AMD Opteron 3320 EE

This AMD Opteron 3320 EE is a low-power server processor that trades heavily on efficiency, but its benchmark results place it at the very bottom of the performance spectrum. With an average benchmark score of 561 and a 12th percentile ranking among all CPUs, it is competitive only with low-voltage laptop processors from years past. The data shows a clear picture: this is a part for specific, power-constrained tasks, not for general-purpose computing.

Who Should Consider It

The Opteron 3320 EE is suited for workloads where power consumption is the absolute priority and raw performance is secondary. Its 25-watt TDP makes it a candidate for always-on systems in thermally limited environments, such as small home servers or network appliances. However, its benchmark scores indicate it is not appropriate for modern content creation or gaming. In Cinebench R23, the processor scores 1,630 points in multi-core and just 230 points in single-core tests. These figures show that it would struggle with video editing, 3D rendering, or any CPU-intensive creative suite. Office productivity, such as word processing or spreadsheet work, is within its capability, but only for light, sequential tasks. The processor's 4 cores and 4 threads provide no simultaneous multithreading, so heavily threaded workloads like software compilation or database queries will underperform. This is a niche part for embedded-style server roles where the low heat output is more valuable than speed.

How It Compares

The Opteron 3320 EE sits in a tight cluster of competitors, all within a 0.4% performance delta of its average score. This is not a processor that wins or loses by meaningful margins; it is statistically tied with its nearest rivals.

Compared to the Intel Core i3-4158U, the Opteron is essentially identical, with a deltaPct of -0.1%. This means the AMD part is a hair slower, but the difference is negligible. Both processors are in the same performance class, though the Intel part is a dual-core with hyper-threading, while the Opteron offers four physical cores. In practice, the benchmark data shows no winner here.

Against the AMD PRO A6-8570, the Opteron holds a slim 0.2% advantage. This is another statistical tie, but it is notable because the A6-8570 is a desktop APU with integrated graphics. The Opteron, lacking meaningful integrated graphics, achieves parity in CPU performance while targeting a different market segment. The data suggests the Opteron's extra cache and server-oriented design do not translate into a tangible lead.

The Intel Core i5-560M is a rival from an older laptop generation, and the Opteron leads it by only 0.3%. This is a surprising result, as the i5-560M is a dual-core with hyper-threading from 2010. The Opteron's four physical cores likely help it in multi-threaded tests, but the single-thread performance is so weak that the overall average remains flat. The data indicates that architectural age matters less than core count in this low-performance bracket.

Finally, the Intel Core i5-3439Y is a low-power Ivy Bridge part, and the Opteron trails it by 0.4%. This is the largest gap in the group, but still minuscule. The i5-3439Y has a similar TDP profile, making it a direct competitor in the ultra-low-power space. The benchmark results show the Intel part edges ahead slightly, likely due to better single-thread efficiency, but the difference is not material for real-world use.

Power and Thermals

The defining characteristic of the Opteron 3320 EE is its 25-watt TDP. This is an exceptionally low power envelope for a processor with four cores and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The data indicates this is a part designed for passive cooling or very small active coolers. A standard air cooler with a 92mm fan would be overkill; a low-profile heatsink is sufficient. In a server chassis with forced airflow, the thermal load is trivial. The 32nm process node from GlobalFoundries, with 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die, is old by modern standards, yet the power efficiency is achieved through a low base clock of 1.90 GHz and a modest boost clock of 2.50 GHz. The trade-off is clear: this is not a processor that can sustain high frequencies, but it will run cool and quiet. For a system that must operate in a dusty or unventilated enclosure, this TDP class is a major advantage.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score for this processor?

A: The average benchmark score is 561, which places it in the 12th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How many cores and threads does it have?

A: It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading or SMT support.

Q: What is the clock speed range?

A: The base clock is 1.90 GHz and the boost clock is 2.50 GHz.

Q: Does it support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported. It uses DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s.

Q: What is the production status?

A: The processor is end-of-life and was released in December 2012.

Q: What is the multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: It scores 1,630 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is a low result compared to modern processors.

Platform and Compatibility

The Opteron 3320 EE uses the AMD Socket AM3+ platform. This is an older socket that supports DDR3 memory, with a dual-channel memory bus providing 21.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory support is limited to DDR3, which is a significant constraint for modern system builds, as DDR3 is no longer common in new hardware. The processor has PCIe Gen 2 support, which is an older standard with lower bandwidth than PCIe Gen 3 or 4. This will limit the performance of modern graphics cards and NVMe storage. The integrated graphics are listed as "on certain motherboards," meaning the processor itself does not have a GPU, but the chipset may provide basic display output. The upgrade path on this platform is essentially dead, as AM3+ was superseded by AM4 and later sockets. The processor is not overclockable, as the multiplier is locked. For a new build, this platform is not recommended, but for a legacy server upgrade, it offers a low-power drop-in option.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The performance split between single-thread and multi-thread workloads is stark. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 230, while the multi-core score is 1,630. This yields a scaling factor of roughly 7x from one core to four, indicating excellent multi-threading efficiency when all cores are engaged. However, the absolute numbers are low. The single-core score of 230 is among the lowest in any modern benchmark database, reflecting the very low 1.90 GHz base clock and the old K10 architecture. This means the processor will feel sluggish in any task that is not fully parallelized. For example, opening applications, loading web pages, or handling spreadsheet calculations rely heavily on single-thread performance and will be slow. Conversely, tasks that use all four cores, such as batch file conversion or running a virtual machine with multiple vCPUs, will be relatively less painful, as the multi-core scaling is efficient. The data shows a processor that is best used in roles where the workload is persistently multi-threaded and the user is not waiting on interactive response times.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data paints a consistent picture of very low absolute performance. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the score is 164 points, which is a legacy figure that confirms the processor's age. The Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 684 and single-core score of 96 are equally low. The Cinebench R23 results, with a multi-core score of 1,630 and single-core score of 230, are the most modern data points and show the processor is roughly 10-15% slower than a typical modern low-end laptop chip, though exact comparisons are not in the fact pack. The average benchmark score of 561 is the key metric for comparison. Against the nearest rivals, the Opteron 3320 EE is within 0.4% of all of them, which means it is functionally tied with the Intel Core i3-4158U, AMD PRO A6-8570, Intel Core i5-560M, and Intel Core i5-3439Y. The largest delta is -0.4% against the i5-3439Y, which is the best performer in this group, and the smallest is -0.1% against the i3-4158U. The data shows no scenario where the Opteron is significantly faster or slower than its direct competitors. It sits at a performance plateau where all these processors are limited by similar thermal and architectural constraints. The 12th percentile ranking confirms that this is a bottom-tier part, suitable only for tasks where any CPU is just a placeholder.