Athlon II X4 620e vs Xeon W3520

Athlon II X4 620e vs Xeon W3520 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 620e

4 / 4

2,906

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon W3520

4 / 8

2,940

+1.2%

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 X4 620e vs Xeon W3520 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 X4 620e vs Xeon W3520: 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 X4 620e

2011

Why buy it

✅Costs $185 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $284 MSRP).
✅Delivers 183.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 29.4 vs 10.4 PassMark/$ ($99 MSRP vs $284 MSRP).
✅Draws 45W instead of 130W, a 85W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W3520 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,906 vs 2,940).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W3520, which brings 4 cores / 8 threads.

Xeon W3520

2009

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 8 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.4 vs 29.4 PassMark/$ ($284 MSRP vs $99 MSRP).
❌188.9% higher power demand at 130W vs 45W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon W3520 better than Athlon II X4 620e?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon W3520 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon II X4 620e 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 W3520 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 6.3% 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 W3520 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Xeon W3520 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Xeon W3520 comes in 186.9% more expensive on MSRP at $284 MSRP versus $99 MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 620e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 183.6% better value on paper (29.4 vs 10.4 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Athlon II X4 620e makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 620e vs Xeon W3520 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 620e

The Athlon II X4 620e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,906 points. Launch price was $149.

Xeon W3520

The Xeon W3520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,940 points. Launch price was $404.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 620e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon W3520's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 620e versus 2.93 GHz on the Xeon W3520 — a 11.9% clock advantage for the Xeon W3520 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Athlon II X4 620e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon W3520 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 620e scores 2,906 against the Xeon W3520's 2,940 — a 1.2% lead for the Xeon W3520. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 620e vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W3520.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620e	Xeon W3520
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	2.93 GHz+13%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	2.66 GHz+2%
L3 Cache	0 kB	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Propus (2009−2011)	Bloomfield (2008−2010)
PassMark	2,906	2,940+1%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 620e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon W3520 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620e	Xeon W3520
Socket	AM3	LGA1366
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 620e was priced at $99, while the Xeon W3520 came in at $284. On launch pricing ($99 vs $284), Athlon II X4 620e was $185 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 620e delivers 29.4 pts/$ vs 10.4 pts/$ for the Xeon W3520 — making the Athlon II X4 620e the 95.7% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620e	Xeon W3520
MSRP	$99-65%	$284
Performance per Dollar	29.4+183%	10.4
Release Date	2011	2009

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