Core i9-9980HK vs Opteron 6278

Core i9-9980HK vs Opteron 6278 Performance Spectrum

Core i9-9980HK

8 / 16

13,966

+1.7%

13,733

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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.

Core i9-9980HK vs Opteron 6278 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i9-9980HK vs Opteron 6278: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i9-9980HK

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +36.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Draws 45W instead of 115W, a 70W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Opteron 6278, which brings 16 cores / 16 threads.

Opteron 6278

2012

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 16 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9980HK across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,733 vs 13,966).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).
❌155.6% higher power demand at 115W vs 45W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9980HK better than Opteron 6278?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Opteron 6278 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-9980HK is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-9980HK is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 36.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9980HK is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.7% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i9-9980HK still makes the most sense overall. Core i9-9980HK comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 36.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i9-9980HK makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2012), 100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 16/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i9-9980HK vs Opteron 6278 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i9-9980HK

The Core i9-9980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-HR (2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,966 points. Launch price was $583.

Opteron 6278

The Opteron 6278 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per module). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G34. Thermal design power (TDP): 115 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 13,733 points. Launch price was $988.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-9980HK packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Opteron 6278 offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the Opteron 6278 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-9980HK versus 3.3 GHz on the Opteron 6278 — a 41% clock advantage for the Core i9-9980HK (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i9-9980HK uses the Coffee Lake-HR (2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Opteron 6278 uses Interlagos (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9980HK scores 13,966 against the Opteron 6278's 13,733 — a 1.7% lead for the Core i9-9980HK. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9980HK vs 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 6278.

Feature	Core i9-9980HK	Opteron 6278
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	16 / 16+100%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+52%	3.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)+100%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+12700%	2 MB (per module)
Process	14 nm-56%	32 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-HR (2019)	Interlagos (2011−2012)
PassMark	13,966+2%	13,733

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9980HK uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Opteron 6278 uses G34 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.