
PRO A12-8870E vs Xeon X5550

PRO A12-8870E

Xeon X5550
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 PRO A12-8870E is positioned at rank 352 and the Xeon X5550 is on rank 712, so the PRO A12-8870E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar PRO A12-8870E
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | PRO A12-8870E | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Carrizo (2015−2018) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | PRO A12-8870E | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 PRO A12-8870E and Xeon X5550

PRO A12-8870E
The PRO A12-8870E is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Outubro 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,010 points. Launch price was $69.

Xeon X5550
The Xeon X5550 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 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 3.06 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,036 points. Launch price was $62.
Processing Power
The PRO A12-8870E packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon X5550's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the PRO A12-8870E versus 3.06 GHz on the Xeon X5550 — a 21.6% clock advantage for the PRO A12-8870E (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The PRO A12-8870E uses the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture (28 nm), while the Xeon X5550 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the PRO A12-8870E scores 3,010 against the Xeon X5550's 3,036 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon X5550.
| Feature | PRO A12-8870E | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+24% | 3.06 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+9% | 2.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2048 kB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm-38% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Carrizo (2015−2018) | Gainestown (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,010 | 3,036 |
Memory & Platform
The PRO A12-8870E uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon X5550 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | PRO A12-8870E | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| RAM Channels | — | 3 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (PRO A12-8870E) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5550). Primary use case: Xeon X5550 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5550 rivals Core i3-2100.
| Feature | PRO A12-8870E | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
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