Phenom II X4 P960 vs Xeon E5335

Phenom II X4 P960 vs Xeon E5335 Performance Spectrum

Phenom II X4 P960

4 / 4

1,542

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon E5335

4 / 4

1,549

+0.5%

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 P960 vs Xeon E5335 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 P960 vs Xeon E5335: 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 P960

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 80W, a 78W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,542 vs 1,549).

Xeon E5335

2006

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌3900% higher power demand at 80W vs 2W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5335 better than Phenom II X4 P960?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5335 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Phenom II X4 P960 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 E5335 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.8% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5335 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Xeon E5335 still makes the most sense overall. Xeon E5335 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Phenom II X4 P960 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Phenom II X4 P960 vs Xeon E5335 Technical Specifications

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

Phenom II X4 P960

The Phenom II X4 P960 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,542 points. Launch price was $149.

Xeon E5335

The Xeon E5335 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Clovertown (2006−2007) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 1,549 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

Both the Phenom II X4 P960 and Xeon E5335 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 P960 versus 2 GHz on the Xeon E5335 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E5335. The Phenom II X4 P960 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5335 uses Clovertown (2006−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 P960 scores 1,542 against the Xeon E5335's 1,549 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5335.

Feature	Phenom II X4 P960	Xeon E5335
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	1.8 GHz	2 GHz+11%
Base Clock	—	2 GHz
L3 Cache	—	8 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache	2 MB	4 MB (total)+100%
Process	45 nm-31%	65 nm
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Clovertown (2006−2007)
PassMark	1,542	1,549

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Memory & Platform

The Phenom II X4 P960 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5335 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.