Opteron 6386 SE vs Xeon E5-2470

Opteron 6386 SE vs Xeon E5-2470 Performance Spectrum

Opteron 6386 SE

16 / 16

8,291

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Xeon E5-2470

8 / 16

8,329

+0.5%

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 6386 SE vs Xeon E5-2470 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 6386 SE vs Xeon E5-2470: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Opteron 6386 SE

2012

Why buy it

✅Costs $48 less on MSRP ($1,392 MSRP vs $1,440 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,291 vs 8,329).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 20 MB).
❌47.4% higher power demand at 140W vs 95W.

Xeon E5-2470

2012

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Draws 95W instead of 140W, a 45W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌
3.4% HIGHER MSRP
$1,440 MSRPvs$1,392 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2470 better than Opteron 6386 SE?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Opteron 6386 SE is ahead with a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2470 pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark. Xeon E5-2470 also has the bigger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2470 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Xeon E5-2470 is still the faster CPU overall, but Opteron 6386 SE is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon E5-2470 comes in 3.4% more expensive on MSRP at $1,440 MSRP versus $1,392 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.5% better PassMark. The compromise is that Opteron 6386 SE is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Opteron 6386 SE is also 3.0% better value on MSRP (6.0 vs 5.8 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Xeon E5-2470 is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

Opteron 6386 SE vs Xeon E5-2470 Technical Specifications

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

Opteron 6386 SE

The Opteron 6386 SE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Abu Dhabi (2012) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G34. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,291 points. Launch price was $2,408.

Xeon E5-2470

The Xeon E5-2470 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,329 points. Launch price was $1,480.

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Processing Power

The Opteron 6386 SE packs 16 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2470 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Opteron 6386 SE has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Opteron 6386 SE versus 3.1 GHz on the Xeon E5-2470 — a 12.1% clock advantage for the Opteron 6386 SE (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Opteron 6386 SE uses the Abu Dhabi (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5-2470 uses Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 6386 SE scores 8,291 against the Xeon E5-2470's 8,329 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5-2470. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 6386 SE vs 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2470.

Feature	Opteron 6386 SE	Xeon E5-2470
Cores / Threads	16 / 16+100%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz+13%	3.1 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+22%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	20480 kB (total)+150%
L2 Cache	16 MB+6300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Abu Dhabi (2012)	Sandy Bridge-EN (2012)
PassMark	8,291	8,329

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Memory & Platform

The Opteron 6386 SE uses the G34 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-2470 uses LGA1356 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Opteron 6386 SE	Xeon E5-2470
Socket	G34	LGA1356
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Opteron 6386 SE was priced at $1392, while the Xeon E5-2470 came in at $1440. On launch pricing ($1392 vs $1440), Opteron 6386 SE was $48 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Opteron 6386 SE delivers 6.0 pts/$ vs 5.8 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2470 — making the Opteron 6386 SE the 2.9% better value option.

Feature	Opteron 6386 SE	Xeon E5-2470
MSRP	$1392-3%	$1440
Performance per Dollar	6.0+3%	5.8
Release Date	2012	2012

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