AMD Opteron 6378 vs Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a remarkably consistent picture across all six Cinebench tests. The AMD Opteron 6378 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, taking 6 wins to 0 for the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106. This is not a case of one processor dominating in specific workloads while losing others; the margins are uniform across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 504 against the Xeon's 495, a 1.8% advantage. The single-core result shows the same trend, with the AMD chip scoring 71 versus 69, a 2.9% lead. The pattern continues in R20, where the Opteron scores 2102 in multi-core against 2065, again a 1.8% delta. The single-core R20 result is 296 versus 291, a 1.7% margin. The most recent test in the database, Cinebench R23, shows the Opteron at 5005 in multi-core versus 4918 for the Bronze 3106, a 1.8% difference, and in single-core the scores are 706 against 694, a 1.7% advantage.

What is striking about these numbers is not just that the AMD part wins, but that the margin is so consistent. Across every test, the delta sits between 1.7% and 2.9%. The single-core margin is essentially identical to the multi-core margin, which suggests the Opteron's advantage is not due to having more cores, but rather a slightly higher level of performance per thread. The Xeon Bronze 3106 has half the cores, yet the multi-core scores are close. The database shows the Opteron with 16 cores and the Xeon with 8, yet the multi-core performance gap is the same as the single-core gap. This hints that the Xeon's newer architecture is doing a lot of work to close the core-count deficit, but it is not enough to overcome the raw core count of the AMD part.

The average benchmark score, calculated across all recorded tests, shows the Opteron at 1447 and the Xeon at 1422. This wider gap, a 25 point difference, is interesting because the head-to-head Cinebench tests are closer. The average score includes other tests not shown, and the fact that the average gap is larger than any single Cinebench delta suggests the Opteron has a broader strength in other workloads. The Opteron also sits at the 38th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Xeon sits at the 37th. This is essentially a tie in overall standing, despite the Opteron winning all head-to-head tests. The Xeon's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i7-3820 and the AMD Opteron 4274 HE, while the Opteron's rivals include the Intel Core i5-7300HQ and the AMD Ryzen 3 2200GE.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Opteron 6378 is the faster processor. It wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. The margins are not large, but they are real and they are consistent. The Xeon Bronze 3106 does not win a single test. For any workload that depends on raw Cinebench performance, the Opteron is the better choice.

The Xeon Bronze 3106 is a newer chip, released in 2017 versus the Opteron's 2012 release. It also has a more modern architecture and process node. However, in the recorded benchmark scores, it cannot beat the older, larger Opteron. The Opteron's advantage is slight, but it exists in every test. The data suggests that the Opteron's higher core count, double that of the Xeon, is what gives it the edge, even though each core on the Xeon is likely more efficient.

For a user prioritizing measured performance, the Opteron is the clear winner. The Xeon's only real advantage in the database is a lower TDP of 85 watts compared to 115 watts, and a more modern platform. But the benchmark data does not indicate that the Xeon offers any performance benefit. The Opteron's percentile standing at 38 vs 37 for the Xeon is a reflection of the head-to-head results. The verdict from the data is simple: if you need the fastest CPU, pick the AMD. If you need lower power consumption, the Xeon is the only one with that benefit in the record.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent very different design philosophies from different eras. The AMD Opteron 6378 is built on the Piledriver architecture, with the codename Abu Dhabi, and is part of the Opteron 6000 series. It uses a 32 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. The chip is built from two dies, each measuring 315 mm², for a total of 2,400 million transistors. The cache layout is modular: 768 KB of L1, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. This means there are two separate L3 pools, one per die, rather than a single shared pool.

The Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 is built on the Skylake architecture, specifically Skylake-SP, and is part of the Xeon Bronze generation. It uses a 14 nm process node from Intel. The chip has 8,000 million transistors on a single die, though the die size is not recorded. The cache structure is very different: 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 11 MB of shared L3 across all cores. This is a modern, unified cache design.

The memory support also differs. The Opteron supports DDR3 memory with a quad-channel bus, delivering a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Xeon supports DDR4 memory, but the memory bus and bandwidth are not recorded. Both support ECC memory, which is expected for server processors.

The socket and platform are completely different. The Opteron uses AMD Socket G34, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 3647. The Opteron also uses PCIe Gen 2, while the Xeon's PCIe version is not recorded. The production status of the Opteron is end-of-life, while the Xeon has no production status recorded. The release dates are separated by nearly five years: the Opteron was released in November 2012, the Xeon in July 2017.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6378 has 16 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 6378 win every benchmark?

A: Yes. In the recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Opteron wins all six tests. It wins the R15, R20, and R23 multi-core and single-core tests.

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

A: The largest difference is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Opteron scores 71 against the Xeon's 69, a 2.9% lead. The other tests show a 1.7% to 1.8% delta.

Q: Is the Xeon Bronze 3106 newer than the Opteron?

A: Yes, the Xeon has a release date of July 2017, while the Opteron was released in November 2012.

Q: Which processor has a lower power requirement?

A: The Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 has a TDP of 85 watts. The AMD Opteron 6378 has a TDP of 115 watts.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6378 wins in every single recorded benchmark. The multi-core tests show the Opteron at 504, 2102, and 3001, against the Xeon's 495, 2065, and 4918. The single-core tests show the Opteron at 71, 296, and 706, against the Xeon's 69, 291, and 694. For any workload that is represented by Cinebench R15, R20, or R23, the Opteron is the faster part.

The Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 does not have a single benchmark win. The data shows no workload category where the Intel chip outperforms the AMD chip. The Xeon's only recorded advantage is its lower TDP, which is 85 watts versus 115 watts. This means the Xeon could be the choice for a system where power consumption is the primary constraint, and the small performance loss is acceptable. The Xeon also uses a newer platform with DDR4 memory support, which could be a reason to choose it if the system memory is already DDR4 based.

The Opteron is the obvious choice for any performance-sensitive task. The Opteron wins all multi-core and single-core tests, so it is the better option for both heavily threaded and single-threaded workloads. The Xeon is the alternative for a situation where the 30-watt TDP difference is critical.

Specification Differences

| Feature | AMD Opteron 6378 | Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores | 16 | 8 |

| Threads | 16 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 115 W | 85 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket G34 | Intel Socket 3647 |

| Architecture | Piledriver | Skylake |

| Codename | Abu Dhabi | Skylake-SP |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 2,400 million | 8,000 million |

| Die Size | 2x 315 mm² | Not available |

| L1 Cache | 768 KB | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per module) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (per die) | 11 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Not available |

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | Not available |

| PCIe Version | Gen 2 | Not available |

| Release Date | 2012-11-04 | 2017-07-10 |

| Launch MSRP | $867 | Not available |