Phenom II X4 820 vs Xeon L5420
Phenom II X4 820
Xeon L5420
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 820 is positioned at rank 916 and the Xeon L5420 is on rank 847, so the Xeon L5420 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 820
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5420
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 820 | Xeon L5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Harpertown (2007−2008) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 820 | Xeon L5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ 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 Phenom II X4 820 and Xeon L5420
Phenom II X4 820
The Phenom II X4 820 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 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: 2,114 points. Launch price was $90.
Xeon L5420
The Xeon L5420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 25 March 2008 (17 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): 50 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,143 points. Launch price was $380.
Processing Power
Both the Phenom II X4 820 and Xeon L5420 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 820 versus 2.5 GHz on the Xeon L5420 — a 11.3% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 820 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Phenom II X4 820 uses the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon L5420 uses Harpertown (2007−2008) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 820 scores 2,114 against the Xeon L5420's 2,143 — a 1.4% lead for the Xeon L5420. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 820 vs 12 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon L5420.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Xeon L5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+12% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+12% | 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 | 2,114 | 2,143+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 820 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon L5420 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Xeon L5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA771 |
| 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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