Phenom II X4 840T vs Xeon E3-1220L v2

Phenom II X4 840T vs Xeon E3-1220L v2 Performance Spectrum

Phenom II X4 840T

4 / 4

2,367

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon E3-1220L v2

2 / 4

2,397

+1.3%

Processor N50

Pentium Dual Core T2370

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 X4 840T vs Xeon E3-1220L v2 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.

Phenom II X4 840T vs Xeon E3-1220L v2: 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 X4 840T

2010

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,367 vs 2,397).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌458.8% higher power demand at 95W vs 17W.

Xeon E3-1220L v2

2012

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 17W instead of 95W, a 78W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1220L v2 better than Phenom II X4 840T?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1220L v2 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Phenom II X4 840T is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon E3-1220L v2 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E3-1220L v2 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon E3-1220L v2 still makes the most sense overall. Xeon E3-1220L v2 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon E3-1220L v2 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2010), 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Phenom II X4 840T vs Xeon E3-1220L v2 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Phenom II X4 840T

The Phenom II X4 840T is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Zosma (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,367 points. Launch price was $80.

Xeon E3-1220L v2

The Xeon E3-1220L v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,397 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Phenom II X4 840T packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 840T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X4 840T versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L v2 — a 9% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220L v2 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Phenom II X4 840T uses the Zosma (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 840T scores 2,367 against the Xeon E3-1220L v2's 2,397 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon E3-1220L v2. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 840T vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220L v2.

Feature	Phenom II X4 840T	Xeon E3-1220L v2
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz	3.5 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+26%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Zosma (2010−2011)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	2,367	2,397+1%

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Memory & Platform

The Phenom II X4 840T uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.