Athlon X4 730 vs Xeon E3-1220L

Athlon X4 730 vs Xeon E3-1220L Performance Spectrum

Athlon X4 730

4 / 4

2,278

+0.7%

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 X4 730 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 X4 730 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 X4 730

2012

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.3% higher average FPS across 10 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $129 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
✅Delivers 217.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 38.0 vs 12.0 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌225% higher power demand at 65W vs 20W.

Xeon E3-1220L

2011

Why buy it

✅Draws 20W instead of 65W, a 45W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon X4 730 across 10 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,263 vs 2,278).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.0 vs 38.0 PassMark/$ ($189 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 730 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 X4 730 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 X4 730 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 6.3% more average FPS across 10 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X4 730 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon X4 730 is the better buy right now. Athlon X4 730 comes in $129 cheaper on MSRP at $60 MSRP versus $189 MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.3% average FPS lead across 10 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 217.1% better value on MSRP (38.0 vs 12.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Athlon X4 730 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon X4 730 vs Xeon E3-1220L Technical Specifications

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

Athlon X4 730

The Athlon X4 730 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,278 points. Launch price was $149.

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.

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Processing Power

The Athlon X4 730 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E3-1220L offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 730 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Athlon X4 730 versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220L (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Athlon X4 730 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 730 scores 2,278 against the Xeon E3-1220L's 2,263 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon X4 730.

Feature	Athlon X4 730	Xeon E3-1220L
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz	3.4 GHz+6%
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+27%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	4 MB (total)+1500%	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Trinity (2012−2013)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	2,278	2,263

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X4 730 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1220L uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon X4 730	Xeon E3-1220L
Socket	FM2	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon X4 730 was priced at $60, while the Xeon E3-1220L came in at $189. On launch pricing ($60 vs $189), Athlon X4 730 was $129 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 730 delivers 38.0 pts/$ vs 12.0 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1220L — making the Athlon X4 730 the 104.1% better value option.

Feature	Athlon X4 730	Xeon E3-1220L
MSRP	$60-68%	$189
Performance per Dollar	38.0+217%	12.0
Release Date	2012	2011

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