidth is not recorded for direct comparison.

The Intel Core i7-3720QM, despite losing every head-to-head test, has attributes that make it preferable in specific contexts. It has a 45 W TDP versus 115 W, making it far more suitable for mobile or power-constrained environments. It includes integrated graphics, which the Opteron lacks, so systems built around the i7 do not require a discrete GPU for basic display output. It also fits the Intel BGA 1224 socket, whereas the Opteron requires AMD Socket G34, which is a server platform.

For a mobile workstation or a compact system where power draw and integrated graphics matter, the i7-3720QM is the logical pick, despite the Opteron's performance lead. For a server or workstation where performance is the priority and power consumption is less of a concern, the Opteron 6378 is the better option. The data does not show any performance scenario where the i7 wins, so its advantages are entirely in platform characteristics rather than raw speed.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The AMD Opteron 6378 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Opteron runs at a 2.40 GHz base clock and 3.30 GHz boost, while the i7 runs at 2.60 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. The TDPs are 115 W for the Opteron and 45 W for the i7. The Opteron uses AMD Socket G34, and the i7 uses Intel BGA 1224.

The architecture generation differs, with the Opteron being Piledriver (Abu Dhabi) and the i7 being Ivy Bridge. Process nodes are 32 nm at GlobalFoundries for the Opteron and 22 nm at Intel for the i7. Transistor counts are 2,400 million for the Opteron and 1,400 million for the i7. The Opteron uses a dual-die design at 2x 315 mm², while the i7 uses a single die at 160 mm².

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Opteron has 768 KB of L1, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The i7 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Memory support shows the Opteron using DDR3 over quad-channel with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support, while the i7 uses dual-channel without ECC and with no recorded bandwidth. The Opteron supports PCIe Gen 2, while the i7 has no recorded PCIe information. The i7 includes Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, and the Opteron has none.

The market segments are server and workstation for the Opteron, versus mobile for the i7. The Opteron is end-of-life, while the i7's production status is not recorded. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Opteron's launch MSRP was $867, while the i7 has no recorded launch MSRP. Release dates are November 5, 2012 for the Opteron and April 29, 2012 for the i7.