Phenom II X4 925 vs Xeon E3-1220L

Phenom II X4 925 vs Xeon E3-1220L Performance Spectrum

Phenom II X4 925

4 / 4

2,261

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon E3-1220L

2 / 4

2,263

+0.1%

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 925 vs Xeon E3-1220L 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 925 vs Xeon E3-1220L: 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 925

2009

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,261 vs 2,263).
❌375% higher power demand at 95W vs 20W.

Xeon E3-1220L

2011

Why buy it

✅Draws 20W instead of 95W, a 75W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 6 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $189 MSRP, while Phenom II X4 925 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1220L better than Phenom II X4 925?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1220L makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Phenom II X4 925 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 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.7% 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 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Xeon E3-1220L is the better buy right now. Xeon E3-1220L comes in at an unclear MSRP at $189 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (12.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Xeon E3-1220L makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009) 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 925 vs Xeon E3-1220L Technical Specifications

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

Phenom II X4 925

The Phenom II X4 925 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 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: 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: 2,261 points. Launch price was $160.

Xeon E3-1220L

The Xeon E3-1220L is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 20 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,263 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Phenom II X4 925 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E3-1220L offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 925 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 925 versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L — a 19.4% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220L (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Phenom II X4 925 uses the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 925 scores 2,261 against the Xeon E3-1220L's 2,263 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E3-1220L. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 925 vs 3 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220L.

Feature	Phenom II X4 925	Xeon E3-1220L
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz	3.4 GHz+21%
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+27%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)+100%	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Deneb (2009−2011)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	2,261	2,263

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Memory & Platform

The Phenom II X4 925 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1220L uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.