
Core i3-2130 vs Opteron 3250 HE

Core i3-2130

Opteron 3250 HE
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-2130 is positioned at rank 899 and the Opteron 3250 HE is on rank 253, so the Opteron 3250 HE offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2130
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 3250 HE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2130 | Opteron 3250 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($138) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Zurich (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2130 | Opteron 3250 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($138) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-2130 and Opteron 3250 HE

Core i3-2130
The Core i3-2130 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,067 points. Launch price was $123.

Opteron 3250 HE
The Opteron 3250 HE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zurich (2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,061 points. Launch price was $99.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2130 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Opteron 3250 HE offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Opteron 3250 HE has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i3-2130 versus 3.5 GHz on the Opteron 3250 HE — a 2.9% clock advantage for the Opteron 3250 HE (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i3-2130 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Opteron 3250 HE uses Zurich (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2130 scores 2,067 against the Opteron 3250 HE's 2,061 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-2130. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2130 vs 4 MB (total) on the Opteron 3250 HE.
| Feature | Core i3-2130 | Opteron 3250 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.5 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+36% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 4 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Zurich (2012) |
| PassMark | 2,067 | 2,061 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 505 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2130 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Opteron 3250 HE uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-2130 | Opteron 3250 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-2130) / not specified (Opteron 3250 HE). The Core i3-2130 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Opteron 3250 HE requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2130 targets Mainstream Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-2130 rivals Pentium G860.
| Feature | Core i3-2130 | Opteron 3250 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Desktop | — |
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