Opteron 6238 vs Xeon E5649
Opteron 6238
Xeon E5649
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 E5649 is on rank 938, 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 E5649
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Opteron 6238 | Xeon E5649 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($118) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($774) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Interlagos (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Opteron 6238 | Xeon E5649 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+552%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($118) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($774) |
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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Opteron 6238 and Xeon E5649
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 E5649
The Xeon E5649 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 12288 kB (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: 5,659 points. Launch price was $45.
Processing Power
The Opteron 6238 packs 12 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5649 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Opteron 6238 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Opteron 6238 versus 2.93 GHz on the Xeon E5649 — a 8.8% clock advantage for the Opteron 6238 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Opteron 6238 uses the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5649 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 6238 scores 5,625 against the Xeon E5649's 5,659 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon E5649. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 6238 vs 12288 kB (total) on the Xeon E5649.
| Feature | Opteron 6238 | Xeon E5649 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 12+100% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+9% | 2.93 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+3% | 2.53 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 12288 kB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per module)+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Interlagos (2011−2012) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 5,625 | 5,659 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 415 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,109 |
Memory & Platform
The Opteron 6238 uses the G34 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5649 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Opteron 6238 | Xeon E5649 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | G34 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 5.0+150% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3 1333 MHz |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 288 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 3 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Opteron 6238) / true (Xeon E5649). Primary use case: Xeon E5649 targets Server.
| Feature | Opteron 6238 | Xeon E5649 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
| Target Use | — | Server |
Value Analysis
The Opteron 6238 launched at $455 MSRP, while the Xeon E5649 debuted at $774.
| Feature | Opteron 6238 | Xeon E5649 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $455-41% | $774 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $118 | — |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2011 |
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