Opteron 3260 HE vs Core i7-9700K
Opteron 3260 HE
Core i7-9700K
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. The Opteron 3260 HE is positioned at rank #214 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 3260 HE
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Zurich (2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 i7-9700K
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 i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.
Processing Power
The Opteron 3260 HE packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-9700K offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Opteron 3260 HE versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 27.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Opteron 3260 HE uses the Zurich (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 3260 HE scores 2,283 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 145.3% lead for the Core i7-9700K. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Opteron 3260 HE vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 8 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4.9 GHz+32% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.6 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+200% |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Zurich (2012) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,283 | 14,397+531% |
Memory & Platform
The Opteron 3260 HE uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-9700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3+ | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Opteron 3260 HE) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Opteron 3260 HE requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Opteron 3260 HE | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
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