Athlon II X3 460 vs Xeon E5506

Athlon II X3 460 vs Xeon E5506 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 460

3 / 3

1,965

+0.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon E5506

4 / 4

1,961

0.0%

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 X3 460 vs Xeon E5506 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 X3 460 vs Xeon E5506: 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 X3 460

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Xeon E5506.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5506, which brings 4 cores / 4 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $87 MSRP, while Xeon E5506 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.8% higher power demand at 95W vs 80W.

Xeon E5506

2009

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 4 threads.
✅Draws 80W instead of 95W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X3 460 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,961 vs 1,965).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 460.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 460 better than Xeon E5506?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5506 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon II X3 460 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 X3 460 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.0% 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, Athlon II X3 460 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Athlon II X3 460 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 460 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $87 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (22.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 II X3 460 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 3 cores / 3 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 X3 460 vs Xeon E5506 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X3 460

The Athlon II X3 460 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,965 points. Launch price was $50.

Xeon E5506

The Xeon E5506 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 0.13 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: 1,961 points. Launch price was $43.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 460 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Xeon E5506 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5506 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon II X3 460 versus 0.13 GHz on the Xeon E5506 — a 185.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 460 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.13 GHz). The Athlon II X3 460 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5506 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 460 scores 1,965 against the Xeon E5506's 1,961 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon II X3 460. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 460 vs 4 MB (total) on the Xeon E5506.

Feature	Athlon II X3 460	Xeon E5506
Cores / Threads	3 / 3	4 / 4+33%
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz+2515%	0.13 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+60%	2.13 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Gainestown (2009−2010)
PassMark	1,965	1,961
Geekbench 6 Single	384	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	944	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 460 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5506 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.