AMD Opteron 2216 HE (F3)

The AMD Opteron 2216 HE (F3) is a dual-core, dual-thread server processor from the Opteron 2000 series, built on the K8 architecture with the codename Santa Rosa. It was released on 2006-08-14 with a launch MSRP of $786 and is now end-of-life. The chip runs at a fixed 2.40 GHz with no boost clock, draws a 68W TDP, and is manufactured on a 90nm process with 227 million transistors on a 235 mm² die. It occupies the 50th percentile of all CPUs in the benchmark database, but its benchmarks array is empty and its average benchmark score is 0, meaning no performance measurements are recorded for this part.

How It Compares

The benchmark database lists no nearest rivals for the Opteron 2216 HE (F3). The nearestRivals array is empty, so there are no rival names, scores, or deltaPct values to reference. The only comparative signal is the 50th percentile ranking across all CPUs, which places the processor at the exact midpoint of the database's performance distribution. This is a median position — not a leader, not a laggard. The empty benchmarks array and an average benchmark score of 0 indicate that the database holds no recorded workload results for this part, so the percentile ranking is a structural placement rather than a measured outcome.

The absence of rival data is consistent with the part's age and end-of-life status; modern comparison tables rarely track a 2006-era dual-core server chip. Without rival deltas, the analysis must lean on architectural facts: two cores at 2.40 GHz, 128 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, dual-channel DDR2 with 10.7 GB/s bandwidth, and a 68W TDP. These figures position the Opteron 2216 HE (F3) as a low-power, entry-level server part from the K8 generation. Its 50th percentile placement suggests that, in the aggregate, it performs on par with the median CPU in the database — a reasonable outcome for a dual-core server chip of its era. The part number OSP2216GAA6CX identifies the specific SKU, and the 2000 series designation places it in AMD's server lineup of that generation. The lack of recorded benchmarks means any performance characterization must be inferred from the architectural specifications rather than from empirical scores.

Power and Thermals

The Opteron 2216 HE (F3) has a 68W TDP, which places it in the low-power tier of the Opteron 2000 series. The "HE" suffix in the part number OSP2216GAA6CX historically denotes high efficiency, and the 68W figure supports that reading. The processor is built on a 90nm process with 227 million transistors on a 235 mm² die, and the combination of a modest 2.40 GHz clock and the absence of a boost mechanism keeps power draw steady. There is no turbo state, so the thermal envelope does not spike under load; the chip consumes a consistent 68W whether one or both cores are active.

For cooling, this TDP class implies a modest air cooler is sufficient. A low-profile server heatsink or a small tower cooler would handle the thermal load without difficulty. In a dense server chassis, the 68W rating allows for higher packing density than higher-TDP parts, which is a key consideration for rack deployments. The K8 architecture at 90nm is a mature design, and the dual-core layout spreads the 68W across two cores, keeping per-core thermal density low. The memory subsystem — dual-channel DDR2 with 10.7 GB/s bandwidth — does not generate significant additional heat. The 235 mm² die with 227 million transistors is not a dense layout by modern standards, which further aids thermal dissipation. The 90nm process node is relatively large by contemporary standards, but it was standard for the 2006 timeframe. Overall, the thermal profile is unremarkable and server-friendly: predictable, low, and easy to cool.

Who Should Consider It

This processor is explicitly a server and workstation part — the market segment field states Server/Workstation. It is not a consumer gaming chip: there is no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is mandatory, and the dual-core/dual-thread layout limits modern gaming workloads. Instead, the Opteron 2216 HE (F3) suits workloads that benefit from ECC memory support and dual-channel DDR2 bandwidth. The 10.7 GB/s memory bandwidth is adequate for entry-level server tasks such as file serving, database transactions, and light virtualization. The cache hierarchy — 128 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core — provides a solid foundation for the K8 generation. Office-style workloads fit the dual-core profile well.

For multi-threaded creation workloads like video rendering or 3D simulation, the 2-thread limit is a hard ceiling; such tasks would starve on this part. The 50th percentile aggregate score suggests it handles general-purpose server duties at a median level. The locked multiplier means no overclocking headroom, so the 2.40 GHz is the maximum sustained frequency. ECC memory support is a key differentiator for reliability-conscious deployments, and the dual-channel memory bus with 10.7 GB/s bandwidth ensures adequate data flow for its core count. The end-of-life status means it is only relevant for legacy system maintenance or budget lab equipment, not new builds. The AMD Socket F interface and PCIe Gen 1 connectivity reflect the 2006-era platform. Anyone considering this part today should treat it as a drop-in replacement for existing Socket F servers, not as a foundation for a new system.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the Opteron 2216 HE (F3) use?

A: It uses the AMD Socket F.

Q: Does it support ECC memory?

A: Yes, ECC memory support is listed as true.

Q: How much cache does each core have?

A: Each core has 128 KB of L1 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache; there is no L3 cache.

Q: Does the processor have a boost clock?

A: No. The base clock is 2.40 GHz and no boost clock is listed.

Q: What process node is it built on?

A: It is built on a 90nm process with 227 million transistors on a 235 mm² die.

Q: When was it released?

A: The release date is 2006-08-14, and the part is now end-of-life.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The Opteron 2216 HE (F3) has 2 cores and 2 threads, meaning there is no simultaneous multithreading — each core executes exactly one thread. Multi-threaded performance scales only to two concurrent threads; beyond that, additional threads queue for execution. The fixed 2.40 GHz base clock with no boost means single-thread performance is constant and predictable — there is no frequency headroom for bursty single-threaded tasks. In the K8 architecture, single-thread performance is determined by the clock speed and the cache hierarchy. The 128 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core reduce memory stalls for single-threaded code, which is beneficial for legacy database queries or single-threaded scripts that dominate a single core.

For multi-threaded workloads, the 2-thread limit is the binding constraint; a workload with more threads would see only a fraction of its thread demand satisfied. The absence of a boost clock means there is no single-thread turbo mode to lean on, so the 2.40 GHz is the absolute ceiling for any single-threaded task. The 50th percentile aggregate score reflects a balanced but limited profile: adequate for two threads, unremarkable beyond that. The 10.7 GB/s memory bandwidth is shared across both cores, so multi-threaded memory-bound workloads may contend for bandwidth. The dual-channel DDR2 interface provides sufficient throughput for the two cores, but there is no headroom for heavy parallel memory access.

In practice, the split favors single-threaded or lightly threaded server tasks over heavily parallel compute. The lack of a boost clock also means the power draw — 68W TDP — is constant regardless of thread count, which is a thermal advantage in sustained multi-threaded operation. The K8 architecture's two cores are symmetric, so there is no asymmetric scheduling concern. The end-of-life status and locked multiplier further cement the part as a fixed-performance component: what you see at 2.40 GHz is what you get.