Athlon II X4 640 vs Xeon E3-1220L
Athlon II X4 640
Xeon E3-1220L
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 640 is positioned at rank 621 and the Xeon E3-1220L is on rank 812, so the Athlon II X4 640 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 640
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220L
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 640 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($27) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 640 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+80%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($27) |
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 640 and Xeon E3-1220L
Athlon II X4 640
The Athlon II X4 640 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 2,266 points. Launch price was $80.
Xeon E3-1220L
The Xeon E3-1220L is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 20 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,263 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 640 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E3-1220L offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 640 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 640 versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L — a 12.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220L (base: 3 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Athlon II X4 640 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 640 scores 2,266 against the Xeon E3-1220L's 2,263 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II X4 640. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 640 vs 3 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220L.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+13% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+36% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Propus (2009−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,266 | 2,263 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,471 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 386 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,332 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 640 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1220L uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 640) / not specified (Xeon E3-1220L). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 640 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 640 rivals Core 2 Quad Q8300.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 640 launched at $80 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1220L debuted at $189. At current prices ($15 vs $27), the Athlon II X4 640 is $12 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 640 delivers 151.1 pts/$ vs 83.8 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1220L — making the Athlon II X4 640 the 57.3% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $80-58% | $189 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-44% | $27 |
| Performance per Dollar | 151.1+80% | 83.8 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2011 |
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