AMD Opteron 6386 SE vs Intel Core i5-8300H Comparison

The AMD Opteron 6386 SE and the Intel Core i5-8300H occupy very different corners of the processor market. The Opteron is a 16-core server part from 2012, while the i5 is a 4-core mobile chip from 2018. Yet when placed side by side in the database's Cinebench tests, the Opteron wins every single comparison. This raises an immediate question: how does an older server CPU outpace a much newer mobile processor across the board? The recorded data provides a clear answer.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are unambiguous. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Opteron scores 710 against the i5's 629, a 12.9% lead. The single-core test shows a similar gap: 100 versus 88, a 13.6% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Opteron again leads in multicore with 2959 versus 2622, a 12.9% delta, and in single-core with 417 versus 370, a 12.7% edge. Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern: multicore 7047 versus 6245, a 12.8% lead, and single-core 994 versus 881, also 12.8% ahead. Across all six recorded Cinebench tests, the Opteron wins with deltas ranging from 12.7% to 13.6%. The consistency is striking. No matter which version of Cinebench is used, the Opteron holds a double-digit advantage in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads.

The i5 does have additional Geekbench scores in the database, with a multicore result of 3920 and a single-core result of 1286. However, no corresponding Opteron Geekbench scores are recorded, so a direct comparison is impossible. The average benchmark score for the Opteron is 2038, while the i5 sits at 2005. Both processors share the same 45th percentile among all CPUs, indicating that they land in the same overall performance tier despite the Opteron's consistent wins in the Cinebench suite.

Architecture Differences

The two chips are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Opteron uses AMD's Piledriver design, codenamed Abu Dhabi, on a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,400 million transistors across a die size of 2x 315 mm². The i5, in contrast, is a Coffee Lake-H part from Intel, built on a 14 nm process with a die size of 126 mm². Intel does not record a transistor count for the i5, so that field remains empty.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The Opteron has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the i5 has 4 cores and 8 threads. This explains the Opteron's multicore advantage, but the single-core wins are more surprising. The Opteron's base clock is 2.80 GHz with a boost of 3.50 GHz, while the i5 runs at 2.30 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. The i5 has a higher boost clock, yet the Opteron still wins single-core Cinebench tests. This suggests that the older Piledriver architecture, despite its age, delivers competitive per-thread performance in these specific workloads.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Opteron has 768 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 8 MB of L3 per die. The i5 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. Memory support is another split: the Opteron uses DDR3 with a quad-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, plus ECC support. The i5 uses DDR4, but the database records no memory bus width, bandwidth, or ECC capability. The Opteron also lists PCIe Gen 2 support, while the i5 has no PCIe information recorded.

Integrated graphics are exclusive to the i5, which includes an Intel UHD 630. The Opteron has no integrated graphics, as expected for a server part. The market segments reflect this: the Opteron is classified as Server/Workstation, while the i5 is Mobile. The Opteron uses an AMD Socket G34, while the i5 uses Intel BGA 1440. The Opteron was released in 2012, the i5 in 2018. Both are marked as end-of-life. The Opteron carries a launch MSRP of $1392; the i5 has no recorded launch price.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the Opteron wins every single test. There is no Cinebench result where the i5 comes out ahead. The Opteron's 16 cores and 16 threads give it a natural advantage in multi-threaded workloads, but its single-core wins are equally decisive. The i5's higher boost clock and newer process node do not translate into a win in any of the six comparisons.

The i5 does have strengths outside the benchmark suite. Its 45 W TDP is far lower than the Opteron's 140 W, making it suitable for thin laptops. The integrated UHD 630 graphics provide a display output without a discrete GPU, which the Opteron cannot offer. The i5 also supports DDR4 memory, which is more modern than the Opteron's DDR3. However, these are feature differences, not benchmark wins. In the database's recorded tests, the Opteron is the clear performance leader.

The Opteron's average benchmark score of 2038 edges out the i5's 2005, a small but consistent margin. Both sit at the 45th percentile, meaning they are roughly in the middle of the performance distribution. But the head-to-head data shows that the Opteron is ahead in every Cinebench iteration, from R15 to R23, in both single-core and multicore modes.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: for raw compute performance in Cinebench-style workloads, the AMD Opteron 6386 SE is the superior processor. It wins all six recorded comparisons, with margins between 12.7% and 13.6%. Anyone needing maximum multi-threaded throughput, such as server or workstation tasks, would choose the Opteron based on these results. Its 16 cores and 16 threads, combined with ECC memory support and a quad-channel DDR3 interface, make it a capable workhorse.

The Intel Core i5-8300H, on the other hand, has no benchmark wins in this comparison. Its strengths lie in its mobile form factor, low 45 W TDP, and integrated UHD 630 graphics. For a laptop user who needs a compact, power-efficient processor with built-in display output, the i5 is the only viable option. The Opteron cannot fit in a mobile chassis, and it lacks integrated graphics entirely. The i5 also supports DDR4 memory, which is a more modern standard.

Neither processor is currently in production, and both are end-of-life. The Opteron's launch MSRP was $1392, but that is a historical figure. The i5 has no recorded launch price. For a buyer choosing between these two based solely on the database's benchmark data, the Opteron is the performance winner. For a buyer constrained by power, size, and graphics needs, the i5 is the practical choice. The data does not show any scenario where the i5 outperforms the Opteron in the recorded tests.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The AMD Opteron 6386 SE has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-8300H has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-8300H has a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, compared to the Opteron's 3.50 GHz. Despite this, the Opteron wins all single-core Cinebench tests.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Opteron 6386 SE supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-8300H does not.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-8300H includes an Intel UHD 630. The AMD Opteron 6386 SE has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which CPU has a lower TDP?

A: The Intel Core i5-8300H has a TDP of 45 W, while the AMD Opteron 6386 SE has a TDP of 140 W.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Opteron 6386 SE has an average benchmark score of 2038, while the Intel Core i5-8300H has 2005.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Opteron 6386 SE | Intel Core i5-8300H |

|-------|---------------------|----------------------|

| Cores | 16 | 4 |

| Threads | 16 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket G34 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Piledriver | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Abu Dhabi | Coffee Lake-H |

| Generation | Opteron (Abu Dhabi) | Core i5 (Coffee Lake-H) |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 2,400 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 2x 315 mm² | 126 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per module) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (per die) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Not recorded |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Not recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD 630 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2012-11-04 | 2018-04-01 |

| Launch MSRP | $1392 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | OS6386YETGGHK | SR3Z0 |