Phenom II X4 B97 vs Xeon L5530
Phenom II X4 B97
Xeon L5530
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 B97 is positioned at rank 241 and the Xeon L5530 is on rank 790, so the Phenom II X4 B97 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 B97
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5530
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 B97 | Xeon L5530 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($11) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 B97 | Xeon L5530 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($11) | ✅ 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 B97 and Xeon L5530
Phenom II X4 B97
The Phenom II X4 B97 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 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: 2,540 points. Launch price was $100.
Xeon L5530
The Xeon L5530 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 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: 2,522 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X4 B97 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon L5530's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X4 B97 versus 2.66 GHz on the Xeon L5530 — a 18.4% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 B97 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Phenom II X4 B97 uses the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon L5530 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 B97 scores 2,540 against the Xeon L5530's 2,522 — a 0.7% lead for the Phenom II X4 B97. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 B97 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon L5530.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 B97 | Xeon L5530 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+20% | 2.66 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+33% | 2.4 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 | 2,540 | 2,522 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 B97 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon L5530 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 B97 | Xeon L5530 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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