Opteron 6238 vs Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U

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.

Opteron 6238 vs Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Opteron 6238 vs Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Opteron 6238

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +26.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 12 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (5,625 vs 5,639).
❌Launch MSRP is still $455 MSRP, while Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌666.7% higher power demand at 115W vs 15W.

Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U

2018

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 15W instead of 115W, a 100W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Opteron 6238 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Opteron 6238, which brings 12 cores / 12 threads.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U better than Opteron 6238?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Opteron 6238 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U is still the faster CPU overall, but Opteron 6238 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $455 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.2% better PassMark. The compromise is that Opteron 6238 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 26.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Opteron 6238 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (12.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 12/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Opteron 6238 vs Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U

The Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Raven Ridge (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 5,639 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Opteron 6238 packs 12 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Opteron 6238 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Opteron 6238 versus 3.4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Opteron 6238 uses the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U uses Raven Ridge (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 6238 scores 5,625 against the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U's 5,639 — a 0.2% lead for the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 6238 vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U.

Feature	Opteron 6238	Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U
Cores / Threads	12 / 12+200%	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz	3.4 GHz+6%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+30%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)+100%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per module)+300%	512 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Interlagos (2011−2012)	Raven Ridge (2017−2019)
PassMark	5,625	5,639

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Memory & Platform

The Opteron 6238 uses the G34 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.