AMD Opteron 6380 vs Intel Core i7-8560U Comparison

The AMD Opteron 6380 and Intel Core i7-8560U represent two radically different design philosophies from different eras, yet their benchmark scores land them in the same performance tier. The Opteron 6380, a 16-core server processor from AMD’s Piledriver generation, and the i7-8560U, a 4-core mobile part from Intel’s Whiskey Lake architecture, both end up clustered near the 40th percentile of all CPUs. The data reveals a fascinating case where a high-core-count workstation chip and a low-power laptop chip achieve nearly identical results in rendering workloads, with the AMD part winning all six head-to-head comparisons by margins of less than one percent.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Opteron 6380 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but the margins are razor-thin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 572 against 568 for the i7-8560U, a delta of just 0.7%. The pattern repeats across all tests: R20 multi-core shows 2386 versus 2369 (0.7% delta), and R23 multi-core shows 5683 versus 5641 (0.7% delta). These are not meaningful performance advantages in real-world terms; they fall well within typical run-to-run variance. The Opteron also edges out the Intel in single-core tests, with 80 versus 80 in R15 (0% delta), 336 versus 334 in R20 (0.6% delta), and 802 versus 796 in R23 (0.8% delta).

The real differentiation is not in raw scores but in the context of each processor’s intended environment. The Opteron 6380 is a server/workstation part with 16 physical cores, designed for multi-threaded throughput in dense compute environments. The i7-8560U is a mobile processor with 4 cores and 8 threads, designed for ultrabooks where power efficiency is paramount. The data shows that the Opteron’s core-count advantage is almost entirely neutralized by its older architecture and lower clock speeds, while the i7-8560U’s higher boost clock (4.60 GHz versus 3.40 GHz) compensates for its lack of cores in these specific workloads. Neither chip wins decisively anywhere; the Opteron’s largest margin is 0.8% in R23 single-core, which is statistically insignificant.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The Opteron 6380 uses AMD’s Piledriver architecture on a 32nm process from GlobalFoundries, while the i7-8560U uses Intel’s Whiskey Lake architecture on a 14nm process. The Opteron has 16 cores and 16 threads, whereas the i7-8560U has 4 cores and 8 threads. This means the Opteron has no hyper-threading equivalent per core, while the Intel part doubles its thread count through SMT.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Opteron 6380 has 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die, with the processor using two dies. The i7-8560U has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Opteron’s transistor count is listed at 2,400 million across a combined die size of 2x 315 mm², while the i7-8560U has no transistor or die size data provided.

Memory support differs significantly. The Opteron 6380 supports DDR3 with a quad-channel memory bus and a theoretical bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, plus ECC memory. The i7-8560U supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, but lacks ECC support. The Opteron uses PCIe Gen 2, while the i7-8560U uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the CPU. The Opteron has no integrated graphics, whereas the i7-8560U includes Intel UHD Graphics 620.

The physical and market differences are equally stark. The Opteron 6380 uses AMD Socket G34, has a TDP of 115W, and was released in November 2012. The i7-8560U uses Intel BGA 1528, has a TDP of 15W, and was released in September 2018. The Opteron carries a launch MSRP of $1088, while the i7-8560U has no launch MSRP listed. The Opteron is locked (multiplier not unlocked), as is the i7-8560U.

FAQ

Q: Why does a 16-core processor score nearly the same as a 4-core processor in multi-threaded Cinebench tests?

A: The Opteron 6380’s 16 Piledriver cores run at a base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost to 3.40 GHz, while the i7-8560U’s 4 cores boost to 4.60 GHz. The Intel part’s much higher clock speed, combined with its 8 threads and newer 14nm architecture, nearly offsets the Opteron’s 4x core advantage. The R23 multi-core scores are 5683 for the Opteron and 5641 for the i7-8560U, just 0.7% apart.

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The Opteron 6380 wins all three single-core tests, but by negligible margins. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 802 against 796 for the i7-8560U, a 0.8% delta. The R15 single-core scores are identical at 80 for both chips.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth capabilities of each processor?

A: The Opteron 6380 has a quad-channel DDR3 memory bus with a theoretical bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The i7-8560U has a dual-channel bus supporting DDR3 and DDR4, with a theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Opteron also supports ECC memory, while the i7-8560U does not.

