AMD Opteron 6380 vs Intel Xeon D-1528 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a remarkably consistent picture. Across every single Cinebench test recorded in the database, the Intel Xeon D-1528 emerges victorious over the AMD Opteron 6380. The sweep is complete, with the Intel part winning all six head-to-head comparisons, though the margins are consistently narrow.

The largest advantage appears in the Cinebench R15 single-core test. Here, the Xeon D-1528 scores 82 against the Opteron's 80, a delta of 2.5 percent. This is the widest gap recorded in any of the six benchmarks, suggesting that the Intel architecture holds a slight edge in lightly threaded workloads. The multi-core variant of the same test tells a similar story, with the Xeon scoring 584 versus 572, a 2.1 percent lead.

Moving to the newer Cinebench R20 suite, the pattern holds firmly. The Intel chip posts 2435 in multi-core performance, while the AMD Opteron 6380 manages 2386. That represents another 2.1 percent advantage. In single-core R20, the Xeon D-1528 scores 343 against 336, again a 2.1 percent gap. The consistency of these deltas across different benchmark generations is notable; it suggests the performance relationship between these two processors is stable and well-defined, not an artifact of any single test.

The most recent Cinebench R23 results continue the trend. In the multi-core test, the Xeon D-1528 records 5799 points, while the Opteron 6380 trails at 5683, a 2 percent difference. Single-core R23 sees the Intel part at 818 versus the AMD part's 802, also a 2 percent margin. The narrowest deltas are still clear wins for Intel.

What makes these results particularly interesting is the context of the hardware involved. The Opteron 6380 packs 16 physical cores, while the Xeon D-1528 has only 6 cores but 12 threads. Despite having fewer physical cores, the Intel processor consistently outperforms the AMD chip even in multi-threaded workloads. The data shows that the Xeon's architectural efficiency, combined with its hyper-threading capability, is enough to overcome a 10-core deficit in raw core count.

The average benchmark scores in the database reinforce this picture. The Xeon D-1528 holds an average score of 1677, while the Opteron 6380 averages 1643. Both processors sit at the 40th percentile among all CPUs in the database, placing them in similar overall performance tiers. The Xeon's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i5-4690K with an average score of 1682 (a delta of -0.3 percent) and the Intel Core i7-3770K at 1688 (-0.6 percent). The Opteron's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-5700HQ at 1645, a -0.1 percent delta, and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200G at 1640, a +0.2 percent delta.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1528 wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 82 in R15, 343 in R20, and 818 in R23, against the AMD Opteron 6380's scores of 80, 336, and 802 respectively. The deltas range from 2 to 2.5 percent.

Q: How does the multi-core performance compare?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1528 also wins all three multi-core tests. It scores 584 in R15, 2435 in R20, and 5799 in R23, while the AMD Opteron 6380 scores 572, 2386, and 5683. The advantages are 2.1 percent, 2.1 percent, and 2 percent respectively.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6380 has 16 physical cores with 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon D-1528 has 6 cores with 12 threads. Despite this core count disadvantage, the Intel chip outperforms the AMD chip in every benchmark recorded.

Q: What memory configurations do these processors support?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1528 supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory through a dual-channel bus. The AMD Opteron 6380 supports only DDR3 memory but through a quad-channel bus, offering a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Intel Xeon D-1528 is listed as active in production, while the AMD Opteron 6380 is marked as end-of-life. The Intel chip was released on 2015-10-31, while the AMD chip came out earlier on 2012-11-04.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1528 has a TDP of 35 watts, while the AMD Opteron 6380 has a TDP of 115 watts. The Intel processor draws significantly less power while still delivering superior benchmark scores.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two server processors is substantial, reflecting their different design philosophies and generation gaps. The Intel Xeon D-1528 is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-DE generation, using a 14 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The AMD Opteron 6380, by contrast, uses the Piledriver architecture under the Abu Dhabi codename, built on a 32 nm process node from GlobalFoundries.

The transistor counts tell part of the story. The Intel chip integrates 3,200 million transistors on a die size of 246 mm². The AMD Opteron 6380 uses 2,400 million transistors spread across two dies, each measuring 315 mm². This means the Intel processor packs more transistors into a smaller physical footprint, a direct consequence of the more advanced 14 nm manufacturing process versus AMD's 32 nm node.

