Opteron 3260 HE vs Core i3-3225
Opteron 3260 HE
Core i3-3225
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 Opteron 3260 HE is positioned at rank 214 and the Core i3-3225 is on rank 937, 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 Opteron 3260 HE
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3225
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i3-3225 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($167) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Zurich (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i3-3225 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($167) |
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 Opteron 3260 HE and Core i3-3225
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.
Core i3-3225
The Core i3-3225 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 $264.
Processing Power
The Opteron 3260 HE packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-3225 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Opteron 3260 HE has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Opteron 3260 HE versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-3225 — a 11.4% clock advantage for the Opteron 3260 HE (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Opteron 3260 HE uses the Zurich (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-3225 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 3260 HE scores 2,283 against the Core i3-3225's 2,276 — a 0.3% lead for the Opteron 3260 HE. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Opteron 3260 HE vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3225.
| Feature | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i3-3225 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+12% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.3 GHz+22% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total)+33% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Zurich (2012) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,283 | 2,276 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 558 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,142 |
Memory & Platform
The Opteron 3260 HE uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3225 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i3-3225 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3+ | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Opteron 3260 HE) / VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3225). The Core i3-3225 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Opteron 3260 HE requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3225 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-3225 rivals Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W).
| Feature | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i3-3225 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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