Phenom II X4 810 vs Xeon E5420
Phenom II X4 810
Xeon E5420
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 X4 810 is positioned at rank 312 and the Xeon E5420 is on rank 1033, so the Phenom II X4 810 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 X4 810
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5420
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 810 | Xeon E5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($175) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($6,500) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Harpertown (2007−2008) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 810 | Xeon E5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+3600%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($175) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($6,500) |
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 X4 810 and Xeon E5420
Phenom II X4 810
The Phenom II X4 810 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 February 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,036 points. Launch price was $116.
Xeon E5420
The Xeon E5420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 November 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,044 points. Launch price was $316.
Processing Power
Both the Phenom II X4 810 and Xeon E5420 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Phenom II X4 810 versus 2.5 GHz on the Xeon E5420 — a 3.9% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 810 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Phenom II X4 810 uses the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5420 uses Harpertown (2007−2008) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 810 scores 2,036 against the Xeon E5420's 2,044 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon E5420. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 810 vs 12 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon E5420.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 810 | Xeon E5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz+4% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+4% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 12 MB L2 Cache+200% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 6 MB (total)+1100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Deneb (2009−2011) | Harpertown (2007−2008) |
| PassMark | 2,036 | 2,044 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 314 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 881 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 810 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5420 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 810 | Xeon E5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA771 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 32 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X4 810) / Yes (Xeon E5420).
| Feature | Phenom II X4 810 | Xeon E5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Phenom II X4 810 launched at $175 MSRP, while the Xeon E5420 debuted at $7214.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 810 | Xeon E5420 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $175-98% | $7214 |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $6500 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2007 |
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