Cache hierarchies also differ markedly between the two. The Intel Xeon D-1528 allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core. The AMD Opteron 6380 takes a different approach, with 768 KB of total L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 8 MB of L3 cache per die. The Intel design ties cache directly to each core, while the AMD design distributes cache across modules and dies.

The memory support reflects the generational difference. The Intel Xeon D-1528 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory through a dual-channel bus. The AMD Opteron 6380 is limited to DDR3 but uses a quad-channel bus, which provides a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Intel chip's PCIe support is Gen 3 with 24 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD chip only supports PCIe Gen 2.

Both processors support ECC memory, which is expected for server and workstation parts. Neither includes integrated graphics. The Intel chip uses the Intel BGA 1667 socket, while the AMD chip uses the AMD Socket G34. The Intel processor is marked as active in production, while the AMD processor is end-of-life.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two processors diverge on nearly every major field. The Intel Xeon D-1528 offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Opteron 6380 provides 16 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ, with the Intel chip running at 1900 MHz and the AMD chip at 2.50 GHz. Boost clocks see the Intel part reach 2.50 GHz and the AMD part reach 3.40 GHz.

Power consumption represents one of the starkest differences. The Intel Xeon D-1528 has a TDP of 35 watts, while the AMD Opteron 6380 consumes 115 watts. This is a 3.3x difference in thermal design power, a significant factor for dense server deployments.

Process technology separates them further. The Intel chip uses a 14 nm node, while the AMD chip uses 32 nm. The Intel processor integrates 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die, while the AMD processor uses 2,400 million transistors across two 315 mm² dies. Memory support differs, with Intel supporting both DDR3 and DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, while AMD supports only DDR3 in a quad-channel setup with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth.

The PCIe support also differs. The Intel Xeon D-1528 offers PCIe Gen 3 with 24 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD Opteron 6380 offers PCIe Gen 2. The sockets are incompatible, with Intel using BGA 1667 and AMD using G34. Production status places the Intel chip as active and the AMD chip as end-of-life. The release dates are separated by nearly three years, with Intel launching on 2015-10-31 and AMD on 2012-11-04. The part numbers are SR2DL for Intel and OS6380WKTGGHK for AMD.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The Intel Xeon D-1528 wins every recorded comparison against the AMD Opteron 6380, though by narrow margins of 2 to 2.5 percent. For workloads that rely on Cinebench-style rendering performance, the Intel chip is the stronger choice, despite having 10 fewer physical cores.

The Intel Xeon D-1528 presents a compelling profile for modern server deployments. Its 35-watt TDP makes it suitable for dense, power-constrained environments, and its support for both DDR3 and DDR4 memory offers flexibility in system design. The 14 nm process node, active production status, and PCIe Gen 3 support indicate a more contemporary platform.

The AMD Opteron 6380, while competitive in raw benchmark scores, carries significant drawbacks. Its 115-watt TDP makes it much more power-hungry, its 32 nm process is two generations older, and its end-of-life status means it is no longer a viable option for new deployments. The quad-channel DDR3 memory with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth does provide substantial memory throughput, which could benefit memory-intensive workloads not represented in the Cinebench results.

The choice between these two processors depends on the specific requirements of the deployment. For general-purpose server workloads where the Cinebench results are representative, the Intel Xeon D-1528 is the superior option: better performance, dramatically lower power consumption, and active production support. The AMD Opteron 6380 may still hold appeal for legacy systems already built around the Socket G34 platform, or for workloads that specifically benefit from its higher core count and quad-channel memory bandwidth, but the data shows it cannot match the Intel chip in the benchmarks recorded here.

The database places both processors at the 40th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy a similar mid-range performance tier. However, the Intel chip achieves this standing with a fraction of the power draw and on a much more modern manufacturing process. For new system builds, the Intel Xeon D-1528 is the clear recommendation from the recorded data. For those maintaining existing AMD infrastructure, the Opteron 6380 remains a functional, if outdated, option.