CPU
GPU
A9-9420e
Xeon 5120
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 A9-9420e is positioned at rank 833 and the Xeon 5120 is on rank 857, so the A9-9420e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A9-9420e
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 5120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A9-9420e | Xeon 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Woodcrest (2006) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A9-9420e | Xeon 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 A9-9420e and Xeon 5120
A9-9420e
The A9-9420e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.5 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,101 points. Launch price was $69.
Xeon 5120
The Xeon 5120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Junho 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Woodcrest (2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.87 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,115 points. Launch price was $45.
Processing Power
Both the A9-9420e and Xeon 5120 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the A9-9420e versus 1.87 GHz on the Xeon 5120 — a 28.8% clock advantage for the A9-9420e. The A9-9420e uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Xeon 5120 uses Woodcrest (2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the A9-9420e scores 1,101 against the Xeon 5120's 1,115 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon 5120.
| Feature | A9-9420e | Xeon 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+34% | 1.87 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 1.86 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 4 MB+300% |
| Process | 28 nm-57% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) | Woodcrest (2006) |
| PassMark | 1,101 | 1,115+1% |
Memory & Platform
The A9-9420e uses the BGA socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon 5120 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | A9-9420e | Xeon 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA | LGA771 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 2133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | — |
| RAM Channels | 1 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (A9-9420e) / not specified (Xeon 5120). The A9-9420e includes integrated graphics (Radeon R5 Graphics), while the Xeon 5120 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A9-9420e rivals Pentium N4200.
| Feature | A9-9420e | Xeon 5120 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R5 Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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