CPU
GPU
Opteron 246
Xeon 3.06
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 Opteron 246 is positioned at rank 762 and the Xeon 3.06 is on rank 1015, so the Opteron 246 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 246
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 3.06
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Opteron 246 | Xeon 3.06 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (SledgeHammer (2003−2005) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gallatin (2003−2004) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Opteron 246 | Xeon 3.06 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Opteron 246 and Xeon 3.06
Opteron 246
The Opteron 246 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Agosto 2003 (22 years ago). It is based on the SledgeHammer (2003−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 940. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 538 points. Launch price was $109.
Xeon 3.06
The Xeon 3.06 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Gallatin (2003−2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 3.07 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA604. Thermal design power (TDP): 97 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 535 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Opteron 246 and Xeon 3.06 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Opteron 246 versus 3.07 GHz on the Xeon 3.06 — a 42.2% clock advantage for the Xeon 3.06. The Opteron 246 uses the SledgeHammer (2003−2005) architecture (130 nm), while the Xeon 3.06 uses Gallatin (2003−2004) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 246 scores 538 against the Xeon 3.06's 535 — a 0.6% lead for the Opteron 246. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Opteron 246 vs 2 MB on the Xeon 3.06.
| Feature | Opteron 246 | Xeon 3.06 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 3.07 GHz+53% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+100% | 512 kB |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | SledgeHammer (2003−2005) | Gallatin (2003−2004) |
| PassMark | 538 | 535 |
Memory & Platform
The Opteron 246 uses the 940 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon 3.06 uses PGA604 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Opteron 246 | Xeon 3.06 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | 940 | PGA604 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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