Core i3-3220 vs Opteron 3260 HE
Core i3-3220
Opteron 3260 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 i3-3220 is positioned at rank 804 and the Opteron 3260 HE is on rank 214, so the Opteron 3260 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 i3-3220
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 3260 HE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Opteron 3260 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Zurich (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Opteron 3260 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ 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 i3-3220 and Opteron 3260 HE
Core i3-3220
The Core i3-3220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,276 points. Launch price was $117.
Opteron 3260 HE
The Opteron 3260 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 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 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: 2,283 points. Launch price was $125.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3220 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Opteron 3260 HE offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Opteron 3260 HE has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-3220 versus 3.7 GHz on the Opteron 3260 HE — a 11.4% clock advantage for the Opteron 3260 HE (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i3-3220 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Opteron 3260 HE uses Zurich (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3220 scores 2,276 against the Opteron 3260 HE's 2,283 — a 0.3% lead for the Opteron 3260 HE. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3220 vs 4 MB (total) on the Opteron 3260 HE.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Opteron 3260 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.7 GHz+12% |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+22% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 4 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Zurich (2012) |
| PassMark | 2,276 | 2,283 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 503 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3220 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Opteron 3260 HE uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Opteron 3260 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3220) / not specified (Opteron 3260 HE). The Core i3-3220 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Opteron 3260 HE requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3220 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-3220 rivals FX-4300.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Opteron 3260 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2500 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
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