
Pentium E5300 vs Xeon E3120

Pentium E5300

Xeon E3120
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 Pentium E5300 is positioned at rank 737 and the Xeon E3120 is on rank 948, so the Pentium E5300 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E5300
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium E5300 | Xeon E3120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium E5300 | Xeon E3120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ 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 Pentium E5300 and Xeon E3120

Pentium E5300
The Pentium E5300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Novembro 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,395 points. Launch price was $64.

Xeon E3120
The Xeon E3120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. Base frequency: 3.16 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,408 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Pentium E5300 is built on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium E5300 scores 1,395 against the Xeon E3120's 1,408 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E3120. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium E5300 vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon E3120.
| Feature | Pentium E5300 | Xeon E3120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | — |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.16 GHz+22% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total) | — |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | — |
| PassMark | 1,395 | 1,408 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1.
| Feature | Pentium E5300 | Xeon E3120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
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