Core i3-8145U vs Opteron 3280

Core i3-8145U

2 Cores4 Thrd15 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2018

Opteron 3280

8 Cores8 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2012

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i3-8145U

2 / 4

3,781

0.0%

3,783

+0.1%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 i3-8145U is positioned at rank 587 and the Opteron 3280 is on rank 93, so the Opteron 3280 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8145U

#184

Core Ultra 7 266V

MSRP: $520|Avg: $520

98%

#575

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

776%

#576

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

765%

#577

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

702%

#578

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

699%

#579

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

692%

#581

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

669%

#582

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

641%

#583

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

640%

#584

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

623%

#587

Core i3-8145U

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Opteron 3280

Xeon Platinum 8454H

MSRP: $6540|Avg: N/A

2197%

Xeon Gold 6240R

MSRP: $2444|Avg: N/A

415%

#10

Xeon 6337P

MSRP: $60|Avg: $5

369%

#15

EPYC 9174F

MSRP: $194|Avg: $30

285%

#71

Ryzen 7 PRO 7745

MSRP: $400|Avg: $343

92%

#73

EPYC 4484PX

MSRP: $599|Avg: $599

89%

#93

Opteron 3280

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Core i3-8145U (2018) utilizes 14 nm technology and DDR4, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Core i3-8145U	Opteron 3280
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	✨ Modern (Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Zurich (2012) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Opteron 3280 (2012) relies on 32 nm technology and DDR3, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Core i3-8145U	Opteron 3280
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i3-8145U Benchmark Check

Opteron 3280 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-8145U and Opteron 3280

Core i3-8145U

The Core i3-8145U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,781 points. Launch price was $281.

Opteron 3280

The Opteron 3280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zurich (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,783 points. Launch price was $229.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-8145U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Opteron 3280 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Opteron 3280 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i3-8145U versus 3.5 GHz on the Opteron 3280 — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-8145U (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i3-8145U uses the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Opteron 3280 uses Zurich (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-8145U scores 3,781 against the Opteron 3280's 3,783 — a 0.1% lead for the Opteron 3280. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-8145U vs 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 3280.

Feature	Core i3-8145U	Opteron 3280
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	8 / 8+300%
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz+11%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	2.5 GHz+19%
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	8 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	8 MB+3100%
Process	14 nm-56%	32 nm
Architecture	Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019)	Zurich (2012)
PassMark	3,781	3,783

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-8145U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Opteron 3280 uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-8145U	Opteron 3280
Socket	FCBGA1528	AM3+
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	❌	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-8145U) / not specified (Opteron 3280). The Core i3-8145U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 620), while the Opteron 3280 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8145U targets Mobile.