Athlon Gold 7220U vs Xeon E5645

AMD

Athlon Gold 7220U

2 Cores4 Thrd15 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2022
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Xeon E5645

6 Cores12 Thrd80 WWMax: 2.67 GHz2010
Similar parts
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Athlon Gold 7220U vs Xeon E5645 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 Gold 7220U vs Xeon E5645 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 Gold 7220U vs Xeon E5645: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon Gold 7220U

2022

Why buy it

  • Draws 15W instead of 80W, a 65W reduction.
  • Newer platform on FT6 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1366 and older memory support.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 610M, while Xeon E5645 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5645 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (4,904 vs 4,942).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 12 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5645, which brings 6 cores / 12 threads.

Xeon E5645

2010

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +19.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 6 cores / 12 threads.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $294 MSRP, while Athlon Gold 7220U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 433.3% higher power demand at 80W vs 15W.
  • Older platform position on LGA1366, while Athlon Gold 7220U moves to FT6 and DDR5.
  • No integrated graphics, while Athlon Gold 7220U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5645 better than Athlon Gold 7220U?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5645 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon Gold 7220U is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Xeon E5645 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 19.0% 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, Xeon E5645 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Xeon E5645 is the better buy right now. Xeon E5645 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $294 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 19.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (16.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon Gold 7220U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2010) and a healthier platform with FT6 and DDR5 instead of LGA1366. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Athlon Gold 7220U vs Xeon E5645 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon Gold 7220U

The Athlon Gold 7220U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FT6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,904 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Xeon E5645

The Xeon E5645 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.67 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,942 points. Launch price was $294.

Processing Power

The Athlon Gold 7220U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5645 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5645 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon Gold 7220U versus 2.67 GHz on the Xeon E5645 — a 32.3% clock advantage for the Athlon Gold 7220U (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Athlon Gold 7220U uses the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture (6 nm), while the Xeon E5645 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Gold 7220U scores 4,904 against the Xeon E5645's 4,942 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon E5645. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Gold 7220U vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon E5645.

FeatureAthlon Gold 7220UXeon E5645
Cores / Threads
2 / 4
6 / 12+200%
Boost Clock
3.7 GHz+39%
2.67 GHz
Base Clock
2.4 GHz
2.4 GHz
L3 Cache
4 MB (total)
12 MB (total)+200%
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)+100%
256 kB (per core)
Process
6 nm-81%
32 nm
Architecture
Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023)
Westmere-EP (2010−2011)
PassMark
4,904
4,942
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon Gold 7220U uses the FT6 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5645 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5500 on the Athlon Gold 7220U versus DDR3-1333 on the Xeon E5645 — the Athlon Gold 7220U supports 312.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5645 supports up to 288 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB 1700% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon Gold 7220U) vs 3 (Xeon E5645). PCIe lanes: 4 (Athlon Gold 7220U) vs 0 (Xeon E5645) — the Athlon Gold 7220U offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

FeatureAthlon Gold 7220UXeon E5645
Socket
FT6
LGA1366
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed
5500+313%
DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
288 GB+1700%
RAM Channels
2
3+50%
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
4
0
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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon Gold 7220U) vs VT-x (Xeon E5645). The Athlon Gold 7220U includes integrated graphics (Radeon 610M), while the Xeon E5645 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E5645 targets Server. Direct competitor: Athlon Gold 7220U rivals Core i3-1115G4.

FeatureAthlon Gold 7220UXeon E5645
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Radeon 610M
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
true
VT-x
Target Use
Server