Athlon X4 730 vs Xeon L5520

Athlon X4 730 vs Xeon L5520 Performance Spectrum

Athlon X4 730

4 / 4

2,278

+0.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon L5520

4 / 8

2,274

0.0%

Celeron 847

Core i3-530

Pentium Dual Core T2390

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 L5520 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 L5520: 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

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon L5520, which brings 4 cores / 8 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $60 MSRP, while Xeon L5520 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon L5520

2009

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 8 threads.
✅Draws 60W instead of 65W, a 5W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,274 vs 2,278).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 730 better than Xeon L5520?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon L5520 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 2.0% more average FPS across 49 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 0.2% 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 at an unclear MSRP at $60 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (38.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon X4 730 vs Xeon L5520 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 L5520

The Xeon L5520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.48 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,274 points. Launch price was $100.

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Processing Power

The Athlon X4 730 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon L5520's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Athlon X4 730 versus 2.48 GHz on the Xeon L5520 — a 25.4% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 730 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.26 GHz). The Athlon X4 730 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon L5520 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 730 scores 2,278 against the Xeon L5520's 2,274 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon X4 730.

Feature	Athlon X4 730	Xeon L5520
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz+29%	2.48 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+24%	2.26 GHz
L3 Cache	—	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	4 MB (total)+1500%	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Trinity (2012−2013)	Gainestown (2009−2010)
PassMark	2,278	2,274

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X4 730 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon L5520 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.