Athlon II Neo K325 vs Xeon L3406

AMD

Athlon II Neo K325

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 1.3 GHz2010
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Xeon L3406

2 Cores4 Thrd30 WWMax: 2.53 GHz2010
Similar parts
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Athlon II Neo K325 vs Xeon L3406 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 II Neo K325 vs Xeon L3406 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 II Neo K325 vs Xeon L3406: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II Neo K325

2010

Why buy it

  • +0.6% higher PassMark.
  • Costs $129 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
  • Delivers 217.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 18.5 vs 5.8 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
  • Draws 1W instead of 30W, a 29W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon L3406, which brings 2 cores / 4 threads.

Xeon L3406

2010

Why buy it

  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 2 cores / 4 threads.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,104 vs 1,111).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 5.8 vs 18.5 PassMark/$ ($189 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
  • 2900% higher power demand at 30W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II Neo K325 better than Xeon L3406?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon L3406 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon II Neo K325 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II Neo K325 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon II Neo K325 is the better buy right now. Athlon II Neo K325 comes in $129 cheaper on MSRP at $60 MSRP versus $189 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.6% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon L3406 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 217.0% better value on MSRP (18.5 vs 5.8 PassMark/$), 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 L3406 is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

Athlon II Neo K325 vs Xeon L3406 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II Neo K325

The Athlon II Neo K325 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Geneva (2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,111 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Xeon L3406

The Xeon L3406 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 30 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,104 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Athlon II Neo K325 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Xeon L3406's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.3 GHz on the Athlon II Neo K325 versus 2.53 GHz on the Xeon L3406 — a 64.2% clock advantage for the Xeon L3406. The Athlon II Neo K325 is built on the Geneva (2010) architecture. In PassMark, the Athlon II Neo K325 scores 1,111 against the Xeon L3406's 1,104 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon II Neo K325.

FeatureAthlon II Neo K325Xeon L3406
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 4
Boost Clock
1.3 GHz
2.53 GHz+95%
Base Clock
2.26 GHz
L3 Cache
4 MB Intel® Smart Cache
L2 Cache
1 MB
Process
45 nm
32 nm-29%
Architecture
Geneva (2010)
PassMark
1,111
1,104
Geekbench 6 Single
736
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,235
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II Neo K325 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon L3406 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon II Neo K325Xeon L3406
Socket
S1
LGA1156
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-800
Max RAM Capacity
8 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
0
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II Neo K325) / not specified (Xeon L3406). Primary use case: Athlon II Neo K325 targets Low Power.

FeatureAthlon II Neo K325Xeon L3406
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Low Power
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II Neo K325 was priced at $60, while the Xeon L3406 came in at $189. On launch pricing ($60 vs $189), Athlon II Neo K325 was $129 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II Neo K325 delivers 18.5 pts/$ vs 5.8 pts/$ for the Xeon L3406 — making the Athlon II Neo K325 the 104.1% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II Neo K325Xeon L3406
MSRP
$60-68%
$189
Performance per Dollar
18.5+219%
5.8
Release Date
2010
2010

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