CPU
GPU
Phenom X4 9650
Xeon L5408
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 X4 9650 is positioned at rank 362 and the Xeon L5408 is on rank 901, so the Phenom X4 9650 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom X4 9650
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5408
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom X4 9650 | Xeon L5408 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Agena (2007−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Harpertown (2007−2008) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom X4 9650 | Xeon L5408 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 X4 9650 and Xeon L5408
Phenom X4 9650
The Phenom X4 9650 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Agena (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,777 points. Launch price was $149.
Xeon L5408
The Xeon L5408 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.133 GHz, with boost up to 0.13 GHz. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 40 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 1,769 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Phenom X4 9650 and Xeon L5408 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Phenom X4 9650 versus 0.13 GHz on the Xeon L5408 — a 178.6% clock advantage for the Phenom X4 9650. The Phenom X4 9650 uses the Agena (2007−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Xeon L5408 uses Harpertown (2007−2008) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom X4 9650 scores 1,777 against the Xeon L5408's 1,769 — a 0.5% lead for the Phenom X4 9650.
| Feature | Phenom X4 9650 | Xeon L5408 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz+1669% | 0.13 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 2.133 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 6 MB (total)+1100% |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Agena (2007−2008) | Harpertown (2007−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,777 | 1,769 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom X4 9650 uses the AM2+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon L5408 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom X4 9650 | Xeon L5408 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2+ | LGA771 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Phenom X4 9650 and Xeon L5408
