Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition
Xeon E5-1603
Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition vs Xeon E5-1603 Performance Spectrum
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.
Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition vs Xeon E5-1603 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Baldur's Gate 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition vs Xeon E5-1603: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict
See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.
Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition
2009Why buy it
- ✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
- ✅Draws 125W instead of 130W, a 5W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-1603 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 10 MB).
Xeon E5-1603
2012Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +6.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (10 MB vs 6 MB).
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (3,482 vs 3,489).
Quick Answers
So, is Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition better than Xeon E5-1603?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition vs Xeon E5-1603 Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition
The Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,489 points. Launch price was $149.
Xeon E5-1603
The Xeon E5-1603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 3,482 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition and Xeon E5-1603 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. The Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition is built on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. In PassMark, the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition scores 3,489 against the Xeon E5-1603's 3,482 — a 0.2% lead for the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition vs 10 MB on the Xeon E5-1603.
| Feature | Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | — | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 10 MB+67% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Deneb (2009−2011) | — |
| PassMark | 3,489 | 3,482 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-1603 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition and Xeon E5-1603
