Opteron 6238 vs Core i7-3820QM
Opteron 6238
Core i7-3820QM
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 6238 is positioned at rank 61 and the Core i7-3820QM is on rank 1075, so the Opteron 6238 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 6238
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3820QM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Opteron 6238 | Core i7-3820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($118) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Interlagos (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Opteron 6238 | Core i7-3820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($118) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 6238 and Core i7-3820QM
Opteron 6238
The Opteron 6238 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 November 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture. It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 5,625 points. Launch price was $455.
Core i7-3820QM
The Core i7-3820QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 April 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,607 points. Launch price was $498.
Processing Power
The Opteron 6238 packs 12 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-3820QM offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Opteron 6238 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Opteron 6238 versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i7-3820QM — a 14.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-3820QM (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Opteron 6238 uses the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-3820QM uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 6238 scores 5,625 against the Core i7-3820QM's 5,607 — a 0.3% lead for the Opteron 6238. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Opteron 6238 | Core i7-3820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 12+200% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.7 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.7 GHz+4% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per module)+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Interlagos (2011−2012) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 5,625 | 5,607 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 604 |
Memory & Platform
The Opteron 6238 uses the G34 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-3820QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Opteron 6238 | Core i7-3820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | G34 | PGA988 |
| 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 6238) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-3820QM). The Core i7-3820QM includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Opteron 6238 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-3820QM targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-3820QM rivals A10-4600M.
| Feature | Opteron 6238 | Core i7-3820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | High Performance Laptop |
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