Q: How do these processors compare to their closest rivals?

A: The Opteron 6380 has an average benchmark score of 1643, with its nearest rival being the Intel Core i7-5700HQ at 1645 (-0.1% delta). The i7-8560U has an average score of 1631, with its nearest rival being the Intel Xeon E5-2623 v3 at 1630 (0.1% delta). Both chips sit near the 40th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: No. Both the AMD Opteron 6380 and the Intel Core i7-8560U are listed as end-of-life products. The Opteron was released in November 2012, while the i7-8560U was released in September 2018.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Opteron 6380 has a TDP of 115W, while the i7-8560U has a TDP of 15W. This 100W difference reflects their target markets: the Opteron is a server/workstation processor, while the i7-8560U is designed for mobile devices.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The Opteron 6380 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-8560U has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are drastically different: 2.50 GHz for the AMD versus 1800.00 MHz for the Intel. Boost clocks are closer, with the Opteron at 3.40 GHz and the i7-8560U at 4.60 GHz. TDP is the largest differentiator: 115W for the Opteron versus 15W for the i7-8560U.

Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket G34 versus Intel BGA 1528. Architecture and codename differ: Piledriver/Abu Dhabi versus Whiskey Lake/Whiskey Lake-U. Process node is 32nm for AMD versus 14nm for Intel. The Opteron uses GlobalFoundries as its foundry, while the i7-8560U uses Intel. The Opteron has 2,400 million transistors across 2x 315 mm² dies, while the i7-8560U has no transistor or die size data.

Cache layouts are distinct: the Opteron has 768 KB L1, 2 MB L2 per module, and 8 MB L3 per die; the i7-8560U has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Memory support is broader on the Intel part (DDR3, DDR4) versus DDR3 only on the AMD, but the AMD has a quad-channel bus versus dual-channel on the Intel. Bandwidth is 59.7 GB/s for the Opteron versus 38.4 GB/s for the i7-8560U. ECC memory is supported only on the Opteron. PCIe generation is Gen 2 for AMD versus Gen 3 for Intel, with the Intel part having 16 CPU lanes. The i7-8560U includes UHD Graphics 620 integrated graphics; the Opteron has none. The Opteron has a launch MSRP of $1088; the i7-8560U has no launch MSRP. The Opteron’s part number is OS6380WKTGGHK, while the i7-8560U’s is SRGML.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six head-to-head benchmarks all favor the AMD Opteron 6380, but the margins are uniformly tiny. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Opteron scores 572 against 568 for the i7-8560U, a 0.7% delta. This is the largest multi-core win for the AMD part, tied with R20 and R23 multi-core, which also show 0.7% deltas. In R20 multi-core, the scores are 2386 and 2369; in R23 multi-core, they are 5683 and 5641.

Single-core results are even closer. Cinebench R15 single-core shows identical scores of 80 for both processors, resulting in a 0% delta. The Opteron wins R20 single-core with 336 versus 334 (0.6% delta) and R23 single-core with 802 versus 796 (0.8% delta). The R23 single-core test provides the largest percentage win for the Opteron across the entire comparison.

The average benchmark scores reflect this parity. The Opteron 6380 has an average score of 1643, placing it at the 40th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-8560U has an average score of 1631, placing it at the 39th percentile. The Opteron’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-5700HQ with an average score of 1645 (-0.1% delta), while the i7-8560U’s nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-2623 v3 at 1630 (0.1% delta). Both processors are bracketed by the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200G, which has an average score of 1640 and appears in both nearestRivals lists.

In practical terms, these benchmark results indicate that the Opteron 6380 and i7-8560U are functionally equivalent for Cinebench rendering workloads, despite their wildly different architectures, core counts, power envelopes, and release dates. The Opteron’s 16 cores and 59.7 GB/s memory bandwidth do not translate into meaningful performance gains over the i7-8560U’s 4 cores and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth in these tests. The 4.60 GHz boost clock of the Intel part, combined with its newer 14nm process, is sufficient to close the gap almost entirely. For workloads that are not heavily multi-threaded, the i7-8560U would likely be the more responsive part, given its single-core scores are within 0.8% of the Opteron while consuming 100W less power.