Core i3-3220 vs Xeon L5520
Core i3-3220
Xeon L5520
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 Core i3-3220 is positioned at rank 804 and the Xeon L5520 is on rank 832, so the Core i3-3220 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3220
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5520
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Xeon L5520 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Xeon L5520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Core i3-3220 and Xeon L5520
Core i3-3220
The Core i3-3220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,276 points. Launch price was $117.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3220 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon L5520 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon L5520 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-3220 versus 2.48 GHz on the Xeon L5520 — a 28.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-3220 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.26 GHz). The Core i3-3220 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon L5520 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3220 scores 2,276 against the Xeon L5520's 2,274 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-3220. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3220 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon L5520.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Xeon L5520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+33% | 2.48 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+46% | 2.26 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Gainestown (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,276 | 2,274 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 503 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3220 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon L5520 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Xeon L5520 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3220) / not specified (Xeon L5520). The Core i3-3220 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Xeon L5520 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3220 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-3220 rivals FX-4300.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Xeon L5520 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2500 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
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