Opteron 3280 vs Xeon E5630
Opteron 3280
Xeon E5630
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 3280 is positioned at rank 93 and the Xeon E5630 is on rank 639, so the Opteron 3280 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 3280
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5630
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Opteron 3280 | Xeon E5630 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Zurich (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Opteron 3280 | Xeon E5630 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 3280 and Xeon E5630
Opteron 3280
The Opteron 3280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zurich (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,783 points. Launch price was $229.
Xeon E5630
The Xeon E5630 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,785 points. Launch price was $73.
Processing Power
The Opteron 3280 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5630 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Opteron 3280 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Opteron 3280 versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5630 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Opteron 3280 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Opteron 3280 uses the Zurich (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5630 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 3280 scores 3,783 against the Xeon E5630's 3,785 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5630. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 3280 vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon E5630.
| Feature | Opteron 3280 | Xeon E5630 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+25% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.53 GHz+1% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 8 MB+3100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Zurich (2012) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 3,783 | 3,785 |
Memory & Platform
The Opteron 3280 uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5630 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Opteron 3280 | Xeon E5630 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3+ | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
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