Opteron 6278
VS
Core i9-9980HK

Opteron 6278 vs Core i9-9980HK

AMD

Opteron 6278

16 Cores16 Thrd115 WWMax: 3.3 GHz2012
VS
Intel

Core i9-9980HK

8 Cores16 Thrd45 WWMax: 5 GHz2019

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Opteron 6278

#182
EPYC Embedded 8224P
MSRP: $855|Avg: $1048
104%
#187
Xeon Gold 5520+
MSRP: $1083|Avg: $764
103%
#188
EPYC 8124P
MSRP: $639|Avg: $639
103%
#196
Xeon 6515P
MSRP: $740|Avg: $886
100%
#197
Opteron 6278
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#201
Xeon Gold 6248R
MSRP: $2700|Avg: N/A
100%
#210
EPYC 8224P
MSRP: $855|Avg: $1048
97%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i9-9980HK

#207
Core i9-9980HK
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Core i9-9980HK (2019) utilizes 14 nm technology and DDR4, providing a fundamental performance advantage.
InsightOpteron 6278Core i9-9980HK
Gaming
Lower gaming performance
Superior gaming performance
Workstation
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Better multi-core power
Price
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Interlagos (2011−2012) / 32 nm)
✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-HR (2019) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Opteron 6278 (2012) relies on 32 nm technology and DDR3, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.
InsightOpteron 6278Core i9-9980HK
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 6278 and Core i9-9980HK

AMD

Opteron 6278

The Opteron 6278 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 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: 13,733 points. Launch price was $988.

Intel

Core i9-9980HK

The Core i9-9980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-HR (2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,966 points. Launch price was $583.

Processing Power

The Opteron 6278 packs 16 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i9-9980HK offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Opteron 6278 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Opteron 6278 versus 5 GHz on the Core i9-9980HK — a 41% clock advantage for the Core i9-9980HK (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Opteron 6278 uses the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i9-9980HK uses Coffee Lake-HR (2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 6278 scores 13,733 against the Core i9-9980HK's 13,966 — a 1.7% lead for the Core i9-9980HK. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 6278 vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9980HK.

FeatureOpteron 6278Core i9-9980HK
Cores / Threads
16 / 16+100%
8 / 16
Boost Clock
3.3 GHz
5 GHz+52%
Base Clock
2.4 GHz
2.4 GHz
L3 Cache
8 MB (total)
16 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache
2 MB (per module)+700%
256K (per core)
Process
32 nm
14 nm-56%
Architecture
Interlagos (2011−2012)
Coffee Lake-HR (2019)
PassMark
13,733
13,966+2%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Opteron 6278 uses the G34 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i9-9980HK uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureOpteron 6278Core i9-9980HK
Socket
G34
BGA1440
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%