
Athlon 64 X2 5000+ vs Xeon E3120

Athlon 64 X2 5000+

Xeon E3120
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 Athlon 64 X2 5000+ is positioned at rank 988 and the Xeon E3120 is on rank 948, so the Xeon E3120 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 5000+
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ | Xeon E3120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ | Xeon E3120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Athlon 64 X2 5000+ and Xeon E3120

Athlon 64 X2 5000+
The Athlon 64 X2 5000+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,425 points. Launch price was $149.

Xeon E3120
The Xeon E3120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. Base frequency: 3.16 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,408 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 X2 5000+ is built on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ scores 1,425 against the Xeon E3120's 1,408 — a 1.2% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 5000+. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon E3120.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ | Xeon E3120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | — |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | — | 3.16 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | — |
| Process | 90 nm | 45 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Windsor (2006−2007) | — |
| PassMark | 1,425+1% | 1,408 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 X2 5000+ uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Xeon E3120 uses LGA775 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ | Xeon E3120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
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