AMD Opteron 3280 vs Intel Core i7-980

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


AMD Opteron 3280 CPU1 vs CPU2 Intel Core i7-980
AMD Opteron 3280 Intel Core i7-980

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the AMD Opteron 3280 and the Intel Core i7-980 and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the AMD Opteron 3280 8 core processor released in Q1/2012 with the Intel Core i7-980 which has 6 CPU cores and was introduced in Q2/2011.
AMD Opteron (4) Family Intel Core i7 (298)
AMD Opteron 3000 (1) CPU group Intel Core i7 900 (4)
1 Generation 1
Zurich (Bulldozer) Architecture Gulftown
Desktop / Server Segment Desktop / Server
-- Predecessor --
-- Successor --

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The AMD Opteron 3280 is a 8 core processor with a clock frequency of 2.40 GHz (3.50 GHz). The processor can compute 8 threads at the same time. The Intel Core i7-980 clocks with 3.33 GHz (3.60 GHz), has 6 CPU cores and can calculate 12 threads in parallel.

AMD Opteron 3280 Characteristic Intel Core i7-980
8 Cores 6
8 Threads 12
normal Core architecture normal
No Hyperthreading Yes
No Overclocking ? No
2.40 GHz Frequency 3.33 GHz
3.50 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 Core) 3.60 GHz
2.70 GHz Turbo Frequency (All Cores) --

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor.

AMD Opteron 3280 Characteristic Intel Core i7-980
-- AI hardware --
-- AI specifications --

Internal Graphics

Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback.

no iGPU GPU no iGPU
GPU frequency --
-- GPU (Turbo) --
-- GPU Generation --
Technology
Max. displays
-- Compute units --
-- Shader --
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
-- Max. GPU Memory --
-- DirectX Version --

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.

no iGPU GPU no iGPU
No Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
No Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
No Codec h264 No
No Codec VP9 No
No Codec VP8 No
No Codec AV1 No
No Codec AVC No
No Codec VC-1 No
No Codec JPEG No

Memory & PCIe

Up to GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the AMD Opteron 3280, while the Intel Core i7-980 supports a maximum of 24 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s enabled.

AMD Opteron 3280 Characteristic Intel Core i7-980
DDR3-1866 Memory DDR3-1066
Max. Memory 24 GB
2 (Dual Channel) Memory channels 3
29.9 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 25.6 GB/s
Yes ECC No
-- L2 Cache 1.50 MB
8.00 MB L3 Cache 12.00 MB
2.0 PCIe version --
16 PCIe lanes --
8.0 GB/s PCIe Bandwidth --

Thermal Management

The AMD Opteron 3280 has a TDP of 65 W. The TDP of the Intel Core i7-980 is 130 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

AMD Opteron 3280 Characteristic Intel Core i7-980
65 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 130 W
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down --
-- Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The AMD Opteron 3280 has 8.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 32 nm. The cache of Intel Core i7-980 is at 13.50 MB. The processor is manufactured in 32 nm.

AMD Opteron 3280 Characteristic Intel Core i7-980
32 nm Technology 32 nm
Unknown Chip design Monolithic
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
SSE4a, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2
AM3+ Socket LGA 1366
AMD-V Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT
Yes AES-NI No
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
Q1/2012 Release date Q2/2011
229 $ Release price 594 $
show more data show more data


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Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 0 CPU benchmarks
AMD Opteron 3280 (0%)
Intel Core i7-980 (0%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 1 CPU benchmarks
AMD Opteron 3280 (80%)
Intel Core i7-980 (100%)

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
AMD Opteron 3280 AMD Opteron 3280
8C 8T @ 2.70 GHz
5533 (80%)
Intel Core i7-980 Intel Core i7-980
6C 12T @ 3.33 GHz
6895 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
AMD Opteron 3280 AMD Opteron 3280
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz
0 (0%)
Intel Core i7-980 Intel Core i7-980
6C 12T @ 3.60 GHz
614 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
AMD Opteron 3280 AMD Opteron 3280
8C 8T @ 2.70 GHz
0 (0%)
Intel Core i7-980 Intel Core i7-980
6C 12T @ 3.33 GHz
3370 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The single-core benchmark only evaluates the performance of the fastest CPU core, the number of CPU cores in a processor is irrelevant here.
AMD Opteron 3280 AMD Opteron 3280
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz
0 (0%)
Intel Core i7-980 Intel Core i7-980
6C 12T @ 3.60 GHz
645 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The multi-core benchmark evaluates the performance of all of the processor's CPU cores. Virtual thread improvements such as AMD SMT or Intel's Hyper-Threading have a positive impact on the benchmark result.
AMD Opteron 3280 AMD Opteron 3280
8C 8T @ 2.70 GHz
0 (0%)
Intel Core i7-980 Intel Core i7-980
6C 12T @ 3.33 GHz
2714 (100%)

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (Multi-Core)

The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.
AMD Opteron 3280 AMD Opteron 3280
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
0 (0%)
Intel Core i7-980 Intel Core i7-980
6C 12T @ 3.33 GHz
2275 (100%)

Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)

Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
AMD Opteron 3280 AMD Opteron 3280
8C 8T @ 2.70 GHz
506 (100%)
Intel Core i7-980 Intel Core i7-980
6C 12T @ 3.33 GHz
0 (0%)

Devices using this processor

AMD Opteron 3280 Intel Core i7-980
Unknown Unknown

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