CPU
GPU
Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition
Xeon E5-1603
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 Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition is positioned at rank 146 and the Xeon E5-1603 is on rank 655, so the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1603
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition and Xeon E5-1603
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.
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