Opteron 6238 vs Xeon E3-1205 v6
Opteron 6238
Xeon E3-1205 v6
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 Xeon E3-1205 v6 is on rank 507, 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 Xeon E3-1205 v6
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Opteron 6238 | Xeon E3-1205 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($118) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Interlagos (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Opteron 6238 | Xeon E3-1205 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Xeon E3-1205 v6
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.
Xeon E3-1205 v6
The Xeon E3-1205 v6 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 March 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 5,682 points. Launch price was $193.
Processing Power
The Opteron 6238 packs 12 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1205 v6 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Opteron 6238 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Opteron 6238 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E3-1205 v6 — a 6.5% clock advantage for the Opteron 6238 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Opteron 6238 uses the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1205 v6 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 6238 scores 5,625 against the Xeon E3-1205 v6's 5,682 — a 1% lead for the Xeon E3-1205 v6. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 6238 vs 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1205 v6.
| Feature | Opteron 6238 | Xeon E3-1205 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 12+200% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+7% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3 GHz+15% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per module)+100% | 1 MB |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Interlagos (2011−2012) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 5,625 | 5,682+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Opteron 6238 uses the G34 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1205 v6 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Opteron 6238 | Xeon E3-1205 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | G34 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
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