Opteron 3260 HE vs Core i3-6006U
Opteron 3260 HE
Core i3-6006U
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 i3-6006U is on rank 370, 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 i3-6006U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Zurich (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i3-6006U
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 i3-6006U
The Core i3-6006U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 November 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,273 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
The Opteron 3260 HE packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-6006U 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 2 GHz on the Core i3-6006U — a 59.6% clock advantage for the Opteron 3260 HE (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Opteron 3260 HE uses the Zurich (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-6006U uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 3260 HE scores 2,283 against the Core i3-6006U's 2,273 — a 0.4% lead for the Opteron 3260 HE. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Opteron 3260 HE vs 3 MB on the Core i3-6006U.
| Feature | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+85% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+35% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total)+33% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512 kB |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Zurich (2012) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 2,283 | 2,273 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 2,200 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 630 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,313 |
Memory & Platform
The Opteron 3260 HE uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-6006U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3+ | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Opteron 3260 HE) / Yes (Core i3-6006U). The Core i3-6006U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 520), while the Opteron 3260 HE requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-6006U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 520 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
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