Athlon II X4 620e vs Xeon W3520
Athlon II X4 620e
Xeon W3520
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II X4 620e is positioned at rank 605 and the Xeon W3520 is on rank 861, so the Athlon II X4 620e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 620e
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3520
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 620e | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 620e | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+170%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X4 620e and Xeon W3520
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.
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% |
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 | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 620e launched at $99 MSRP, while the Xeon W3520 debuted at $284. At current prices ($40 vs $15), the Xeon W3520 is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 620e delivers 72.7 pts/$ vs 196.0 pts/$ for the Xeon W3520 — making the Xeon W3520 the 91.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 620e | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $99-65% | $284 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40 | $15-63% |
| Performance per Dollar | 72.7 | 196.0+170% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2009 |
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