
Opteron 6276

Xeon E5-2640
Opteron 6276 vs Xeon E5-2640 Performance Spectrum
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.
Opteron 6276 vs Xeon E5-2640 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.

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Valorant

Among Us

Apex Legends

ARC Raiders

Baldur's Gate 3

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Opteron 6276 vs Xeon E5-2640: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict
See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.
Opteron 6276
2011Why buy it
- ✅Costs $97 less on MSRP ($788 MSRP vs $885 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 13.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 8.1 vs 7.1 PassMark/$ ($788 MSRP vs $885 MSRP).
Trade-offs
- ❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 15 MB).
- ❌21.1% higher power demand at 115W vs 95W.
Xeon E5-2640
2012Why buy it
- ✅+87.5% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 8 MB).
- ✅Draws 95W instead of 115W, a 20W reduction.
- ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (6,305 vs 6,348).
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.1 vs 8.1 PassMark/$ ($885 MSRP vs $788 MSRP).
Quick Answers
So, is Opteron 6276 better than Xeon E5-2640?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Opteron 6276 vs Xeon E5-2640 Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Opteron 6276
The Opteron 6276 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 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 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: 6,348 points. Launch price was $119.

Xeon E5-2640
The Xeon E5-2640 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,305 points. Launch price was $162.
Processing Power
The Opteron 6276 packs 16 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2640 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Opteron 6276 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Opteron 6276 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2640 — a 6.5% clock advantage for the Opteron 6276 (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Opteron 6276 uses the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5-2640 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 6276 scores 6,348 against the Xeon E5-2640's 6,305 — a 0.7% lead for the Opteron 6276. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 6276 vs 15360 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2640.
| Feature | Opteron 6276 | Xeon E5-2640 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 16+167% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+7% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.5 GHz+9% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 15360 kB (total)+88% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per module)+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Interlagos (2011−2012) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 6,348 | 6,305 |
Memory & Platform
The Opteron 6276 uses the G34 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-2640 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Opteron 6276 | Xeon E5-2640 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | G34 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 5.0+150% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 384 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | Yes |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Opteron 6276) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2640). Primary use case: Xeon E5-2640 targets Server.
| Feature | Opteron 6276 | Xeon E5-2640 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Server |
Value Analysis
At launch, the Opteron 6276 was priced at $788, while the Xeon E5-2640 came in at $885. On launch pricing ($788 vs $885), Opteron 6276 was $97 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Opteron 6276 delivers 8.1 pts/$ vs 7.1 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2640 — making the Opteron 6276 the 12.3% better value option.
| Feature | Opteron 6276 | Xeon E5-2640 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $788-11% | $885 |
| Performance per Dollar | 8.1+14% | 7.1 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2012 |
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