AMD Opteron 6386 SE vs Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmark comparisons in the database?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 wins all six recorded head-to-head Cinebench comparisons against the AMD Opteron 6386 SE. The Intel part takes the R15, R20, and R23 tests in both single-core and multi-core variants.

Q: How large is the performance gap between the two in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 leads by 1.8% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (723 vs 710) and by 1.9% in both R20 multi-core (3015 vs 2959) and R23 multi-core (7179 vs 7047). The margins are consistent, hovering just under 2% across all multi-core tests.

Q: Does the AMD Opteron 6386 SE have more cores than the Intel Xeon?

A: Yes, the AMD Opteron 6386 SE has 16 cores compared to 8 cores on the Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3. However, the Intel chip supports 16 threads through Hyper-Threading, while the AMD processor has 16 threads with no SMT capability.

Q: What are the single-core performance differences?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 scores 102 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 100 for the AMD Opteron, a 2% advantage. In R20 single-core, Intel leads 425 to 417 (1.9%), and in R23 single-core, Intel leads 1013 to 994 (1.9%).

Q: Which processor has higher clock speeds?

A: The AMD Opteron 6386 SE has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. Despite lower clocks, the Intel chip wins every benchmark.

Q: What memory technologies do the two processors support?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 supports DDR4 memory with a quad-channel bus and 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD Opteron 6386 SE supports DDR3 memory, also with a quad-channel bus, but with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages and manufacturing processes. The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 is built on the Haswell-EP architecture using a 22 nm process at Intel's foundry. The AMD Opteron 6386 SE uses the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Abu Dhabi, fabricated on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This process gap is significant: the Intel chip packs 2,600 million transistors into a 356 mm² die, while the AMD chip uses 2,400 million transistors spread across two 315 mm² dies.

Core organization differs substantially. The Intel Xeon has 8 physical cores with 16 threads, meaning each core can process two threads simultaneously. The AMD Opteron has 16 physical cores but only 16 threads, so each core handles a single thread. This is a fundamental design difference: Intel relies on simultaneous multithreading to extract parallelism, while AMD offers more raw physical cores but no SMT.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Intel Xeon provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 20 MB L3 cache. The AMD Opteron offers 768 KB of L1 cache total, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 8 MB of L3 cache per die. The Intel design dedicates more cache per core, while the AMD design spreads its cache across modules and dies.

Memory support reflects the generational gap. The Intel Xeon uses DDR4 memory with a quad-channel bus and achieves 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD Opteron uses DDR3 memory, also quad-channel, but reaches only 51.2 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, which is expected for server platforms. The Intel chip also provides PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD chip is limited to PCIe Gen 2.

The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 was released in September 2014, while the AMD Opteron 6386 SE came out in November 2012. Both are now end-of-life products. The AMD part carries a launch MSRP of $1392. The Intel part has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 across all six Cinebench tests. The margins are narrow but consistent, which suggests a systematic performance advantage rather than test-specific noise.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Xeon scores 723 against 710 for the AMD Opteron, a 1.8% lead. This is the smallest margin in the entire comparison. The single-core R15 test shows a slightly larger gap: Intel scores 102, AMD scores 100, giving Intel a 2% advantage. This pattern is notable because the AMD chip has a higher base clock (2.80 GHz vs 2.50 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.50 GHz vs 3.00 GHz), yet it still trails in single-threaded performance.

The Cinebench R20 results follow the same trajectory. In multi-core, Intel scores 3015 versus 2959 for AMD, a 1.9% difference. In single-core, Intel scores 425 versus 417, also a 1.9% difference. The consistency of these deltas across different workload intensities suggests the Intel architecture extracts more work per clock cycle, offsetting its clock speed disadvantage.

Cinebench R23 confirms the trend. Intel leads multi-core with 7179 against 7047, a 1.9% margin. Single-core shows Intel at 1013 versus 994, again 1.9%. The R23 multi-core test is the most demanding in the suite, and the Intel chip maintains its advantage even as the workload scales.

The average benchmark score in the database tells a similar story. The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 has an average score of 2076, placing it at the 46th percentile among all CPUs. The AMD Opteron 6386 SE has an average score of 2038, placing it at the 45th percentile. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W-2123 (2079, 0.1% behind) and the Intel Core i3-9350KF (2082, 0.3% behind). The AMD chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-7700T (2039, 0% difference) and the Intel Core i7-3960X (2037, 0.1% ahead).

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 outperforms the AMD Opteron 6386 SE in every recorded benchmark. The margins are not dramatic, ranging from 1.8% to 2%, but they are uniform across all six tests. This consistency matters. It indicates that the Intel architecture's efficiency advantage holds regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded.

The AMD Opteron 6386 SE has a compelling specification sheet on paper. It offers 16 cores, higher clock speeds, and a lower launch MSRP of $1392. Yet the benchmark results show that these advantages do not translate into performance wins. The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3, with half the physical cores but double the threads per core, manages to stay ahead in every test.

For single-threaded workloads, the Intel chip wins by 2% in R15 and 1.9% in both R20 and R23. This is particularly telling because the AMD chip has a 500 MHz higher boost clock. The Intel architecture's superior instructions-per-clock more than compensates for the clock speed deficit.

For multi-threaded workloads, the Intel chip wins by 1.8% in R15 and 1.9% in both R20 and R23. The AMD chip's 16 physical cores cannot overcome the Intel chip's combination of 8 cores, 16 threads, and more efficient execution. The larger L3 cache on the Intel chip (20 MB shared vs 8 MB per die) likely contributes to this result.

The database also shows that the AMD Opteron 6386 SE sits at the 45th percentile while the Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 sits at the 46th percentile. This one-percentile gap reflects the narrow but real performance difference between the two.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 | AMD Opteron 6386 SE |

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

| Cores | 8 | 16 |

| Threads | 16 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| TDP | 85 W | 140 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | AMD Socket G34 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Piledriver |

| Codename | Haswell-EP | Abu Dhabi |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 2,600 million | 2,400 million |

| Die Size | 356 mm² | 2x 315 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 8 MB (per die) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 68.3 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2 |

| Release Date | September 2014 | November 2012 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $1392 |

| Part Number | SR201 | OS6386YETGGHK |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. It takes all six Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across three different benchmark versions. The margins range from 1.8% to 2%, with the largest advantage appearing in Cinebench R15 single-core.

The AMD Opteron 6386 SE does not win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. However, the specification sheet shows areas where it holds theoretical advantages. It has twice as many physical cores, which could benefit workloads that do not scale with SMT. It also has higher base and boost clocks, which could help in scenarios where raw clock speed matters more than architectural efficiency. The lower launch MSRP of $1392 also makes it a different cost proposition, though the database does not record a launch price for the Intel part.

The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 is the better choice for users who prioritize benchmark performance, particularly in Cinebench workloads. Its consistent 1.9% lead in multi-core tests and 2% lead in single-core tests suggest it will handle both threaded and single-threaded applications with slightly better results. The lower TDP of 85 W versus 140 W also makes it a more power-efficient option, though the database does not provide power consumption measurements.

The AMD Opteron 6386 SE might appeal to users who need 16 physical cores without SMT, or who require DDR3 memory support. Its higher clock speeds could also be relevant for legacy software that does not benefit from the Intel chip's architectural advantages. However, the recorded data shows no benchmark where the AMD chip comes out ahead.