Athlon 64 FX-74 vs Xeon E5504

AMD

Athlon 64 FX-74

2 Cores2 Thrd125 WWMax: 3 GHz2006
VS
Intel

Xeon E5504

4 Cores4 Thrd80 WWMax: 2 GHz2009

Athlon 64 FX-74 vs Xeon E5504 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.

Athlon 64 FX-74 vs Xeon E5504 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.

Athlon 64 FX-74 vs Xeon E5504: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon 64 FX-74

2006

Why buy it

  • βœ…100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5504, which brings 4 cores / 4 threads.
  • ❌Launch MSRP is still $499 MSRP, while Xeon E5504 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • ❌56.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 80W.

Xeon E5504

2009

Why buy it

  • βœ…Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 4 threads.
  • βœ…Draws 80W instead of 125W, a 45W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower PassMark (1,652 vs 1,658).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 64 FX-74 better than Xeon E5504?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5504 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon 64 FX-74 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Athlon 64 FX-74 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.8% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 64 FX-74 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon 64 FX-74 is the better buy right now. Athlon 64 FX-74 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $499 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (3.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Xeon E5504 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 FX-74 vs Xeon E5504 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon 64 FX-74

The Athlon 64 FX-74 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Novembro 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Windsor (2006βˆ’2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: F. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 1,658 points. Launch price was $500.

Intel

Xeon E5504

The Xeon E5504 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009βˆ’2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,652 points. Launch price was $60.

⚑

Processing Power

The Athlon 64 FX-74 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Xeon E5504 offers 4 cores / 4 threads β€” the Xeon E5504 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-74 versus 2 GHz on the Xeon E5504 β€” a 40% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 FX-74. The Athlon 64 FX-74 uses the Windsor (2006βˆ’2007) architecture (90 nm), while the Xeon E5504 uses Gainestown (2009βˆ’2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 FX-74 scores 1,658 against the Xeon E5504's 1,652 β€” a 0.4% lead for the Athlon 64 FX-74. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 FX-74 vs 4 MB (total) on the Xeon E5504.

FeatureAthlon 64 FX-74Xeon E5504
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock
3 GHz+50%
2 GHz
Base Clock
β€”
2 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
4 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1 MB+300%
256 kB (per core)
Process
90 nm
45 nm-50%
Architecture
Windsor (2006βˆ’2007)
Gainestown (2009βˆ’2010)
PassMark
1,658
1,652
Geekbench 6 Single
400
β€”
Geekbench 6 Multi
750
β€”
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 FX-74 uses the F socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Xeon E5504 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon 64 FX-74Xeon E5504
Socket
F
LGA1366
PCIe Generation
PCIe 1.1
PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed
DDR2
β€”
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
β€”
RAM Channels
2
β€”
ECC Support
No
β€”
PCIe Lanes
16
β€”
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon 64 FX-74) / not specified (Xeon E5504). Primary use case: Athlon 64 FX-74 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon 64 FX-74 rivals Pentium Extreme Edition 965.

FeatureAthlon 64 FX-74Xeon E5504
Integrated GPU
No
β€”
Unlocked
Yes
β€”
AVX-512
No
β€”
Virtualization
AMD-V
β€”
Target Use
Budget
β€”