Athlon II P320 vs Xeon E5405

AMD

Athlon II P320

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.1 GHz2010
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Xeon E5405

4 Cores4 Thrd80 WWMax: 2 GHz2007
Similar parts
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Athlon II P320 vs Xeon E5405 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 P320 vs Xeon E5405 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 P320 vs Xeon E5405: 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 P320

2010

Why buy it

  • Costs $159 less on MSRP ($50 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
  • Delivers 323.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 35.5 vs 8.4 PassMark/$ ($50 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
  • Draws 1W instead of 80W, a 79W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5405, which brings 4 cores / 4 threads.

Xeon E5405

2007

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,753 vs 1,776).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.4 vs 35.5 PassMark/$ ($209 MSRP vs $50 MSRP).
  • 7900% higher power demand at 80W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II P320 better than Xeon E5405?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5405 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon II P320 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 II P320 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.5% 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 II P320 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon II P320 is the better buy right now. Athlon II P320 comes in $159 cheaper on MSRP at $50 MSRP versus $209 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 323.5% better value on MSRP (35.5 vs 8.4 PassMark/$), 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 II P320 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2007) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II P320 vs Xeon E5405 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II P320

The Athlon II P320 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,776 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Xeon E5405

The Xeon E5405 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 November 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 1,753 points. Launch price was $209.

Processing Power

The Athlon II P320 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Xeon E5405 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5405 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Athlon II P320 versus 2 GHz on the Xeon E5405 — a 4.9% clock advantage for the Athlon II P320. The Athlon II P320 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5405 uses Harpertown (2007−2008) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II P320 scores 1,776 against the Xeon E5405's 1,753 — a 1.3% lead for the Athlon II P320.

FeatureAthlon II P320Xeon E5405
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock
2.1 GHz+5%
2 GHz
Base Clock
2 GHz
L3 Cache
12 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache
1 MB
6 MB (total)+500%
Process
45 nm
45 nm
Architecture
Champlain (2010−2011)
Harpertown (2007−2008)
PassMark
1,776+1%
1,753
Geekbench 6 Single
189
Geekbench 6 Multi
308
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II P320 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5405 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II P320 versus DDR2-667 on the Xeon E5405 — the Athlon II P320 supports 59.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5405 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes.

FeatureAthlon II P320Xeon E5405
Socket
S1g4
LGA771
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1066+60%
DDR2-667
Max RAM Capacity
8 GB
32 GB+300%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
0
0
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II P320) vs VT-x (Xeon E5405). Primary use case: Athlon II P320 targets Laptop, Xeon E5405 targets Server. Direct competitor: Athlon II P320 rivals Pentium P6000.

FeatureAthlon II P320Xeon E5405
Integrated GPU
No
No
IGPU Model
None
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
VT-x
Target Use
Laptop
Server
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II P320 was priced at $50, while the Xeon E5405 came in at $209. On launch pricing ($50 vs $209), Athlon II P320 was $159 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II P320 delivers 35.5 pts/$ vs 8.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E5405 — making the Athlon II P320 the 123.6% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II P320Xeon E5405
MSRP
$50-76%
$209
Performance per Dollar
35.5+323%
8.4
Release Date
2010
2007

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