Phenom II X4 925 vs Xeon L5520

Phenom II X4 925 vs Xeon L5520 Performance Spectrum

Phenom II X4 925

4 / 4

2,261

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon L5520

4 / 8

2,274

+0.6%

Celeron 847

Core i3-530

Pentium Dual Core T2390

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 L5520 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 L5520: 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

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon L5520 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,261 vs 2,274).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon L5520, which brings 4 cores / 8 threads.
❌58.3% higher power demand at 95W vs 60W.

Xeon L5520

2009

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 8 threads.
✅Draws 60W instead of 95W, a 35W reduction.

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon L5520 better than Phenom II X4 925?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon L5520 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 L5520 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 7.2% 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 L5520 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 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 L5520 still makes the most sense overall. Xeon L5520 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 7.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Xeon L5520 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 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 L5520 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 L5520

The Xeon L5520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.48 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,274 points. Launch price was $100.

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Processing Power

The Phenom II X4 925 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon L5520's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 925 versus 2.48 GHz on the Xeon L5520 — a 12.1% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 925 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.26 GHz). The Phenom II X4 925 uses the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon L5520 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 925 scores 2,261 against the Xeon L5520's 2,274 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon L5520. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 925 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon L5520.

Feature	Phenom II X4 925	Xeon L5520
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz+13%	2.48 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+24%	2.26 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Deneb (2009−2011)	Gainestown (2009−2010)
PassMark	2,261	2,274

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Memory & Platform

The Phenom II X4 925 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon L5520 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.