Core i3-N300 vs Opteron 6386 SE
Core i3-N300
Opteron 6386 SE
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-N300 is positioned at rank 761 and the Opteron 6386 SE is on rank 33, so the Opteron 6386 SE 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-N300
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 6386 SE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-N300 | Opteron 6386 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($309) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($880) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-N (2023) / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Abu Dhabi (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-N300 | Opteron 6386 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+185%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($309) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($880) |
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-N300 and Opteron 6386 SE
Core i3-N300
The Core i3-N300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-N (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 0.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per module). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Thermal design power (TDP): 7 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200, DDR5-4800, LPDDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 8,283 points. Launch price was $309.
Opteron 6386 SE
The Opteron 6386 SE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Abu Dhabi (2012) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G34. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,291 points. Launch price was $2,408.
Processing Power
The Core i3-N300 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Opteron 6386 SE offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the Opteron 6386 SE has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i3-N300 versus 3.5 GHz on the Opteron 6386 SE — a 8.2% clock advantage for the Core i3-N300 (base: 0.1 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i3-N300 uses the Alder Lake-N (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Opteron 6386 SE uses Abu Dhabi (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-N300 scores 8,283 against the Opteron 6386 SE's 8,291 — a 0.1% lead for the Opteron 6386 SE. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-N300 vs 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 6386 SE.
| Feature | Core i3-N300 | Opteron 6386 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 | 16 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+9% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 0.1 GHz | 2.8 GHz+2700% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per module) | 16 MB+700% |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-78% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-N (2023) | Abu Dhabi (2012) |
| PassMark | 8,283 | 8,291 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-N300 uses the FCBGA1264 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Opteron 6386 SE uses G34 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-N300 | Opteron 6386 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1264 | G34 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+150% | PCIe 2.0 |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-N300 launched at $309 MSRP, while the Opteron 6386 SE debuted at $1392. At current prices ($309 vs $880), the Core i3-N300 is $571 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-N300 delivers 26.8 pts/$ vs 9.4 pts/$ for the Opteron 6386 SE — making the Core i3-N300 the 96% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-N300 | Opteron 6386 SE |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $309-78% | $1392 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $309-65% | $880 |
| Performance per Dollar | 26.8+185% | 9.4 |
| Release Date | 2023 | 2012 |
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