Athlon II X4 640 vs Xeon E3-1220L

Athlon II X4 640 vs Xeon E3-1220L Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 640

4 / 4

2,266

+0.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon E3-1220L

2 / 4

2,263

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 X4 640 vs Xeon E3-1220L 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 640 vs Xeon E3-1220L: 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 640

2010

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.1% higher average FPS across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $109 less on MSRP ($80 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
✅Delivers 136.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 28.3 vs 12.0 PassMark/$ ($80 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E3-1220L.

Trade-offs

❌375% higher power demand at 95W vs 20W.

Xeon E3-1220L

2011

Why buy it

✅Draws 20W instead of 95W, a 75W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X4 640 across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,263 vs 2,266).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.0 vs 28.3 PassMark/$ ($189 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 640.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 640 better than Xeon E3-1220L?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1220L makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon II X4 640 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 X4 640 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.1% more average FPS across 7 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 640 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X4 640 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 640 comes in $109 cheaper on MSRP at $80 MSRP versus $189 MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.1% average FPS lead across 7 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 136.6% better value on MSRP (28.3 vs 12.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Xeon E3-1220L makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 640 vs Xeon E3-1220L Technical Specifications

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

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	No	—
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

At launch, the Athlon II X4 640 was priced at $80, while the Xeon E3-1220L came in at $189. On launch pricing ($80 vs $189), Athlon II X4 640 was $109 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 640 delivers 28.3 pts/$ vs 12.0 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1220L — making the Athlon II X4 640 the 81.2% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 640	Xeon E3-1220L
MSRP	$80-58%	$189
Performance per Dollar	28.3+136%	12.0
Release Date	2010	2011

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